All Issue

2025 Vol.58, Issue 3 Preview Page

Original research article

Evaluation of the feasibility of fertilizer deep-placement for N2O mitigation and soil fertility improvement in rice paddies of Chungnam provinces
Yun-Gu Kang1†
,
Ji-Hoon Kim2†
,
Jun-Yeong Lee1
,
Jiwon Choi2
,
Jun-Ho Kim2
,
Taek-Keun Oh3*
1Doctoral Student, Department of Bio-Environmental Chemistry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
2Master Student, Department of Bio-Environmental Chemistry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
3Professor, Department of Bio-Environmental Chemistry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
*Corresponding Author
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
31 August 2025. pp. 314-323
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

Nitrogen (N) losses occur primarily through N fertilization to the agricultural soil surface, while their efficiencies varied from various N fertilization strategies, including types, amounts, and fertilization methods. This field-based study aimed to evaluate the individual or combined effects of fertilizer deep-placement (FDP), which input N fertilizers to a soil depth of 20 - 30 cm, technique with 20% reduced N fertilization on N2O emissions and soil chemical properties in irrigated paddy soils. For assessing their N2O reduction efficiency, treatment groups were divided as follows: conventional N fertilization (control), FDP, and FDP application with 20% reduced N fertilization (FDPrf). Soil total nitrogen and NH4+ concentrations were increased by the FDP application, while the decrease in soil NO3- content was revealed. Additionally, the individual FDP amendment led significantly to decrease the soil organic matter content, resulting from the lowest value at 17.6 g kg-1. However, the co-application of FDP technique and 20% reduced N narrowed not only decreasing FDP-induced variations but also enhancing the availability of soil phosphorus and calcium compared to the conventional fertilization method. The highest daily N2O emission was observed in the control treatment (87.2 g ha-1 day-1), while FDP and FDPrf treatments reduced this to 64.7 g ha-1 day-1 and 51.3 g ha-1 day-1, respectively. In addition, cumulative N2O emission was reduced by 27% with the FDP application, while statistically significant differences were not observed between FDP and FDPrf treatments. These findings suggest that the FDP technique effectively mitigates the N2O emissions by N stabilizing (in the form of NH4+) and maintaining favorable soil environments. However, for developing FDP-based sustainable and climate- resilient agricultural approaches, the findings of our study suggest the FDP application with additional organic matter supply.

Mechanisms for nitrous oxide (N2O) generation and N2O mitigation process by application of fertilizer deep-placement from irrigated paddy soils.
Keywords
Climate change
Fertilizer
Nitrous oxide
Rice cultivation
Sustainable agriculture
References
1

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.2023.56.1.119
2

An JH, Lee CW, Ok JH, Kim MJ, Lee YJ. 2024. Gaseous and leaching loss of nitrogen during winter onion cultivation in monolithic weighable lysimeter with sandy loam texture. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 57:261-271. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.4.261

10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.4.261
3

Cao ZH, de Datta SK, Fillery IRP. 1984. Nitrogen-15 balance and residual effects of urea-N in wetland rice fields as affected by deep placement techniques. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 48:203-208. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1984.03615995004800010037x

10.2136/sssaj1984.03615995004800010037x
4

Danying W, Chang Y, Chunmel X, Zaiman W, Song C, Guang C, Xiufu Z. 2019. Soil nitrogen distribution and plant nitrogen utilization in direct-seeded rice in response to deep placement of basal fertilizer-nitrogen. Rice Sci. 26:404-415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsci.2018.12.008

10.1016/j.rsci.2018.12.008
5

Hong SC, Kim MW, Kim JH. 2023. Effect of fertilizer deep placement on rice and soybean yield using newly developed device for deep fertilization. Korean J. Environ. Agric. 42:44-51. https://doi.org/10.5338/KJEA.2023.42.1.07

10.5338/KJEA.2023.42.1.07
6

Hong SC, Lee MJ, Oh BW, Lee CM. 2025. Effect of fertilizer deep placement on reducing nitrogen fertilizer usage and increasing yield of several upland crops. Korean J. Environ. Agric. 44:29-36. https://doi.org/10.5338/KJEA.2025.44.04

10.5338/KJEA.2025.44.04
7

Kang YG, Chun JH, Yun YU, Lee JY, Sung J, Oh TK. 2024a. Pyrolysis temperature and time of rice husk biochar potentially control ammonia emissions and Chinese cabbage yield from urea-fertilized soils. Sci. Rep. 14:5692. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54307-2

10.1038/s41598-024-54307-238453974PMC10920921
8

Kang YG, Kim JH, Lee JY, Kim JH, Choi J, Oh TK. 2025. Potential role of pyrolysis temperature for brewer’s spent grain biochar on mitigating ammonia emissions from urea-fertilized soils. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 58:190-201. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2025.58.2.190

10.7745/KJSSF.2025.58.2.190
9

Kang YG, Lee JH, Lee JY, Oh TK. 2023. The effects of different management strategies on growth and quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Korean J. Agric. Sci. 50:75-86. https://doi.org/10.7744/kjoas.20230004

10.7744/kjoas.20230004
10

Kang YG, Lee JY, Cho G, Yun Y, Oh TK. 2024b. Synergy effect of silicate fertilizer and iron slag: A sustainable approach for mitigating methane emission in rice farming. Sci. Total Environ. 935:173392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173392

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173392
11

Kim AR, Lee CR, Ku HH. 2025. Effects of soil chemical properties on inorganic and organic carbon contents in organic, calcareous, and reclaimed-tidal soils. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 58:14-26. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2025.58.1.014

10.7745/KJSSF.2025.58.1.014
12

Kim JH, Kang YG, Lee JY, Kim JH, Choi JW, Oh TK. 2024. Influences of silicate fertilizers containing different rates of iron slag on CH4 emission and rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth. Korean J. Agric. Sci. 51:227-238. https://doi.org/10.7744/kjoas.510213

10.7744/kjoas.510213
13

Lee B, Sung J. 2023. Yield and nitrogen use efficiency of upland carrot affected by various basal fertilizers and fertigation ratios. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 56:260-269. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2023.56.3.260

10.7745/KJSSF.2023.56.3.260
14

Lee JY, Kang YG, Kim JH, Kim JH, Choi J, Oh TK. 2024a. Quantification of methane emissions in rice paddies: A machine learning approach with rice cultivar and transplanting date. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 57:331-343. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.4.331

10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.4.331
15

Lee JY, Park DG, Kang YG, Kim JH, Kim JH, Choi JW, Yun YU, Oh TK. 2024b. Effect of biochar derived from rice husk and chicken manure on lettuce growth and soil chemical properties. Korean J. Agric. Sci. 51:271-281. https://doi.org/10.7744/kjoas.510303

10.7744/kjoas.510303
16

Li L, He L, Li Y, Wang Y, Ashraf U, Hamoud YA, Hu X, Wu T, Tang X, Pan S. 2023. Deep fertilization combined with straw incorporation improved rice lodging resistance and soil properties of paddy fields. Eur. J. Agron. 142:126659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2022.126659

10.1016/j.eja.2022.126659
17

Li L, Tian H, Zhang M, Fan P, Ashraf U, Liu H, Chen X, Duan M, Tang X, Wang Z, Zhang Z, Pan S. 2021. Deep placement of nitrogen fertilizer increases rice yield and nitrogen use efficiency with fewer greenhouse gas emissions in a mechanical direct-seeded cropping systems. The Crop J. 9:1386-1396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2020.12.011

10.1016/j.cj.2020.12.011
18

Lim MH, Choi KS, Yun SI. 2024. Increased N2O emissions from aerobic soil with warming is mainly attributable to increased mineralization of organic nitrogen: An incubation study. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 57:164-174. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.3.164

10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.3.164
19

Liu X, Wang H, Zhou J, Hu F, Zhu D, Chen Z, Liu Y. 2016. Effect of N fertilization pattern on rice yield, N use efficiency and fertilizer-n fate in the Yangtze River Basin, China. Plos ONE 11:e0166002. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0166002

10.1371/journal.pone.016600227861491PMC5115675
20

Park JO, Kang YG, Lee DB, Lee BO, Oh TK. 2024. Effect of liquid fraction from livestock manure on short-term cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivation. Korean J. Agric. Sci. 51:625-634. https://doi.org/10.7744/kjoas.510416

10.7744/kjoas.510416
21

Seo B, Ahn H, Park K, Kim S, Kim M, Kim J, Lee Y, Sung J. 2024. Contribution of soil and crop parameters on sudangrass productivity based on farm survey. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 57:88-95. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.2.088

10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.2.088
22

Seok JH, Chung DH, Moon H. 2024. Can agricultural production stability reduce price volatility?. Korean J. Agric. Sci. 51:887-897. https://doi.org/10.7744/kjoas.510436

10.7744/kjoas.510436
23

Shin ES, Baek N, Park SW, Pia HI, Park HJ, Kim HY, Choi WJ. 2024a. Methane emission from soil surface during rice growth season under different temperature, fertilization, and rice straw input conditions. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 57:23-34. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.1.023

10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.1.023
24

Shin JH, Kang YG, Lee JY, Kim JH, Oh TK. 2024b. Effect of poultry manure biochar on soil nutrition and carbon improvement in Saemangeum reclaimed soils. Korean J. Agric. Sci. 51:643-654. https://doi.org/10.7744/kjoas.510418

10.7744/kjoas.510418
25

Takeda N, Friedl J, Rowlings D, De Rosa D, Scheer C, Grace P. 2021. Exponential response of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions to increasing nitrogen fertilizer rates in a tropical sugarcane cropping system. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 313:107376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2021.107376

10.1016/j.agee.2021.107376
26

Wu P, Chen G, Liu F, Cai T, Zhang P, Jia Z. 2021. How does deep-band fertilizer placement reduce N2O emissions and increase maize yields?. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 322:107672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2021.107672

10.1016/j.agee.2021.107672
27

Wu P, Liu F, Li H, Cai T, Zhang P, Jia Z. 2023. Suitable fertilizer application depth can increase nitrogen use efficiency and maize yield by reducing gaseous nitrogen losses. Sci. Total Environ. 781:146787. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146787

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146787
28

Zhang C, Song X, Zhang Y, Wang D, Rees RM, Ju X. 2022. Using nitrification inhibitors and deep placement to tackle the trade-offs between NH3 and N2O emissions in global croplands. Glob. Chang. Biol. 28:4409-4422. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16198

10.1111/gcb.16198
Information
  • 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 :3
  • Pages :314-323
  • Received Date : 2025-05-21
  • Revised Date : 2025-07-08
  • Accepted Date : 2025-07-09
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2025.58.3.314
Journal Informaiton Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
KJSSF Online Submission
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • crossref crossmark
  • crossref cited-by
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close