Aligning Nitrogen Form With Rice Preference Through Enhanced‐Efficiency Fertilizers Raises Yield and Cuts Emissions

Chen, S., Wang, C., Zhang, X. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1961-3339, Cui, J., Zhang, J., Müller, C., Cai, Z., & Gu, B. (2026). Aligning Nitrogen Form With Rice Preference Through Enhanced‐Efficiency Fertilizers Raises Yield and Cuts Emissions. Global Change Biology 32 (3) e70817. 10.1111/gcb.70817.

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Abstract

Rice sustains nearly half of the global population, yet its nitrogen (N) use efficiency remains low, undermining both food security and environmental integrity. Rice predominantly absorbs ammonium (NH4 +), which is readily nitrified and lost through irrigation and drainage, posing a persistent management challenge. Integrating 1756 paired field observations and global modelling, we show that using enhanced-efficiency fertilizers to maintain soil NH4 + relative to conventional practices increases rice yield by 6%-10% and N use efficiency by 18%-33%, while reducing ammonia (NH3) volatilization by 16%-50%, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions by 25%-49%, and methane (CH4) emissions by 9%-30%. This N transformation-based management could reduce global N fertilizer inputs by 1.4 +/- 0.06 million tonnes (Tg), generate an additional 72 +/- 13 Tg of rice, and lower N2O, CH4, and NH3 emissions by 0.07 +/- 0.02, 6.8 +/- 2.0, and 0.6 +/- 0.2 Tg, respectively, equivalent to an annual reduction of about 202 Tg CO2-eq. The total social benefit is valued at US$51 +/- 5 billion, including US$29 +/- 2 billion in added food value, achieved with only US$1.6 +/- 0.6 billion in fertilizer investment and US$0.9 +/- 0.1 billion in transaction costs. Aligning N transformation processes with crop N preference thus represents a pivotal strategy for sustaining rice productivity while minimizing environmental impacts.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	ammonium, enhanced efficiency fertilizers, greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen cycling, nitrogen use efficiency, rice
Research Programs:	Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) > Pollution Management (PM)
Depositing User:	Luke Kirwan
Date Deposited:	07 Apr 2026 12:10
Last Modified:	07 Apr 2026 12:10
URI:	https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/21446

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