Abstract
Ammonia (NH₃) volatilization and nitrate leaching are significant pathways of reactive nitrogen (Nr) losses in agriculture, leading to environmental concerns. This study investigates nitrogen (N) losses in wheat production near Kabul, Afghanistan, aiming to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) for food security and environmental protection. Three fertilizer treatments were tested: (A) animal manure (2 t h−1) + 50% chemical fertilizer (urea and diammonium phosphate, DAP), (B) night soil (2 t ha−1) + 50% chemical fertilizer, and (C) full dose of chemical fertilizer, with sub-treatments varying in N application (25% less, 25% excess, and farmers’ practice). A no-fertilizer control treatment was included. Ammonia emissions and nitrate-N (NO₃-N) and ammonium (NH₄-N) leaching were monitored, and NUE was calculated. Subsurface application (treatment A₂) reduced ammonia emissions by 41.82% compared to 55% in surface applications (treatment A₃) and 15% in control plots. Ammonium-N losses were lower in subsurface application (31%) than surface applications (53%). NUE was highest in surface application (103%) and lowest in subsurface (84%). Moreover, Partial Factor Productivity (PFP) was higher in treatments with 25% less N compared to those with 25% excess and conventional practice. The novelty of this study lies in the implementation of subsurface application techniques to reduce N losses and enhance NUE in this region, where such techniques are rarely used. These results offer a model for improving NUE by optimizing fertilizer and manure inputs, applicable to similar agricultural systems globally.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
Subsurface application reduced ammonia emissions relative to surface application and control plots.
- Taxon
- spring wheat
Triticum aestivumt0 - Treatment
- Subsurface applicatione0
- Outcome
- ammonia emissionse0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 41.82%e0
- Comparator
- surface applicationse0
- Setting
- control plotse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“spring wheat”
e0“Subsurface application (treatment A₂) reduced ammonia emissions by 41.82% compared to 55% in surface applications (treatment A₃) and 15% in control plots.”
Claim · model-written summary
Ammonium-N losses were lower under subsurface than surface application.
- Taxon
- spring wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- subsurface applicatione0
- Outcome
- Ammonium-N lossese0
- Direction
- lowere0
- Value
- 31%e0
- Qualifier
- 53%e0
- Comparator
- surface applicationse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“spring wheat”
e0“Ammonium-N losses were lower in subsurface application (31%) than surface applications (53%).”
Claim · model-written summary
Nitrogen use efficiency was highest with surface application, at 103%.
- Taxon
- spring wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- surface applicatione0
- Outcome
- NUEe0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 103%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“spring wheat”
e0“NUE was highest in surface application (103%) and lowest in subsurface (84%).”
Claim · model-written summary
Nitrogen use efficiency was lowest with subsurface application, at 84%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“spring wheat”
e0“NUE was highest in surface application (103%) and lowest in subsurface (84%).”
Claim · model-written summary
Partial factor productivity was higher with 25% less nitrogen than with 25% excess and conventional practice.
- Taxon
- spring wheatTriticum aestivumt0
- Treatment
- 25% less Ne0
- Outcome
- Partial Factor Productivity (PFP)e0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- 25% excess and conventional practicee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“spring wheat”
e0“Partial Factor Productivity (PFP) was higher in treatments with 25% less N compared to those with 25% excess and conventional practice.”