@article{Qiu2025, 
author = {Hailong Qiu and Wen Yin and Pan Li and Diankai Zhang and Jingui Wei and Lianhao Zhao and Pingxing Wan and Zhilong Fan and Falong Hu and Yunyou Nan and Qiang Chai and Heyu Chen and Mohamed Abdalla and Pete Smith},
title = {Green manure returning improves wheat yield and N utilization efficiency by minimizing N loss in Oasis irrigation area of China},
year = {2025},
journal = {The Crop Journal},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {1884-1897},
keywords = {Wheat, Green manure returning, N utilization, Soil N content, N loss},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1016/j.cj.2025.09.008},
doi = {10.1016/j.cj.2025.09.008},
abstract = {Improving crop yield and N utilization while mitigating environmental pollution is a key goal in sustainable agriculture. Integrating green manure with reduced chemical N application is a promising strategy to enhance N utilization efficiency and minimize reactive N losses. However, the agronomic mechanisms through which green manure incorporation affects soil N retention and N loss under reduced N application remain unclear. This study aimed to uncover the compensatory mechanisms of green manure in improving wheat yield and N utilization under reduced N application, and to identify the principles behind reduced N loss in wheat fields. We conducted a split-plot experiment in the Hexi Oasis irrigation area of Northwest China from 2019 to 2024, using two cropping systems (W, fallow after wheat; W-G, green manure returning after wheat) combined with three N application levels (N1, local conventional N application rate; N2, N-reduction 15%; N3, N-reduction 30%). Our results demonstrated that green manure returning improved soil quality and compensated for the yield and N use efficiency losses caused by 15% chemical N reduction. Specifically, compared to the W-N1, W-GN2 increased soil organic matter content and soil water content by 6.5% and 9.4%, respectively, while reducing soil bulk density and pH by 8.9% and 6.7%. Meanwhile, W-GN2 increased soil nitrate N and total N content in the 0–40 cm soil layer by 8.4% and 8.7%, respectively. Moreover, W-GN2 reduced NH3 volatilization by 13.8%, N2O emissions by 8.8%, and N leaching by 9.4%. It also enhanced microbial biomass N by 50.7%, urease activity by 10.2%, and decreased nitrate and nitrite reductase activities by 19.9% and 32.6%, respectively. Additionally, W-GN2 improved soil bacterial α-diversity and increased the abundance of functional bacteria. Green manure can sustain wheat yield and improve N utilization efficiency under reduced chemical N input by improving the soil environment, enhancing soil N retention and minimizing N losses, which presents a sustainable, yield-stabilizing strategy for Oasis agroecosystems in northwestern China.}
}