Towards precise nitrogen fertilizer management for sustainable agriculture
Siyuan Cai, Xu Zhao, Xiaoyuan Yan
Abstract
Effective nitrogen (N) fertilizer management is crucial for meeting the growing demand for crop production while maintaining planetary boundaries within sustainable limits. Global N fertilizer recommendation techniques have evolved substantially, increasingly aligning with environmental and sustainability objectives and shaping global usage patterns. However, encouraging widespread adoption of these recommendations remains a crucial challenge. A historical review of N fertilizer rate optimization strategies reveals a clear trend toward a greater emphasis on environmental conservation and technological innovation. These strategies can generally be classified into three main categories based on their data inputs and methods of quantifying N rates: soil/plant testing-based techniques, modeling-based techniques, and their combination. Testing-based methods rely on in-season, real-time assessments of crop and soil conditions, while modeling-based approaches use historical spatial and temporal performance data, following the pattern of diminishing returns. Combining these two methodologies capitalizes on the strengths of each, enhancing the adaptability and precision of N fertilizer rate optimization. Building on this historical trajectory, we propose a future direction for N fertilizer recommendation systems that prioritizes improved model accuracy, timely data availability, integration of applications, cost-effectiveness, and reduced learning curves . Government policies, research funding, market incentives, and growing consumer demand for sustainably produced food are collectively driving this shift. By addressing current barriers to adoption, these approaches aim to enhance the implementation of N fertilizer recommendations and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of N fertilizer optimization.