Higher Irrigation and Nitrogen Application Coupled with Low Plant Density Increased N2O Emission from Maize Farmland at the Oasis Area of Northwestern China
Aziiba, E., Guo, Y., Gou, Z., Yang, H., Fan, Z., Hu, F., Wen, Y., Zhang, X., Qiang, C. (2025). Higher Irrigation and Nitrogen Application Coupled with Low Plant Density Increased N2O Emission from Maize Farmland at the Oasis Area of Northwestern China. EKB Journal Management System, 4(4), 52-61. doi: 10.21608/jsaes.2025.415660.1165
Emmanuel Asibi Aziiba; Yao Guo; Zhiwen Gou; Hongwei Yang; Zhilong Fan; Falong Hu; Yin Wen; Xijun Zhang; Chai Qiang. "Higher Irrigation and Nitrogen Application Coupled with Low Plant Density Increased N2O Emission from Maize Farmland at the Oasis Area of Northwestern China". EKB Journal Management System, 4, 4, 2025, 52-61. doi: 10.21608/jsaes.2025.415660.1165
Aziiba, E., Guo, Y., Gou, Z., Yang, H., Fan, Z., Hu, F., Wen, Y., Zhang, X., Qiang, C. (2025). 'Higher Irrigation and Nitrogen Application Coupled with Low Plant Density Increased N2O Emission from Maize Farmland at the Oasis Area of Northwestern China', EKB Journal Management System, 4(4), pp. 52-61. doi: 10.21608/jsaes.2025.415660.1165
Aziiba, E., Guo, Y., Gou, Z., Yang, H., Fan, Z., Hu, F., Wen, Y., Zhang, X., Qiang, C. Higher Irrigation and Nitrogen Application Coupled with Low Plant Density Increased N2O Emission from Maize Farmland at the Oasis Area of Northwestern China. EKB Journal Management System, 2025; 4(4): 52-61. doi: 10.21608/jsaes.2025.415660.1165

Higher Irrigation and Nitrogen Application Coupled with Low Plant Density Increased N2O Emission from Maize Farmland at the Oasis Area of Northwestern China

Journal of Sustainable Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2025, Pages 52-61    PDF (654.55 K)
Document Type: Original research paper
DOI: 10.21608/jsaes.2025.415660.1165
Authors
Emmanuel Asibi Aziiba* 1; Yao Guo2; Zhiwen Gou3; Hongwei Yang4; Zhilong Fan4; Falong Hu4; Yin Wen4; Xijun Zhang4; Chai Qiang3
1Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR–SARI), Bawku, Ghana
2Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
3Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Arid land Crop Science, Lanzhou 730070, China.
4College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China.
Abstract
Farmlands are a major source of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, primarily due to nitrogen fertilizer applications and associated agronomic practices. Appropriate cropping systems that optimize agronomic management are urgently needed to mitigate global warming. A two-year field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 in an oasis irrigation area of Northwestern China to evaluate the effects of nitrogen rate, plant density, and irrigation level on N₂O emissions from maize fields. Treatments included three nitrogen rates (N0 = 0, N1 = 270, N2 = 360 kg N ha⁻¹), three plant densities (D1 = 75,000, D2 = 97,500, D3 = 120,000 plants ha⁻¹), and two irrigation levels (W1 = 405 mm, W2 = 324 mm) arranged in randomized complete block design. Results showed that the lowest N₂O emissions occurred under the combination of reduced irrigation (W2 = 324 mm), moderate or zero nitrogen (N1 or N0), and high plant density (D3 = 120,000 plants ha⁻¹). Conversely, the highest emissions were associated with high nitrogen (N2 = 360 kg N ha⁻¹), low plant density (D1 = 75,000 plants ha⁻¹), and high irrigation (W1 = 405 mm). Overall, N₂O emissions increased with higher irrigation and nitrogen inputs. Strategic optimization of nitrogen application rate, plant density, and irrigation level can significantly reduce N₂O emissions, supporting climate-smart agriculture in arid oasis regions.
Keywords
Crop cultivation; Greenhouse gas; Global warming; Synthetic fertilizers; Environ-mental sustainability
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