Opportunities to improve nitrogen use efficiency in an intensive vegetable system without compromising yield

Abstract

Intensive vegetable cropping systems rely heavily on nitrogen (N) inputs from multiple synthetic and organic fertilizer applications. The majority of applied N is lost to the environment through numerous pathways, including as nitrous oxide (N2O). A field trial was conducted to examine the opportunities to reduce N input in an intensive vegetable system without compromising yield. Treatments applied were control (no N), manure (M, 408 kg N ha–1 from chicken manure), grower practice (GP, 408 kg N ha–1 from chicken manure + 195 kg N ha–1 from fertilizer), and 2/3 GP (two-thirds of the total N input in GP), all with and without 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP). Nitrogen recovery in the GP ..