Accounting for differences between crops and regions reduces estimates of nitrate leaching from nitrogen-fertilized soils
Abstract Nitrate (NO3 −) leaching from nitrogen (N) fertilized soils is a significant global concern, affecting both the environment and public health. However, substantial uncertainties and variabilities in NO3 − leaching factors (LFs) among regions or crops impede accurate assessments of NO3 − lea...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02001-0 |
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| author | Yan Wang Yihong Liu Longlong Xia Hiroko Akiyama Xinli Chen Ji Chen Yunying Fang Tony Vancov Yongfu Li YuanZhi Yao Dianming Wu Bing Yu Scott X. Chang Yanjiang Cai |
| author_facet | Yan Wang Yihong Liu Longlong Xia Hiroko Akiyama Xinli Chen Ji Chen Yunying Fang Tony Vancov Yongfu Li YuanZhi Yao Dianming Wu Bing Yu Scott X. Chang Yanjiang Cai |
| author_sort | Yan Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Nitrate (NO3 −) leaching from nitrogen (N) fertilized soils is a significant global concern, affecting both the environment and public health. However, substantial uncertainties and variabilities in NO3 − leaching factors (LFs) among regions or crops impede accurate assessments of NO3 − leaching. Here we synthesize 2500 field observations worldwide and show that LFs vary by an order of magnitude across regions and crops, primarily driven by hydroclimatic and edaphic conditions rather than N fertilizer management. Global cropland NO3 − leaching from synthetic N fertilization, calculated through spatially explicit (15.4, 14.8–16.1 Tg N yr–1) and crop-specific (12.9, 11.0–14.8 Tg N yr–1) LFs, is 41% lower than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Tier 1 global inventory. Over 47% of this leaching is concentrated in China, India, and the United States, with maize, wheat, rice and vegetables accounting for nearly half of it. Improved regional and crop-specific LFs will provide a benchmark for NO3 − leaching abatement by pinpointing potential global hotspots. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-50d673c0e9d94dfd85e4169b7ea548a6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-50d673c0e9d94dfd85e4169b7ea548a62025-01-19T12:40:06ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-01-016111210.1038/s43247-025-02001-0Accounting for differences between crops and regions reduces estimates of nitrate leaching from nitrogen-fertilized soilsYan Wang0Yihong Liu1Longlong Xia2Hiroko Akiyama3Xinli Chen4Ji Chen5Yunying Fang6Tony Vancov7Yongfu Li8YuanZhi Yao9Dianming Wu10Bing Yu11Scott X. Chang12Yanjiang Cai13State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, College of Environment and Resources, College of Carbon Neutrality, Zhejiang A&F UniversityState Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, College of Environment and Resources, College of Carbon Neutrality, Zhejiang A&F UniversityState Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research OrganizationState Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, College of Environment and Resources, College of Carbon Neutrality, Zhejiang A&F UniversityState Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of SciencesAustralian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan CampusNSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural InstituteState Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, College of Environment and Resources, College of Carbon Neutrality, Zhejiang A&F UniversityKey Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal UniversityState Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, College of Environment and Resources, College of Carbon Neutrality, Zhejiang A&F UniversityDepartment of Renewable Resources, University of AlbertaState Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, College of Environment and Resources, College of Carbon Neutrality, Zhejiang A&F UniversityAbstract Nitrate (NO3 −) leaching from nitrogen (N) fertilized soils is a significant global concern, affecting both the environment and public health. However, substantial uncertainties and variabilities in NO3 − leaching factors (LFs) among regions or crops impede accurate assessments of NO3 − leaching. Here we synthesize 2500 field observations worldwide and show that LFs vary by an order of magnitude across regions and crops, primarily driven by hydroclimatic and edaphic conditions rather than N fertilizer management. Global cropland NO3 − leaching from synthetic N fertilization, calculated through spatially explicit (15.4, 14.8–16.1 Tg N yr–1) and crop-specific (12.9, 11.0–14.8 Tg N yr–1) LFs, is 41% lower than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Tier 1 global inventory. Over 47% of this leaching is concentrated in China, India, and the United States, with maize, wheat, rice and vegetables accounting for nearly half of it. Improved regional and crop-specific LFs will provide a benchmark for NO3 − leaching abatement by pinpointing potential global hotspots.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02001-0 |
| spellingShingle | Yan Wang Yihong Liu Longlong Xia Hiroko Akiyama Xinli Chen Ji Chen Yunying Fang Tony Vancov Yongfu Li YuanZhi Yao Dianming Wu Bing Yu Scott X. Chang Yanjiang Cai Accounting for differences between crops and regions reduces estimates of nitrate leaching from nitrogen-fertilized soils Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Accounting for differences between crops and regions reduces estimates of nitrate leaching from nitrogen-fertilized soils |
| title_full | Accounting for differences between crops and regions reduces estimates of nitrate leaching from nitrogen-fertilized soils |
| title_fullStr | Accounting for differences between crops and regions reduces estimates of nitrate leaching from nitrogen-fertilized soils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Accounting for differences between crops and regions reduces estimates of nitrate leaching from nitrogen-fertilized soils |
| title_short | Accounting for differences between crops and regions reduces estimates of nitrate leaching from nitrogen-fertilized soils |
| title_sort | accounting for differences between crops and regions reduces estimates of nitrate leaching from nitrogen fertilized soils |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02001-0 |
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