Paper · 2023 · Frontiers in Plant Science

Effect of replacing synthetic nitrogen fertilizer with animal manure on grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in China: a meta‐analysis

Keyu Ren; Yue Sun; Hongqin Zou; et al.

10
claims
18
verbatim quotes
42
citations
2
research areas
✓
Open access · cc-by

Abstract

To reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer and sustain food production, replacing synthetic N fertilizer with animal manure as an effective method is widely used. However, the effects of replacing synthetic N fertilizer with animal manure on crop yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) remain uncertain under varying fertilization management practices, climate conditions, and soil properties. Here, we performed a meta-analysis of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.) based on 118 published studies conducted in China. Overall, the results indicated that substituting synthetic N fertilizer with manure increased yield by 3.3%−3.9% for the three grain crops and increased NUE by 6.3%−10.0%. Crop yields and NUE did not significantly increase at a low N application rate (≤120 kg ha −1 ) or high substitution rate (>60%). Yields and NUE values had higher increases for upland crops (wheat and maize) in temperate monsoon climate/temperate continental climate regions with less average annual rainfall (AAR) and lower mean annual temperature (MAT), while rice had higher increases in subtropical monsoon climate regions with more AAR and higher MAT. The effect of manure substitution was better in soil with low organic matter and available phosphorus. Our study shows that the optimal substitution rate was 44% and the total N fertilizer input cannot be less than 161 kg ha −1 when substituting synthetic N fertilizer with manure. Moreover, site‐specific conditions should also be considered.

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The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.

Claims 10

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Replacing synthetic N fertilizer with manure increased yield by 3.3%−3.9% across three grain crops.

Taxon
wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)Oryza sativaTriticum aestivumZea mayse1
Treatment
substituting synthetic N fertilizer with manuree0
Outcome
yielde0
Direction
increasede0
Value
3.3%−3.9%e0
Comparator
synthetic N fertilizere0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Oryza sativa
Oryza sativa · Taxon · picture from its Wikimedia Commons categoryDesmanthus4food · CC BY-SA 3.0 us · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Triticum aestivum
Triticum aestivum · TaxonRasbak · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“substituting synthetic N fertilizer with manure increased yield by 3.3%−3.9% for the three grain crops”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 614–716 · show in text ↑
e1

“wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 446–526 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Replacing synthetic N fertilizer with manure increased NUE by 6.3%−10.0%.

Taxon
wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)Oryza sativaTriticum aestivumZea mayse1
Treatment
substituting synthetic N fertilizer with manuree0
Outcome
NUEe0
Direction
increasede0
Value
6.3%−10.0%e0
Comparator
synthetic N fertilizere0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Oryza sativa
Oryza sativa · Taxon · picture from its Wikimedia Commons categoryDesmanthus4food · CC BY-SA 3.0 us · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Triticum aestivum
Triticum aestivum · TaxonRasbak · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“substituting synthetic N fertilizer with manure increased yield by 3.3%−3.9% for the three grain crops and increased NUE by 6.3%−10.0%.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 614–749 · show in text ↑
e1

“wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 446–526 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultno effectnot significant (as stated)measured

Claim · model-written summary

At low N application rates, crop yields and NUE did not significantly increase with manure substitution.

Taxon
wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)Oryza sativaTriticum aestivumZea mayse1
Treatment
low N application rate (≤120 kg ha −1 )e0
Outcome
Crop yields and NUEe0
Direction
did not significantly increasee0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Oryza sativa
Oryza sativa · Taxon · picture from its Wikimedia Commons categoryDesmanthus4food · CC BY-SA 3.0 us · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Triticum aestivum
Triticum aestivum · TaxonRasbak · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Crop yields and NUE did not significantly increase at a low N application rate (≤120 kg ha −1 )”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 750–845 · show in text ↑
e1

“wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 446–526 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultno effectnot significant (as stated)measured

Claim · model-written summary

At substitution rates above 60%, crop yields and NUE did not significantly increase.

Taxon
wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)Oryza sativaTriticum aestivumZea mayse1
Treatment
high substitution rate (>60%)e0
Outcome
Crop yields and NUEe0
Direction
did not significantly increasee0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Oryza sativa
Oryza sativa · Taxon · picture from its Wikimedia Commons categoryDesmanthus4food · CC BY-SA 3.0 us · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Triticum aestivum
Triticum aestivum · TaxonRasbak · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Crop yields and NUE did not significantly increase at a low N application rate (≤120 kg ha −1 ) or high substitution rate (>60%).”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 750–879 · show in text ↑
e1

“wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 446–526 · show in text ↑
Associationobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Wheat and maize showed larger yield and NUE increases in cooler, drier temperate regions.

Taxon
wheat and maizeTriticum aestivumZea mayse0
Outcome
Yields and NUE valuese0
Direction
higher increasese0
Qualifier
less average annual rainfall (AAR) and lower mean annual temperature (MAT)e0
Setting
temperate monsoon climate/temperate continental climate regionse0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Triticum aestivum
Triticum aestivum · TaxonRasbak · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Yields and NUE values had higher increases for upland crops (wheat and maize) in temperate monsoon climate/temperate continental climate regions with less average annual rainfall (AAR) and lower mean annual temperature (MAT)”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 880–1104 · show in text ↑
Associationobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Rice showed larger yield and NUE increases in wetter, warmer subtropical monsoon regions.

Outcome
higher increasese0
Direction
highere0
Qualifier
more AAR and higher MATe0
Setting
subtropical monsoon climate regionse0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Oryza sativa
Oryza sativa · Taxon · picture from its Wikimedia Commons categoryDesmanthus4food · CC BY-SA 3.0 us · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“rice had higher increases in subtropical monsoon climate regions with more AAR and higher MAT.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1112–1206 · show in text ↑
Associationobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Manure substitution performed better in soils with low organic matter and available phosphorus.

Taxon
wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)Oryza sativaTriticum aestivumZea mayse1
Outcome
effect of manure substitutione0
Direction
bettere0
Setting
soil with low organic matter and available phosphoruse0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Oryza sativa
Oryza sativa · Taxon · picture from its Wikimedia Commons categoryDesmanthus4food · CC BY-SA 3.0 us · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Triticum aestivum
Triticum aestivum · TaxonRasbak · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“The effect of manure substitution was better in soil with low organic matter and available phosphorus.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1207–1309 · show in text ↑
e1

“wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 446–526 · show in text ↑
Observationobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The estimated optimal manure substitution rate was 44%.

Taxon
wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)Oryza sativaTriticum aestivumZea mayse1
Outcome
optimal substitution ratee0
Value
44%e0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Oryza sativa
Oryza sativa · Taxon · picture from its Wikimedia Commons categoryDesmanthus4food · CC BY-SA 3.0 us · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Triticum aestivum
Triticum aestivum · TaxonRasbak · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“the optimal substitution rate was 44%”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1331–1368 · show in text ↑
e1

“wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 446–526 · show in text ↑
Recommendationauthor interpretationoriginal resultpositivebasis n/a

Claim · model-written summary

The authors recommend at least 161 kg ha −1 total N input when substituting manure for synthetic fertilizer.

Taxon
wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)Oryza sativaTriticum aestivumZea mayse1
Outcome
total N fertilizer input cannot be less than 161 kg ha −1e0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Oryza sativa
Oryza sativa · Taxon · picture from its Wikimedia Commons categoryDesmanthus4food · CC BY-SA 3.0 us · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Triticum aestivum
Triticum aestivum · TaxonRasbak · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“the total N fertilizer input cannot be less than 161 kg ha −1 when substituting synthetic N fertilizer with manure.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1373–1488 · show in text ↑
e1

“wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 446–526 · show in text ↑
Recommendationauthor interpretationoriginal resultpositivebasis n/a

Claim · model-written summary

The authors recommend considering site-specific conditions for manure substitution.

Taxon
wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)Oryza sativaTriticum aestivumZea mayse1
Outcome
site‐specific conditions should also be considerede0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Oryza sativa
Oryza sativa · Taxon · picture from its Wikimedia Commons categoryDesmanthus4food · CC BY-SA 3.0 us · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Triticum aestivum
Triticum aestivum · TaxonRasbak · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗
Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“site‐specific conditions should also be considered.”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1499–1550 · show in text ↑
e1

“wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and rice ( Oryza sativa L.)”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 446–526 · show in text ↑

nitrogen · nutrient: efficiency · Triticum aestivum (wheat)Results differ

174 papers: 127 positive, 47 negative or no effect

46 papers in the same direction as this paper · 127 in the opposite direction

  1. positive
  2. positive
  3. positive

170 papers more in this group

See all 174 papers →

fertilization · nutrient: efficiency · Zea mays (maize)Results differ

189 papers: 174 positive, 15 negative or no effect

173 papers in the same direction as this paper · 12 in the opposite direction · 3 reporting no difference from an alternative

  1. no effect
  2. negative
  3. negative

185 papers more in this group

See all 189 papers →

fertilization · nutrient: efficiency · Triticum aestivum (wheat)Positive and negative results

176 papers: 142 positive, 34 negative or no effect

141 papers in the same direction as this paper · 33 in the opposite direction · 1 reporting no difference from an alternative

  1. positive
  2. negative
  3. negative

172 papers more in this group

See all 176 papers →

nitrogen · nutrient: efficiency · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

194 papers: 142 positive, 52 negative or no effect

51 papers in the same direction as this paper · 142 in the opposite direction

  1. positive
  2. positive
  3. positive

190 papers more in this group

See all 194 papers →

fertilization · nutrient: efficiency · Oryza sativa (rice)Positive and negative results

220 papers: 202 positive, 18 negative or no effect

201 papers in the same direction as this paper · 12 in the opposite direction · 6 reporting no difference from an alternative

  1. positive
  2. positive
  3. no effect

216 papers more in this group

See all 220 papers →

nitrogen · nutrient: efficiency · Oryza sativa (rice)Positive and negative results

262 papers: 217 positive, 45 negative or no effect

44 papers in the same direction as this paper · 217 in the opposite direction

  1. positive
  2. positive
  3. positive

258 papers more in this group

See all 262 papers →

fertilization · yield · Triticum aestivum (wheat)Positive and negative results

3,438 papers: 3,115 positive, 323 negative or no effect

3,114 papers in the same direction as this paper · 284 in the opposite direction · 39 reporting no difference from an alternative

  1. no effect
  2. positive
  3. negative

3,434 papers more in this group

See all 3,438 papers →

fertilization · yield · Oryza sativa (rice)Positive and negative results

3,455 papers: 3,183 positive, 272 negative or no effect

3,182 papers in the same direction as this paper · 207 in the opposite direction · 65 reporting no difference from an alternative

  1. no effect
  2. positive
  3. positive

3,451 papers more in this group

See all 3,455 papers →

8 of 9 groups shown: named compounds and organisms first, then groups whose results differ (checked claim by claim), then those with positive and negative results, then the smaller groups.

Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.