Potential of crop straw incorporation for replacing chemical fertilizer and reducing nutrient loss in Sichuan Province, China

Abstract

Sichuan Province is rich in crop straw, yet little is known about its spatial distribution pattern, potential in replacing chemical fertilizer and mitigating nutrient loss. Based on the statistical data and literature review, the spatial distribution and potential of nutrient resources in crop straw for replacing chemical fertilizers was evaluated in this study. The nutrient loss with both crop incorporation and chemical fertilizer application were examined using a nutrient release coefficient method and compared. Results showed that Chengdu Plain, Northeast and South Sichuan produced more than 95% of the total straw nutrient resources during the period of 2016-2020. The potential of crop straw to substitute potassium (K), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer were K₂O 33.08-285.95 kg hm^-2, N 9.52-82.32 kg hm^-2 and P₂O₅ 4.91-28.71 kg hm^-2, respectively. If chemical fertilizer was substituted by all the available straw nutrient resources, N and P loss can be decreased by 55.12% and 65.84% in average in Sichuan Province. 343.93 t of N loss and 20.05 t of P loss can be reduced in plain areas, 122.88 t of N loss and 46.29 t of P loss can be reduced in mountainous and hilly areas, and 5.65 t of t N loss and 3.54 t of P loss can be reduced in plateau areas. It can be concluded that there were rich crop straw nutrient resources in Sichuan Province with obvious spatial variability, solid consideration should be put on to the proper use of crop straw nutrient resources, with the aim of chemical fertilizer reduction, nutrient loss reduction and sustainable development.

Keywords: Chemical fertilizer reduction; Crop straw; Nutrient loss; Nutrient resource; Potential for replacing chemical fertilizer; Sichuan province.