Nitrogen Management Strategies in Crop Production Systems

Nitrogen is a key limiting nutrient in terrestrial agriculture, underpinning crop productivity and global food security. Strategies to optimise nitrogen supply span the selection of fertiliser types and application methods, integration of organic amendments, enhancement of biological fixation, and adoption of precision technologies. Conventional broadcast of mineral fertilisers often leads to low use efficiency, with substantial losses via leaching, volatilisation and denitrification. Controlled-release formulations, deep placement and synchronised split applications target improved synchrony between soil N availability and crop demand. Complementary approaches include crop rotations with legumes to harness biological N fixation, site-specific management guided by soil and plant sensors, and integrated water–N regimes to limit nutrient runoff. Together, these measures aim to sustain high yields, reduce environmental externalities and maintain soil health across diverse cropping systems.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Investigations into coated urea products have shown that single basal applications of controlled-release urea can maintain grain yield and aboveground biomass while permitting a 20 % reduction in total N input. Such treatments enhanced agronomic N efficiency and partial factor productivity without compromising soil fertility in single-rice systems. Mechanised side deep fertilisation at transplanting further improved N recovery and crop yield compared with surface broadcast, with recovery efficiencies rising by up to 90 % in early-season rice cultivars. Studies combining optimised N regimes with modified irrigation practices have demonstrated substantial declines in both total N and phosphorus losses from paddy fields, while preserving or enhancing rice grain accumulation. These integrated water–N management schemes underscore the value of synchronising nutrient release patterns and hydrological controls.

Nitrogen Management Strategies in Crop Production Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nitrogen management strategies in crop production systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Biological nitrogen fixation: The microbial conversion of atmospheric N₂ into plant-available ammonia, commonly facilitated by symbiotic bacteria in legume roots.

Controlled-release fertiliser: A formulation that releases nitrogen gradually over time, matching crop uptake and reducing losses.

Leaching: Downward movement of soluble nutrients, especially nitrate, through the soil profile beyond the root zone.

Mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM): Stable soil fraction where organic compounds bind to mineral surfaces, influencing long-term nutrient storage and release.

Partial factor productivity (PFP): Crop yield achieved per unit of applied nutrient, indicating agronomic efficiency.

References

1. Impact of controlled-release urea on rice yield, nitrogen use efficiency and soil fertility in a single rice cropping system. Scientific Reports (2020).
2. Mechanized transplanting with side deep fertilization increases yield and nitrogen use efficiency of rice in Eastern China. Scientific Reports (2019).
3. Nitrogen and phosphorus losses from paddy fields and the yield of rice with different water and nitrogen management practices. Scientific Reports (2020).
4. Residual nitrogen from slurry and mineral fertiliser two years after application: Fractionation and plant availability. Soil Biology and Biochemistry (2023).
5. Multiple benefits of legumes for agriculture sustainability: an overview. Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture (2017).