Optimizing Wheat Yield, Water, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency With Water and Nitrogen Inputs in China: A Synthesis and Life Cycle Assessment
To meet the demand of the fast increasing population, enhancing the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and resource use efficiency by optimizing water and nitrogen (N) management can greatly improve agricultural sustainability and enhance regenerative farming in developing countries such as China. B...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.930484/full |
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| author | Zhou Li Song Cui Qingping Zhang Gang Xu Qisheng Feng Chao Chen Yuan Li |
| author_facet | Zhou Li Song Cui Qingping Zhang Gang Xu Qisheng Feng Chao Chen Yuan Li |
| author_sort | Zhou Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To meet the demand of the fast increasing population, enhancing the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and resource use efficiency by optimizing water and nitrogen (N) management can greatly improve agricultural sustainability and enhance regenerative farming in developing countries such as China. Based on 126 studies conducted in China between 1996 and 2018, using meta-analysis in combination with decision regression tree modeling and life cycle assessment (LCA), this study aimed to (1) quantify the effect of water and N input on wheat yield, water productivity (WPc), and N use efficiency (NUEf), and evaluate the subsequent environmental impact in different regions using LCA; and (2) evaluate, model, and rank the roles of environmental (e.g., soil nutrient status and climatic factors) and agronomic factors (e.g., water and N management practices) affecting wheat yield, WPc, and NUEf. The results showed that irrigation and N addition increased the average yield and WPc by 40 and 15%, respectively, relative to control treatments with no irrigation or fertilizer application. The mean water saving potential (WSP) and N saving potential (NSP) in China were estimated at 11 and 10%, respectively. Soil nutrient status [e.g., initial soil phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)] and soil organic carbon content affected the wheat yield, WPc, and NUEf more significantly than climatic factors [mean annual temperature (MAT)] or water and N management practices. The structural equation-based modeling indicated that initial soil nutrient condition impacted productivity and resource use efficiency more at the below optimal water and N levels than above. The risk-factor-based feature ranking indicated that site-specific environmental and soil condition was highly informative toward model construction but split input of N or water had less impact on yield and input use efficiency. LCA demonstrated that to further mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, water- or N-saving management should be promoted in China. Collectively, our research implies that long-term soil health and nutrient enhancement should be more beneficial for increasing yield and resource use efficiency in wheat production. |
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| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:16:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-1df7df7986764101a6c435d96e8630132022-12-22T03:29:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2022-06-011310.3389/fpls.2022.930484930484Optimizing Wheat Yield, Water, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency With Water and Nitrogen Inputs in China: A Synthesis and Life Cycle AssessmentZhou Li0Song Cui1Qingping Zhang2Gang Xu3Qisheng Feng4Chao Chen5Yuan Li6Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, ChinaSchool of Agriculture, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, United StatesCollege of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Linyi University, Linyi, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaTo meet the demand of the fast increasing population, enhancing the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and resource use efficiency by optimizing water and nitrogen (N) management can greatly improve agricultural sustainability and enhance regenerative farming in developing countries such as China. Based on 126 studies conducted in China between 1996 and 2018, using meta-analysis in combination with decision regression tree modeling and life cycle assessment (LCA), this study aimed to (1) quantify the effect of water and N input on wheat yield, water productivity (WPc), and N use efficiency (NUEf), and evaluate the subsequent environmental impact in different regions using LCA; and (2) evaluate, model, and rank the roles of environmental (e.g., soil nutrient status and climatic factors) and agronomic factors (e.g., water and N management practices) affecting wheat yield, WPc, and NUEf. The results showed that irrigation and N addition increased the average yield and WPc by 40 and 15%, respectively, relative to control treatments with no irrigation or fertilizer application. The mean water saving potential (WSP) and N saving potential (NSP) in China were estimated at 11 and 10%, respectively. Soil nutrient status [e.g., initial soil phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)] and soil organic carbon content affected the wheat yield, WPc, and NUEf more significantly than climatic factors [mean annual temperature (MAT)] or water and N management practices. The structural equation-based modeling indicated that initial soil nutrient condition impacted productivity and resource use efficiency more at the below optimal water and N levels than above. The risk-factor-based feature ranking indicated that site-specific environmental and soil condition was highly informative toward model construction but split input of N or water had less impact on yield and input use efficiency. LCA demonstrated that to further mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, water- or N-saving management should be promoted in China. Collectively, our research implies that long-term soil health and nutrient enhancement should be more beneficial for increasing yield and resource use efficiency in wheat production.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.930484/fulldecision treeirrigationlife cycle assessmentmeta-regressionstructural equation modeling (LISREL) |
| spellingShingle | Zhou Li Song Cui Qingping Zhang Gang Xu Qisheng Feng Chao Chen Yuan Li Optimizing Wheat Yield, Water, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency With Water and Nitrogen Inputs in China: A Synthesis and Life Cycle Assessment Frontiers in Plant Science decision tree irrigation life cycle assessment meta-regression structural equation modeling (LISREL) |
| title | Optimizing Wheat Yield, Water, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency With Water and Nitrogen Inputs in China: A Synthesis and Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_full | Optimizing Wheat Yield, Water, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency With Water and Nitrogen Inputs in China: A Synthesis and Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing Wheat Yield, Water, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency With Water and Nitrogen Inputs in China: A Synthesis and Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing Wheat Yield, Water, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency With Water and Nitrogen Inputs in China: A Synthesis and Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_short | Optimizing Wheat Yield, Water, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency With Water and Nitrogen Inputs in China: A Synthesis and Life Cycle Assessment |
| title_sort | optimizing wheat yield water and nitrogen use efficiency with water and nitrogen inputs in china a synthesis and life cycle assessment |
| topic | decision tree irrigation life cycle assessment meta-regression structural equation modeling (LISREL) |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.930484/full |
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