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Effects of Reduced Nitrogen and Controlled Water Combined with Biochar and Nitrification Inhibitor on Nitrogen Losses in a Facility Soil–Tomato System
Scientia Agricultura Sinica 2026, 59(16): 3621-3639
Published: 16 August 2026
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Objective

This study aimed to clarify the regulatory effects of the reduced nitrogen combined with controlled water, biochar, and the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) on nitrogen losses within a facility soil-tomato system, so as to provide a scientific basis for efficient nitrogen use and sustainable green development in facility vegetable production.

Method

A field plot experiment was conducted using facility tomato as the research object, with two irrigation treatments including traditional drip irrigation (TD) and reduced drip irrigation (CD). Based on this, eight nitrogen treatments were designed, including no nitrogen (TDN0, and CDN0), traditional nitrogen (TDN1, and CDN1), reduced nitrogen (TDN2, and CDN2), and reduced nitrogen combined with biochar and dicyandiamide (DCD) (TDN2+BD, and CDN2+BD). During the topdressing period, soil N2O emission and NH3 volatilization, NO3--N accumulation in the 0-100 cm soil profile, and tomato nitrogen uptake, yield, and fruit quality indicators were systematically monitored to quantitatively evaluate the synergistic regulatory effects of biochar and DCD under reduced nitrogen and controlled water conditions.

Result

Nitrogen application significantly increased soil N2O emissions and NH3 volatilization, with peak fluxes occurring 2-3 days after topdressing. Nitrogen reduction effectively suppressed gaseous nitrogen losses, and the combined application of biochar and the nitrification inhibitor DCD further enhanced the mitigation effect on N2O emissions. Although biochar and DCD posed a potential risk of increasing NH3 volatilization, this adverse effect was substantially alleviated by reduced nitrogen and controlled water conditions. Compared with conventional nitrogen application, nitrogen reduction significantly decreased total gaseous nitrogen losses by 45.7%-56.6% and reduced NO3--N accumulation in the 0-100 cm soil profile by 13.7%-16.2%. When biochar and DCD were applied on the basis of nitrogen reduction, total gaseous nitrogen losses further declined by 49.4%-59.0%, while the reduction in NO3--N accumulation expanded to 27.4%-30.0%, with a clear suppression of deep leaching. Both irrigation methods enhanced the synergistic mitigation effects of water nitrogen regulation. However, controlled drip irrigation demonstrated superior performance compared with conventional drip irrigation. Under controlled irrigation, the CDN2+BD treatment reduced total nitrogen losses by 30.0% compared with CDN1, with decreasing the net nitrogen loss rate from 3.3% to 2.5%. This treatment also significantly inhibited deep NO3--N accumulation and increased NO3--N retention in the 20-40 cm soil layer by 27.1%. In addition, biochar and DCD increased the apparent nitrogen use efficiency under controlled irrigation to 28.9%; TDN2+BD and CDN2+BD improved nitrogen use efficiency by 53.0% and 30.2%, respectively, compared with their corresponding nitrogen-reduction treatments (TDN2 and CDN2) (P<0.05). Furthermore, the controlled irrigation with biochar and DCD (CDN2+BD) achieved the highest tomato yield (115.93 t·hm-2), while significantly enhancing fruit vitamin C content and improving soluble protein, soluble sugar, and total soluble solid levels.

Conclusion

Reduced nitrogen application combined with controlled water, biochar, and the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) significantly decreased gaseous and leaching nitrogen losses, optimized soil nitrogen distribution, and improved nitrogen use efficiency and tomato quality, representing an optimal technical approach for nitrogen reduction and efficiency enhancement in facility vegetable production.

Issue
Effects of Biochar Combined with Dicyandiamide on Greenhouse Gases Emissions from Facility Vegetable Soil
Scientia Agricultura Sinica 2023, 56(10): 1935-1948
Published: 16 May 2023
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【Objective】

This paper aimed to explore the comprehensive effects of biochar, dicyandiamide (DCD) and their combined application on the greenhouse gas (N2O, CO2 and CH4) emissions from facility soil, so as to provide a scientific basis for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and green development of facility vegetable production system.

【Method】

In this study, the facility vegetable production system was used as the research object, and a total of six treatments were set up, including no nitrogen application (CK), traditional nitrogen application (CN), recommended nitrogen application (RN), recommended nitrogen application+biochar(RNB), recommended nitrogen application + DCD (RND), and recommended nitrogen application+biochar+ DCD(RNBD). A pot experiment method was applied to analyze the effects of soil greenhouse gas emissions, and the difference in greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) and global warming potential (GWP) under different treatments.

【Result】

Compared with the CN treatment, the rape yield decreased by 2.9%-29.3% under the recommend nitrogen treatments (RN, RN, RND and RNBD). However, under the same nitrogen application rate, the rape yield increased by 34.4% in the treatment of recommend nitrogen combined with biochar and DCD (RNBD), indicating that biochar and DCD showed a synergistic effect on rape yield increase (P<0.05). The recommend nitrogen treatments reduced the soil N2O emissions by 29.4%-76.5% in comparation with the CN treatment, especially the RND treatment showed the best effect. However, the recommend nitrogen treatments showed little effect on soil CO2 and CH4 emissions. Compared with the CN treatment, the total GWP under the recommended nitrogen treatments decreased by 4.3%-51.2%, and the RND treatment showed the best emission-reduction effect. In terms of GHGI, the difference among the recommended nitrogen treatments was not significant (P>0.05), and the RND treatment also showed the best emission-reduction effect.

【Conclusion】

Under the same nitrogen application rate, the application of biochar alone or DCD alone had little effect on rape yield, but the combination of biochar and DCD could significantly increase the rape yield. Additionally, the combination of biochar and DCD could reduce the cumulative greenhouse gas emissions and GWP, but it was not superior to single application of DCD in the facility vegetable field.

Issue
Spatial Distribution of Nitrate in Vineyards Soils in Yongding River Basin, Hebei Province
Scientia Agricultura Sinica 2023, 56(17): 3399-3411
Published: 01 September 2023
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【Objective】

The relationship between nitrogen input, elevation of vineyards and soil nitrate content and accumulation in Yongding River Basin was studied, in order to provide a theoretical basis for rational fertilization and reduction of environmental pollution risks of vineyards in Yongding River Basin.

【Method】

52 typical vineyards in Yongding River Basin of Hebei Province were selected as the research objects. The current situation of nutrient input in the vineyard was analyzed through field investigation. Soil nitrate contents of 0-60 cm (20 cm interval) was measured through indoor analysis, and its accumulation and surplus were calculated. Spatial variability of nitrogen input and surplus, soil nitrate content and accumulation were analyzed by ArcGIS geostatistics.

【Result】

Less than 50% of farmers in Yongding River basin applied organic fertilizer, mainly using inorganic fertilizer. The average nitrogen input in upstream and downstream vineyards was (1 492.79±988.90) and (1 079.31±638.25) kg·hm-2, respectively. The average nitrogen surplus were (1 430.41±993.01) and (1 027.23±637.37) kg·hm-2, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between nitrogen input and surplus (P<0.01), and the spatial distribution showed a decreasing trend from west to east. The variation and spatial distribution of soil nitrate content and accumulation in different soil layers were consistent. The low value area was mainly distributed in the downstream, while the high value area was mainly distributed in the upstream. The average nitrate content of 0-60 cm soil profile in the upper and lower reaches was 34.96 and 18.76 mg·kg-1, respectively, and the average cumulative amount was 92.44 and 48.12 kg·hm-2, respectively, which showed significant differences among different soil layers. Soil nitrate content and accumulation in the upper reaches were the lowest in the 20-40 cm soil layer, and increased with the increase of soil layer in the lower reaches. Soil nitrate content and accumulation in the upper reaches were the highest at 600-650 m elevation, which were significantly higher than those at other elevations (P<0.05). However, soil nitrate content and accumulation in the lower reaches were not significantly affected by elevation. Correlation analysis showed that the distribution of nitrate accumulation in the surface layer were mainly affected by elevation, while in the bottom layer were mainly affected by nitrogen input.

【Conclusion】

In the Yongding River Basin, the nitrogen surplus of vineyards in the study area was serious, and the nitrate in the vertical soil layer accumulated to the deep layer. The soil nitrate content and accumulation at different elevations (except 450-500 m) were higher in the upstream than in the downstream, but the variation trend of vertical distribution was different, which was jointly affected by the elevation and nitrogen input.

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