Original research article
Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for crop growth, thus appropriate N fertilization strategy is required to enhance productivity while minimizing the losses from the arable soils. Urea (U) and ammonium sulfate (AS) can provide available soil N at different rates during cultivation due to their differential solubility, affecting plant uptake and soil properties. Co-application of U and AS may improve the efficiency of individual fertilizers, but its effects on crop yield and the related environmental properties have not been systematically studied. This study evaluated the impact of co-application of U and AS on Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) productivity by investigating N use efficiency (NUE), growth characteristics, and soil properties in a pot experiment. The experiment included four treatments: three N fertilization regimes with an equivalent N rate under the recommended fertilization rate (U alone, AS alone, and Urea+AS co-application at a 1:1 ratio), and a control treatment without N fertilizer (PK treatment). Results showed that co-application significantly increased cabbage productivity, with yield improvements of 30 - 56% compared to single N fertilizer applications. Productivity enhancement was strongly correlated with increased N uptake, NUE, and inorganic N availability in soils at the harvesting. The findings indicate that co-application may provide a balanced N supply throughout the whole growth stages, possibly optimizing N utilization by the crop. However, this study has limitations as we were not able to monitor temporal changes in soil inorganic N during the whole plant growth, emphasizing the need for further research. Nevertheless, our study suggest that co-application can effectively enhance NUE, supply available N and improve soil properties, supporting sustainable N fertilization regimes in agriculture.
An H, Lee Y, Lee J, Yoon S, Park SJ, Hong SC, Kim JH, Kim SY. 2023. Does co-application of compost and mineral fertilizers reduce gaseous nitrogen (NH3 and N2O) losses and improve nitrogen use efficiency from maize-growing soil? Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 56:119-125. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2023.56.1.119
10.7745/KJSSF.2023.56.1.119Backes AM, Aulinger A, Bieser J, Matthias V, Quante M. 2016. Ammonia emissions in europe, part II: How ammonia emission abatement strategies affect secondary aerosols. Atmos. Environ. 126:153-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.11.039
10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.11.039Bhatla SC, Lal MA. 2018. Sulfur, phosphorus, and iron metabolism in plants. pp. 481-515. In Page Lal MA (Eds.) Plant physiology, development and metabolism. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2023-1_12
10.1007/978-981-13-2023-1_12Bourceau O, Ferdelman T, Lavik G, Mussmann M, Kuypers M, Marchant H. 2023. Simultaneous sulfate and nitrate reduction in coastal sediments. ISME Commun. 3:17. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43705-023-00222-y
10.1038/s43705-023-00222-y36882570PMC9992702Chien SH, Gearhart MM, Villagarcía S. 2011. Comparison of ammonium sulfate with other nitrogen and sulfur fertilizers in increasing crop production and minimizing environmental impact: A review. Soil Sci. 176:327-335. https://doi.org/10.1097/SS.0b013e31821f0816
10.1097/SS.0b013e31821f0816Dorich R, Nelson D. 1984. Evaluation of manual cadmium reduction methods for determination of nitrate in potassium chloride extracts of soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 48:72-75. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1984.03615995004800010013x
10.2136/sssaj1984.03615995004800010013xFageria N, Dos Santos A, Coelho A. 2011. Growth, yield and yield components of lowland rice as influenced by ammonium sulfate and urea fertilization. J. Plant. Nutr. 34:371-386. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2011.536879
10.1080/01904167.2011.536879Fageria NK, Baligar VC. 2005. Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency in crop plants. Adv. Agron. 88:97-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(05)88004-6
10.1016/S0065-2113(05)88004-6Gastal F, Lemaire G. 2002. N uptake and distribution in crops: An agronomical and ecophysiological perspective. J. Exp. Bot. 53:789-799. https://doi.org/10.1093/jexbot/53.370.789
10.1093/jexbot/53.370.78911912222Haling RE, Simpson RJ, Culvenor RA, Lambers H, Richardson AE. 2011. Effect of soil acidity, soil strength and macropores on root growth and morphology of perennial grass species differing in acid‐soil resistance. Plant Cell Environ. 34:444-456. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3040.2010.02254.x
10.1111/j.1365-3040.2010.02254.x21062319Harrison R, Webb J. 2001. A review of the effect of n fertilizer type on gaseous emissions. Adv. Agron. 73:65-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(01)73005-2
10.1016/S0065-2113(01)73005-2Jo MH, Ham IK, Lee EM, Lee JE, Jiang N, Lim YP, An GH. 2010. Components in chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. Campestris) as affected by soil pH: 6.9 vs. 7.6. Korean J. Agric. Sci. 37:73-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103628609367745
10.1080/00103628609367745Kempers A, Zweers A. 1986. Ammonium determination in soil extracts by the salicylate method. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant. Anal. 17:715-723. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103628609367745
10.1080/00103628609367745Kim MH, Sin JC, Lee BW. 2005. Applicability of vegetation index and spad reading to nondestructive diagnosis of rice growth and nitrogen nutrition status. Korean J. Crop Sci. 50:369-377. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/20063044502
Kim SU, Jung ES, Lee HH, Ho JS, Hong CO. 2018. Effect of barley and hairy vetch as green manures on soil nitrogen and corn productivity. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 51:369-376. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2018.51.4.369
10.7745/KJSSF.2018.51.4.369Kumar V, Yadav D, Singh M. 1988. Effects of urea rates, farmyard manure, CaCO3, salinity and alkalinity levels on urea hydrolysis and nitrification in soils. Soil Res. 26:367-374. https://doi.org/10.1071/SR9880367
10.1071/SR9880367Lee Y, An H, Yoon S, Jeong ST, Lee CH, Das S, Kim SY. 2025. Simultaneous reduction of greenhouse gas and NH3 emissions by combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers in maize-cabbage cropping systems. J. Environ. Manage. 373:123629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123629
10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.12362939657471Lee YJ, Im EC, Lee G, Hong SC, Lee CG, Park SJ. 2024. Comparison of ammonia volatilization in paddy and field soils fertilized with urea and ammonium sulfate during rice, potato, and chinese cabbage cultivation. Atmos. Pollut. Res. 15:102049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2024.102049
10.1016/j.apr.2024.102049Li T, Wang Z, Wang C, Huang J, Feng Y, Shen W, Zhou M, Yang L. 2022a. Ammonia volatilization mitigation in crop farming: A review of fertilizer amendment technologies and mechanisms. Chemosphere. 303:134944. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134944
10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.13494435577135Li Y, Ming B, Fan P, Liu Y, Wang K, Hou P, Li S, Xie R. 2022b. Effects of nitrogen application rates on the spatio-temporal variation of leaf spad readings on the maize canopy. Agric. Sci. J. 160:32-44. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859621001052
10.1017/S0021859621001052Lee Y, An H, Yoon S, Jeong ST, Lee CH, Das S, Kim SY. 2025. Simultaneous reduction of greenhouse gas and NH3 emissions by combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers in maize-cabbage cropping systems. J. Environ. Manage. 373.123629
10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.12362939657471Lim D, Yoon S, Kim SY. 2024. Optimization of inorganic fertilization for plantain (Plantago major L.) cultivation as a nutrient-rich feed for herbivorous small pets. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 57:433-439. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.4.433
10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.4.433Lu L, Han W, Zhang J, Wu Y, Wang B, Lin X, Zhu J, Cai Z, Jia Z. 2012. Nitrification of archaeal ammonia oxidizers in acid soils is supported by hydrolysis of urea. ISME J. 6:1978-1984. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2012.45
10.1038/ismej.2012.4522592820PMC3446803MAFRA (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs). 2023. https://www.mafra.go.kr/english/index.do
Mohammed B, Bilooei SF, Dóczi R, Grove E, Railo S, Palme K, Ditengou FA, Bögre L, López-Juez E. 2018. Converging light, energy and hormonal signaling control meristem activity, leaf initiation, and growth. Plant Physiol. 176:1365-1381. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.17.01730
10.1104/pp.17.0173029284741PMC5813583Motasim AM, Samsuri AW, Nabayi A, Akter A, Haque MA, Abdul Sukor AS, Adibah AM. 2024. Urea application in soil: Processes, losses, and alternatives-a review. Discov. agric. 2:42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-024-00060-z
10.1007/s44279-024-00060-zNAS (National Institute of Agricultural Science). 2019. Fertilizer application recommendations for crops. RDA, Wanju, Korea.
NIAST (National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology). 2000. Methods of soil and plant analysis. RDA, Suwon, Korea.
Norman R, Wilson C, Slaton N, Griggs B, Bushong J, Gbur E. 2009. Nitrogen fertilizer sources and timing before flooding dry‐seeded, delayed‐flood rice. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 73:2184-2190. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2008.0309
10.2136/sssaj2008.0309Ren B, Wang M, Chen Y, Sun G, Li Y, Shen Q, Guo S. 2015. Water absorption is affected by the nitrogen supply to rice plants. Plant Soil. 396:397-410. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2603-5
10.1007/s11104-015-2603-5Song J, Yang J, Jeong BR. 2021. Growth, quality, and nitrogen assimilation in response to high ammonium or nitrate supply in cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Agronomy. 11:2556. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122556
10.3390/agronomy11122556Stenger R, Priesack E, Beese F. 1998. Distribution of inorganic nitrogen in agricultural soils at different dates and scales. Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosyst. 50:291-297. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009712916767
10.1023/A:1009712916767Sutton MA, Oenema O, Erisman JW, Leip A, Van Grinsven H, Winiwarter W. 2011. Too much of a good thing. Nature. 472:159-161. https://doi.org/10.1038/472159a
10.1038/472159a21478874Swify S, Avizienyte D, Mazeika R, Braziene Z. 2022. Comparative study effect of urea-sulfur fertilizers on nitrogen uptake and maize productivity. Plants. 11:3020. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223020
10.3390/plants1122302036432748PMC9693617Ten Berge H, Burgers S, Van der Meer H, Schröder J, Van der Schoot J, Van Dijk W. 2007. Residual inorganic soil nitrogen in grass and maize on sandy soil. Environ. Pollut. 145:22-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2006.04.003
10.1016/j.envpol.2006.04.00316781030Tholen D, Boom C, Zhu X-G. 2012. Opinion: Prospects for improving photosynthesis by altering leaf anatomy. Plant Sci. 197:92-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2012.09.005
10.1016/j.plantsci.2012.09.00523116676Valin H, Sands RD, Van der Mensbrugghe D, Nelson GC, Ahammad H, Blanc E, Bodirsky B, Fujimori S, Hasegawa T, Havlik P. 2014. The future of food demand: Understanding differences in global economic models. Agric. Econ. 45:51-67. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12089
10.1111/agec.12089Vaziritabar Y, Frei M, Yan F, Vaziritabar Y, Honermeier B. 2024. Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency and plant productivity in long-term precrop/crop rotation and fertilization management. Field Crops. Res. 306:109210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2023.109210
10.1016/j.fcr.2023.109210Wang Q, Li S, Li J, Huang D. 2024. The utilization and roles of nitrogen in plants. Forests. 15:1191. https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071191
10.3390/f15071191- Publisher :Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizer
- Publisher(Ko) :한국토양비료학회
- Journal Title :Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
- Journal Title(Ko) :한국토양비료학회 학회지
- Volume : 58
- No :1
- Pages :81-94
- Received Date : 2025-02-14
- Revised Date : 2025-02-18
- Accepted Date : 2025-02-19
- DOI :https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2025.58.1.081
Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
