Decreasing input–output balance by reducing chemical fertilizer input without yield loss in intensive cropping system in the Coastal Area of southeast Lake Dianchi, Yunnan Province, China. (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Ying; Tanaka, Takashi S.T.; Li, Kunzhi; Inamura, Tastuya
• Is Part Of: Plant production science. Volume 19:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 81
• Page End: 90
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Chemical fertilizer -- China -- Input–output Balance -- Pot experiment -- Vegetable yield; Plant products -- Periodicals; Field crops -- Periodicals; 571.2
• DOI: 10.1080/1343943X.2015.1128089
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1343-943X

Abstract

Abstract: Overuse of chemical fertilizer and/or manure in agriculture is a principal factor in water eutrophication in China. Our previous study indicated that reducing chemical fertilizer input effectively decreased the soil nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in an intensive vegetable cropping system in the coastal area of southeast Lake Dianchi, China. This study aimed to decrease the input–output balance, namely the nutrient balance between input of fertilizer and output through vegetable harvesting, by reducing chemical fertilizer application without yield loss. A pot experiment was performed using chemical fertilizer with different amounts of N, P, and K on soils from six vegetable fields' representative of the study area. High nitrate concentration in soils 2, 3, and 6 resulted in high N absorption from soil, and low N absorption from chemical fertilizer. Moreover, the responses of dry matter production to N absorbed from chemical fertilizer were less sensitive in soils 2, 3, and 6 than those in the other soils. Accordingly, reducing N input of chemical fertilizer did not decrease total N absorption or dry matter production, which should be the reason why reducing N input of chemical fertilizer did not reduce dry matter production in soils 2, 3, and 6. In the cases of soils 1, 4, and 5, reducing N input of chemical fertilizer reduced dry matter production, owing to lower levels of soil nitrate. This study should be helpful for reducing nutrient surplus from chemical fertilizer in the coastal area of southeast Lake Dianchi and other eutrophic agricultural areas in China.