Do nitrogen fertilizers stimulate or inhibit methane emissions from rice fields?

Stimulation of long-term ammonium nitrogen deposition on methanogenesis by Methanocellaceae in a coastal wetland

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition caused by human activities has been receiving much attention. Here, after long-term simulated ammonium and nitrate nitrogen deposition (NH₄Cl, KNO₃, and NH₄NO₃) in the Yellow River Delta (YRD), a sensitive coastal wetland ecosystem typified by a distinct wet and dry season, methane fluxes were measured, by adopting a closed static chamber technique. The results showed that deposition of ammonium nitrogen accelerated methane emissions all year round. Ammonium nitrogen deposition transformed the YRD from a methane sink into a source during the dry season. Methanocellaceae is the only methanogen with increased abundance after the application of NH₄Cl and NH₄NO₃, which promoted methane emissions, during the wet season. The findings suggested that Methanocellaceae may facilitate methane emissions in response to increased ammonium nitrogen deposition. Other methanogens might have profited from ammonium supplementation, such as Methanosarcinaceae. Deposition of nitrate nitrogen did not affect methane flux significantly. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to show that Methanocellaceae may be responsible for methane production in coastal wetland system. This study highlights the significant effect of ammonium nitrogen and slight effect of nitrate nitrogen on methane emission in the YRD and it will be helpful to understand the microbial mechanism responding to increased nitrogen deposition in the sensitive coastal wetland ecosystem.

Diurnal variation of CO2, CH4, and N2O emission fluxes continuously monitored in-situ in three environmental habitats in a subtropical estuarine wetland

Wetlands play a crucial role in modulating atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). The key factors controlling GHG emission from subtropical estuarine wetlands were investigated in this study, which continuously monitored the uptake/emission of GHGs (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O) by/from a subtropical estuarine wetland located in the Minjiang estuary in the coastal region of southeastern China. A self-designed floating chamber was used to collect air samples on-site at three environmental habitats (Phragmites australis marsh, mudflats, and river water). The CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O concentrations were then measured using an automated nondispersive infrared analyzer. The magnitudes of the CO₂ and N₂O emission fluxes at the three habitats were ordered as river water>P. australis>mudflats. P. australis emitted GHGs through photosynthesis and respiration processes. Emissions of CH₄ from P. australis and the mudflats were revealed to be slightly higher than those from the river water. The total GHG emission fluxes at the three environmental habitats were quite similar (4.68-4.78gm^-2h^-1). However, when the total carbon dioxide equivalent fluxes (CO₂-e) were considered, the river water was discovered to emit the most CO₂-e compared with P. australis and the mudflats. Based on its potential to increase global warming, N₂O was the main contributor to the total GHG emission, with that emitted from the river water being the most considerable. Tidal water carried onto the marsh had its own GHG content and thus has acted as a source or sink of GHGs. However, water quality had a large effect on GHG emissions from the river water whereas the tidal water height did not. Both high salinity and large amounts of sulfates in the wetlands explicitly inhibited the activity of CH₄-producing bacteria, particularly at nighttime.

Effects of the addition of nitrogen and sulfate on CH4 and CO2 emissions, soil, and pore water chemistry in a high marsh of the Min River estuary in southeastern China

Exogenous nitrogen (N) and sulfate (SO₄^2-), resulting from human activity, can strongly influence the emission of CH₄ and CO₂ from soil ecosystems. Studies have reported the effects of N and SO₄^2- on CH₄ and CO₂ emissions from inland peatlands and paddies. However, very few studies have presented year-round data on the effects of the addition of N and SO₄^2- on CH₄ and CO₂ emissions in estuarine marshes. The effects of the addition of N and SO₄^2- on the emission of CH₄ and CO₂ were investigated in a Cyperus malaccensis marsh in the high tidal flat of the Min River estuary of southeastern China from September 2014 to August 2015. Dissolved NH₄Cl, KNO₃, and K₂SO₄ were applied every month, in doses of 24gN/SO₄^2-m^-2·yr^-1. The emission of CH₄ and CO₂ showed distinct monthly and seasonal variations. Compared with the control, the addition of NH₄Cl and NH₄NO₃+K₂SO₄ showed increases in CH₄ fluxes (p<0.05), while the effects of the addition of KNO₃ and K₂SO₄ on CH₄ were minor (p>0.05). NH₄Cl had a positive impact on CO₂ emissions (p<0.01), while the addition of KNO₃, K₂SO₄, and NH₄NO₃+K₂SO₄ had minor positive impacts, compared to the control (p>0.05). Correlation analysis found that soil sulfate concentration, nitrogen availability and enzyme activity were the dominant factors influencing CH₄ and CO₂ variation. Our findings suggest that CH₄ and CO₂ emissions were influenced more by ammonium than by nitrate. We propose that the suppressive effect of additional sulfate on CH₄ production is insignificant, due to which the inhibition may be overestimated in the estuarine brackish marsh.

Effects of nitrogen application rates on net annual global warming potential and greenhouse gas intensity in double-rice cropping systems of the Southern China

The net global warming potential (NGWP) and net greenhouse gas intensity (NGHGI) of double-rice cropping systems are not well documented. We measured the NGWP and NGHGI including soil organic carbon (SOC) change and indirect emissions (IE) from double-crop rice fields with fertilizing systems in Southern China. These experiments with three different nitrogen (N) application rates since 2012 are as follows: 165 kgN ha^-1 for early rice and 225 kgN ha^-1 for late rice (N1), which was the local N application rates as the control; 135 kgN ha^-1 for early rice and 180 kgN ha^-1 for late rice (N2, 20 % reduction); and 105 kgN ha^-1 for early rice and 135 kgN ha^-1 for late rice (N3, 40 % reduction). Results showed that yields increased with the increase of N application rate, but without significant difference between N1 and N2 plots. Annual SOC sequestration rate under N1 was estimated to be 1.15 MgC ha^-1 year^-1, which was higher than those under other fertilizing systems. Higher N application tended to increase CH₄ emissions during the flooded rice season and significantly increased N₂O emissions from drained soils during the nonrice season, ranking as N1 > N2 > N3 with significant difference (P < 0.05). Two-year average IE has a huge contribution to GHG emissions mainly coming from the higher N inputs in the double-rice cropping system. Reducing N fertilizer usage can effectively decrease the NGWP and NGHGI in the double-rice cropping system, with the lowest NGHGI obtained in the N2 plot (0.99 kg CO₂-eq kg^-1 yield year^-1). The results suggested that agricultural economic viability and GHG mitigation can be simultaneously achieved by properly reducing N fertilizer application in double-rice cropping systems.

Methane production, oxidation and mitigation: A mechanistic understanding and comprehensive evaluation of influencing factors

Methane is one of the critical greenhouse gases, which absorb long wavelength radiation, affects the chemistry of atmosphere and contributes to global climate change. Rice ecosystem is one of the major anthropogenic sources of methane. The anaerobic waterlogged soil in rice field provides an ideal environment to methanogens for methanogenesis. However, the rate of methanogenesis differs according to rice cultivation regions due to a number of biological, environmental and physical factors like carbon sources, pH, Eh, temperature etc. The interplay between the different conditions and factors may also convert the rice fields into sink from source temporarily. Mechanistic understanding and comprehensive evaluation of these variations and responsible factors are urgently required for designing new mitigation options and evaluation of reported option in different climatic conditions. The objective of this review paper is to develop conclusive understanding on the methane production, oxidation, and emission and methane measurement techniques from rice field along with its mitigation/abatement mechanism to explore the possible reduction techniques from rice ecosystem.

Effect of fertilising with pig slurry and chicken manure on GHG emissions from Mediterranean paddies

Soil fertilisation affects greenhouse gas emissions. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of different fertilisation strategies on N2O, CH4 emissions and on ecosystem respiration (CO2 emissions), during different periods of rice cultivation (rice crop, postharvest period, and seedling) under Mediterranean climate. Emissions were quantified weekly by the photoacoustic technique at two sites. At Site 1 (2011 and 2012), background treatments were 2 doses of chicken manure (CM): 90 and 170kgNH4(+)-Nha(-1) (CM-90, CM-170), urea (U, 150kgNha(-1)) and no-N (control). Fifty kilogram N ha(-1) ammonium sulphate (AS) were topdress applied to all of them. At Site 2 (2012), background treatments were 2 doses of pig slurry (PS): 91 and 152kgNH4(+)-Nha(-1) (PS-91, PS-152) and ammonium sulphate (AS) at 120kgNH4(+)-Nha(-1) and no-N (control). Sixty kilogram NH4(+)-Nha(-1) as AS were topdress applied to AS and PS-91. During seedling, global warming potential (GWP) was ~3.5-17% of that of the whole rice crop for the CM treatments. The postharvest period was a net sink for CH4, and CO2 emissions only increased for the CM-170 treatment (up to 2MgCO2ha(-1)). The GWP of the entire rice crop reached 17Mg CO2-eqha(-1) for U, and was 14 for CM-170, and 37 for CM-90. The application of PS at agronomic doses (~170kgNha(-1)) allowed high yields (~7.4Mgha(-1)), the control of GWP (~6.5MgCO2-eqha(-1)), and a 13% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) to 0.89kgCO2-eqkg(-1) when compared to AS (1.02kgCO2-eqkg(-1)).

Trimethylamine stimulated and dissolved organic matter inhibited methane production in sediment from the Poyang Lake, China

Methane (CH4) emitted from wetlands contributes significantly to the greenhouse effect. The Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, is fed by five rivers and connects to the Yangtze River. The area of the lake fluctuates dramatically between drawdown and flood periods with large areas of wetlands. In order to understand the CH4 production capacity and factors that influence CH4 production in the wetland, a static closed chamber combined with a gas chromatograph technique was used to investigate the influence of substrates and electron acceptors on methanogenesis. The results showed that CH4 production capacity of sediments from the Poyang Lake was [Formula: see text] and it was stimulated by trimethylamine (TMA) to a great extent. Incubation temperature played a vital role on CH4 production in sediments and the optimum temperature for methanogenesis was 35°C. Minimum CH4 production capacity occurred with the addition of FeCl3, and the inhibitory effects of electron acceptors decreased in the sequence: FeCl3 > MnO2 > DOM > Fe2O3. In this study, DOM was demonstrated as one of the inhibitors to methanogenesis and TMA was the main substrate of methanogens in the sediments of the Poyang Lake whose pH value is 7.83.

Degraded Land Restoration in Reinstating CH4 Sink

Methane (CH₄), a potent greenhouse gas, contributes about one third to the global green house gas emissions. CH₄-assimilating microbes (mostly methanotrophs) in upland soils play very crucial role in mitigating the CH₄ release into the atmosphere. Agricultural, environmental, and climatic shifts can alter CH₄ sink profiles of soils, likely through shifts in CH₄-assimilating microbial community structure and function. Landuse change, as forest and grassland ecosystems altered to agro-ecosystems, has already attenuated the soil CH₄ sink potential, and are expected to be continued in the future. We hypothesized that variations in CH₄ uptake rates in soils under different landuse practices could be an indicative of alterations in the abundance and/or type of methanotrophic communities in such soils. However, only a few studies have addressed to number and methanotrophs diversity and their correlation with the CH₄ sink potential in soils of rehabilitated/restored lands. We focus on landuse practices that can potentially mitigate CH₄ gas emissions, the most prominent of which are improved cropland, grazing land management, use of bio-fertilizers, and restoration of degraded lands. In this perspective paper, it is proposed that restoration of degraded lands can contribute considerably to improved soil CH₄ sink strength by retrieving/conserving abundance and assortment of efficient methanotrophic communities. We believe that this report can assist in identifying future experimental directions to the relationships between landuse changes, methane-assimilating microbial communities and soil CH₄ sinks. The exploitation of microbial communities other than methanotrophs can contribute significantly to the global CH₄ sink potential and can add value in mitigating the CH₄ problems.

Greenhouse gas emissions and reactive nitrogen releases during the life-cycles of staple food production in China and their mitigation potential

Life-cycle analysis of staple food (rice, flour and corn-based fodder) production and assessments of the associated greenhouse gas (GHG) and reactive nitrogen (Nr) releases, from environmental and economic perspectives, help to develop effective mitigation options. However, such evaluations have rarely been executed in China. We evaluated the GHG and Nr releases per kilogram of staple food production (carbon and Nr footprints) and per unit of net economic benefit (CO2-NEB and Nr-NEB), and explored their mitigation potential. Carbon footprints of food production in China were obviously higher than those in some developed countries. There was a high spatial variation in the footprints, primarily attributable to differences in synthetic N use (or CH4 emissions) per unit of food production. Provincial carbon footprints had a significant linear relationship with Nr footprints, attributed to large contribution of N fertilizer use to both GHG and Nr releases. Synthetic N fertilizer applications and CH4 emissions dominated the carbon footprints, while NH3 volatilization and N leaching were the main contributors to the Nr footprints. About 564 (95% uncertainty range: 404-701) TgCO2eqGHG and 10 (7.4-12.4) Tg Nr-N were released every year during 2001-2010 from staple food production. This caused the total damage costs of 325 (70-555) billion ¥, equivalent to nearly 1.44% of the Gross Domestic Product of China. Moreover, the combined damage costs and economic input costs, accounted for 66%-80% of the gross economic benefit generated from food production. A reduction of 92.7TgCO2eqyr(-1) and 2.2TgNr-Nyr(-1) could be achieved by reducing synthetic N inputs by 20%, increasing grain yields by 5% and implementing off-season application of straw and mid-season drainage practices for rice cultivation. In order to realize these scenarios, an ecological compensation scheme should be established to incentivize farmers to gradually adopt knowledge-based managements.

Nitrogen deposition and greenhouse gas emissions from grasslands: uncertainties and future directions

Increases in atmospheric nitrogen deposition (Ndep) can strongly affect the greenhouse gas (GHG; CO2, CH4, and N2O) sink capacity of grasslands as well as other terrestrial ecosystems. Robust predictions of the net GHG sink strength of grasslands depend on how experimental N loads compare to projected Ndep rates, and how accurately the relationship between GHG fluxes and Ndep is characterized. A literature review revealed that the vast majority of experimental N loads were higher than levels these ecosystems are predicted to experience in the future. Using a process-based biogeochemical model, we predicted that low levels of Ndep either enhanced or reduced the net GHG sink strength of most grasslands, but as experimental N loads continued to increase, grasslands transitioned to a N saturation-decline stage, where the sensitivity of GHG exchange to further increases in Ndep declined. Most published studies represented treatments well into the N saturation-decline stage. Our model results predict that the responses of GHG fluxes to N are highly nonlinear and that the N saturation thresholds for GHGs varied greatly among grasslands and with fire management. We predict that during the 21st century some grasslands will be in the N limitation stage where others will transition into the N saturation-decline stage. The linear relationship between GHG sink strength and N load assumed by most studies can overestimate or underestimate predictions of the net GHG sink strength of grasslands depending on their N baseline status. The next generation of global change experiments should be designed at multiple N loads consistent with future Ndep rates to improve our empirical understanding and predictive ability.

Are Symbiotic Methanotrophs Key Microbes for N Acquisition in Paddy Rice Root?

The relationships between biogeochemical processes and microbial functions in rice (Oryza sativa) paddies have been the focus of a large number of studies. A mechanistic understanding of methane–nitrogen (CH₄–N) cycle interactions is a key unresolved issue in research on rice paddies. This minireview is an opinion paper for highlighting the mechanisms underlying the interactions between biogeochemical processes and plant-associated microbes based on recent metagenomic, metaproteomic, and isotope analyses. A rice symbiotic gene, relevant to rhizobial nodulation and mycorrhization in plants, likely accommodates diazotrophic methanotrophs or the associated bacterial community in root tissues under low-N fertilizer management, which may permit rice plants to acquire N via N₂ fixation. The amount of N fixed in rice roots was previously estimated to be approximately 12% of plant N based on measurements of ¹⁵N natural abundance in a paddy field experiment. Community analyses also indicate that methanotroph populations in rice roots are susceptible to environmental conditions such as the microclimate of rice paddies. Therefore, CH₄ oxidation by methanotrophs is a driving force in shaping bacterial communities in rice roots grown in CH₄-rich environments. Based on these findings, we propose a hypothesis with unanswered questions to describe the interplay between rice plants, root microbiomes, and their biogeochemical functions (CH₄ oxidation and N₂ fixation).

Effects of fertilization on microbial abundance and emissions of greenhouse gases (CH4 and N2O) in rice paddy fields

This study is to explore effects of nitrogen application and straw incorporation on abundance of relevant microbes and CH₄ and N₂O fluxes in a midseason aerated rice paddy field. Fluxes of CH₄ and N₂O were recorded, and abundance of relevant soil microbial functional genes was determined during rice‐growing season in a 6‐year‐long fertilization experiment field in China. Results indicate that application of urea significantly changed the functional microbial composition, while the influence of straw incorporation was not significant. Application of urea significantly decreased the gene abundances of archaeal amoA and mcrA, but it significantly increased the gene abundances of bacterial amoA. CH₄ emission was significantly increased by fresh straw incorporation. Incorporation of burnt straw tended to increase CH₄ emission, while the urea application had no obvious effect on CH₄ emission. N₂O emission was significantly increased by urea application, while fresh or burnt straw incorporation tended to decrease N₂O emission. The functional microbial composition did not change significantly over time, although the abundances of pmoA, archaeal amoA, nirS, and nosZ genes changed significantly. The change of CH₄ emission showed an inverse trend with the one of the N₂O emissions over time. To some extent, the abundance of some functional genes in this study can explain CH₄ and N₂O emissions. However, the correlation between CH₄ and N₂O emissions and the abundance of related functional genes was not significant. Environmental factors, such as soil Eh, may be more related to CH₄ and N₂O emissions.

A comparison of methane emissions following rice paddies conversion to crab-fish farming wetlands in southeast China

Rice paddies and aquaculture wetlands are typical agricultural wetlands that constitute one of the important sources of atmospheric methane (CH4). Traditional transplanted rice paddies have been experiencing conversion to pond aquaculture wetlands for pursuing higher economic benefits over the past decades in southeast China. A parallel field experiment was carried out to compare CH4 emissions from a transplanted rice paddy and its converted crab-fish farming wetland in southeast China. Over the rice-growing season, CH4 fluxes averaged 1.86 mg m(-2) h(-1) from rice paddies, and 1.14 and 0.50 mg m(-2) h(-1) for the treatments with or without aquatic vegetation present in the crab-fish farming wetlands, respectively. When averaged across the treatments, seasonal CH4 emissions from crab-fish framing wetlands were 52% lower than those from rice paddies. The CH4 fluxes were negatively related to water dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration but positively related to soil/sediment dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content in crab-fish farming wetlands. Dependence of CH4 fluxes on DO or DOC was intensified by the aquatic vegetation presence. By extrapolating the present CH4 emission rate with the current rice paddy-converted aquaculture cultivation area, the seasonal CH4 emissions from inland aquaculture wetlands during the critical farming stage (20 June to 18 October) were estimated to be 33.6 Gg ha(-1) in southeast China in 2012. Rice paddies conversion to crab-fish farming wetlands might have reduced CH4 emissions by 22-54% in mainland China. Results of this study suggest that the conversion of transplanted rice paddies to crab-fish aquaculture wetlands for higher economic benefits would also lead to a lower ecosystem CH4 release rate.

Rice management interventions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions: a review

Global warming is one of the gravest threats to crop production and environmental sustainability. Rice, the staple food of more than half of the world's population, is the most prominent cause of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture and gives way to global warming. The increasing demand for rice in the future has deployed tremendous concerns to reduce GHG emissions for minimizing the negative environmental impacts of rice cultivation. In this review, we presented a contemporary synthesis of existing data on how crop management practices influence emissions of GHGs in rice fields. We realized that modifications in traditional crop management regimes possess a huge potential to overcome GHG emissions. We examined and evaluated the different possible options and found that modifying tillage permutations and irrigation patterns, managing organic and fertilizer inputs, selecting suitable cultivar, and cropping regime can mitigate GHG emissions. Previously, many authors have discussed the feasibility principle and the influence of these practices on a single gas or, in particular, in the whole agricultural sector. Nonetheless, changes in management practices may influence more than one gas at the same time by different mechanisms or sometimes their effects may be antagonistic. Therefore, in the present attempt, we estimated the overall global warming potential of each approach to consider the magnitude of its effects on all gases and provided a comprehensive assessment of suitable crop management practices for reducing GHG emissions in rice culture.

North American terrestrial CO2 uptake largely offset by CH4 and N2O emissions: toward a full accounting of the greenhouse gas budget

The terrestrial ecosystems of North America have been identified as a sink of atmospheric CO₂ though there is no consensus on the magnitude. However, the emissions of non-CO₂ greenhouse gases (CH₄ and N₂O) may offset or even overturn the climate cooling effect induced by the CO₂ sink. Using a coupled biogeochemical model, in this study, we have estimated the combined global warming potentials (GWP) of CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O fluxes in North American terrestrial ecosystems and quantified the relative contributions of environmental factors to the GWP changes during 1979-2010. The uncertainty range for contemporary global warming potential has been quantified by synthesizing the existing estimates from inventory, forward modeling, and inverse modeling approaches. Our "best estimate" of net GWP for CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O fluxes was -0.50 ± 0.27 Pg CO₂ eq/year (1 Pg = 10¹⁵ g) in North American terrestrial ecosystems during 2001-2010. The emissions of CH₄ and N₂O from terrestrial ecosystems had offset about two thirds (73 %±14 %) of the land CO₂ sink in the North American continent, showing large differences across the three countries, with offset ratios of 57 % ± 8 % in US, 83 % ± 17 % in Canada and 329 % ± 119 % in Mexico. Climate change and elevated tropospheric ozone concentration have contributed the most to GWP increase, while elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration have contributed the most to GWP reduction. Extreme drought events over certain periods could result in a positive GWP. By integrating the existing estimates, we have found a wide range of uncertainty for the combined GWP. From both climate change science and policy perspectives, it is necessary to integrate ground and satellite observations with models for a more accurate accounting of these three greenhouse gases in North America.

Methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide fluxes in soil profile under a winter wheat-summer maize rotation in the North China Plain

The production and consumption of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in soil profile are poorly understood. This work sought to quantify the GHG production and consumption at seven depths (0-30, 30-60, 60-90, 90-150, 150-200, 200-250 and 250-300 cm) in a long-term field experiment with a winter wheat-summer maize rotation system, and four N application rates (0; 200; 400 and 600 kg N ha(-1) year(-1)) in the North China Plain. The gas samples were taken twice a week and analyzed by gas chromatography. GHG production and consumption in soil layers were inferred using Fick's law. Results showed nitrogen application significantly increased N2O fluxes in soil down to 90 cm but did not affect CH4 and CO2 fluxes. Soil moisture played an important role in soil profile GHG fluxes; both CH4 consumption and CO2 fluxes in and from soil tended to decrease with increasing soil water filled pore space (WFPS). The top 0-60 cm of soil was a sink of atmospheric CH4, and a source of both CO2 and N2O, more than 90% of the annual cumulative GHG fluxes originated at depths shallower than 90 cm; the subsoil (>90 cm) was not a major source or sink of GHG, rather it acted as a 'reservoir'. This study provides quantitative evidence for the production and consumption of CH4, CO2 and N2O in the soil profile.

Optimizing rice yields while minimizing yield-scaled global warming potential

To meet growing global food demand with limited land and reduced environmental impact, agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are increasingly evaluated with respect to crop productivity, i.e., on a yield-scaled as opposed to area basis. Here, we compiled available field data on CH4 and N2 O emissions from rice production systems to test the hypothesis that in response to fertilizer nitrogen (N) addition, yield-scaled global warming potential (GWP) will be minimized at N rates that maximize yields. Within each study, yield N surplus was calculated to estimate deficit or excess N application rates with respect to the optimal N rate (defined as the N rate at which maximum yield was achieved). Relationships between yield N surplus and GHG emissions were assessed using linear and nonlinear mixed-effects models. Results indicate that yields increased in response to increasing N surplus when moving from deficit to optimal N rates. At N rates contributing to a yield N surplus, N2 O and yield-scaled N2 O emissions increased exponentially. In contrast, CH4 emissions were not impacted by N inputs. Accordingly, yield-scaled CH4 emissions decreased with N addition. Overall, yield-scaled GWP was minimized at optimal N rates, decreasing by 21% compared to treatments without N addition. These results are unique compared to aerobic cropping systems in which N2 O emissions are the primary contributor to GWP, meaning yield-scaled GWP may not necessarily decrease for aerobic crops when yields are optimized by N fertilizer addition. Balancing gains in agricultural productivity with climate change concerns, this work supports the concept that high rice yields can be achieved with minimal yield-scaled GWP through optimal N application rates. Moreover, additional improvements in N use efficiency may further reduce yield-scaled GWP, thereby strengthening the economic and environmental sustainability of rice systems.

A rice gene for microbial symbiosis, Oryza sativa CCaMK, reduces CH4 flux in a paddy field with low nitrogen input

Plants have mutualistic symbiotic relationships with rhizobia and fungi by the common symbiosis pathway, of which Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (encoded by CCaMK) is a central component. Although Oryza sativa CCaMK (OsCCaMK) is required for fungal accommodation in rice roots, little is known about the role of OsCCaMK in rice symbiosis with bacteria. Here, we report the effect of a Tos17-induced OsCCaMK mutant (NE1115) on CH4 flux in low-nitrogen (LN) and standard-nitrogen (SN) paddy fields compared with wild-type (WT) Nipponbare. The growth of NE1115 was significantly decreased compared with that of the WT, especially in the LN field. The CH4 flux of NE1115 in the LN field was significantly greater (156 to 407% in 2011 and 170 to 816% in 2012) than that of the WT, although no difference was observed in the SN field. The copy number of pmoA (encodes methane monooxygenase in methanotrophs) was significantly higher in the roots and rhizosphere soil of the WT than in those of NE1115. However, the mcrA (encodes methyl coenzyme M reductase in methanogens) copy number did not differ between the WT and NE1115. These results were supported by a (13)C-labeled CH4-feeding experiment. In addition, the natural abundance of (15)N in WT shoots (3.05‰) was significantly lower than in NE1115 shoots (3.45‰), suggesting greater N2 fixation in the WT because of dilution with atmospheric N2 (0.00‰). Thus, CH4 oxidation and N2 fixation were simultaneously activated in the root zone of WT rice in the LN field and both processes are likely controlled by OsCCaMK.

Low nitrogen fertilization adapts rice root microbiome to low nutrient environment by changing biogeochemical functions

Reduced fertilizer usage is one of the objectives of field management in the pursuit of sustainable agriculture. Here, we report on shifts of bacterial communities in paddy rice ecosystems with low (LN), standard (SN), and high (HN) levels of N fertilizer application (0, 30, and 300 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively). The LN field had received no N fertilizer for 5 years prior to the experiment. The LN and HN plants showed a 50% decrease and a 60% increase in biomass compared with the SN plant biomass, respectively. Analyses of 16S rRNA genes suggested shifts of bacterial communities between the LN and SN root microbiomes, which were statistically confirmed by metagenome analyses. The relative abundances of Burkholderia, Bradyrhizobium and Methylosinus were significantly increased in root microbiome of the LN field relative to the SN field. Conversely, the abundance of methanogenic archaea was reduced in the LN field relative to the SN field. The functional genes for methane oxidation (pmo and mmo) and plant association (acdS and iaaMH) were significantly abundant in the LN root microbiome. Quantitative PCR of pmoA/mcrA genes and a ¹³C methane experiment provided evidence of more active methane oxidation in the rice roots of the LN field. In addition, functional genes for the metabolism of N, S, Fe, and aromatic compounds were more abundant in the LN root microbiome. These results suggest that low-N-fertilizer management is an important factor in shaping the microbial community structure containing key microbes for plant associations and biogeochemical processes in paddy rice ecosystems.

Net greenhouse gas balance in response to nitrogen enrichment: perspectives from a coupled biogeochemical model

Increasing reactive nitrogen (N) input has been recognized as one of the important factors influencing climate system through affecting the uptake and emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). However, the magnitude and spatiotemporal variations of N-induced GHG fluxes at regional and global scales remain far from certain. Here we selected China as an example, and used a coupled biogeochemical model in conjunction with spatially explicit data sets (including climate, atmospheric CO2 , O3 , N deposition, land use, and land cover changes, and N fertilizer application) to simulate the concurrent impacts of increasing atmospheric and fertilized N inputs on balance of three major GHGs (CO2 , CH4 , and N2 O). Our simulations showed that these two N enrichment sources in China decreased global warming potential (GWP) through stimulating CO2 sink and suppressing CH4 emission. However, direct N2 O emission was estimated to offset 39% of N-induced carbon (C) benefit, with a net GWP of three GHGs averaging -376.3 ± 146.4 Tg CO2  eq yr(-1) (the standard deviation is interannual variability of GWP) during 2000-2008. The chemical N fertilizer uses were estimated to increase GWP by 45.6 ± 34.3 Tg CO2  eq yr(-1) in the same period, and C sink was offset by 136%. The largest C sink offset ratio due to increasing N input was found in Southeast and Central mainland of China, where rapid industrial development and intensively managed crop system are located. Although exposed to the rapidly increasing N deposition, most of the natural vegetation covers were still showing decreasing GWP. However, due to extensive overuse of N fertilizer, China's cropland was found to show the least negative GWP, or even positive GWP in recent decade. From both scientific and policy perspectives, it is essential to incorporate multiple GHGs into a coupled biogeochemical framework for fully assessing N impacts on climate changes.