Agronomic and Environmental Implications of Substituting Pig Slurry for Synthetic Nitrogen in Mediterranean Wheat Systems
Mateo-Marín, Noemí | Isla, Ramón | Guillén, Mónica | Quílez, Dolores
Using slurries as fertilizers is a promising strategy for the reuse of nutrients and striving towards a circular economy. This study aims to assess the agronomic productivity and the environmental effects on Mediterranean sprinkler-irrigated wheat during three consecutive years of (1) the use of pig slurry (PS) as a substitute for a synthetic fertilizer (urea, U) and (2) the addition of a urease inhibitor (monocarbamide dihydrogen sulfate, MCDHS) to pig slurry (PSI). A nitrogen (N) target rate of 120 kg NH₄⁺-N ha⁻¹ as U, PS, or PSI (main factor) was applied at tillering, and it was supplemented with N application at stem elongation (secondary factor). Grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency indexes, and nitrous oxide emissions were not significantly affected by the N source, U, or PS; in contrast to grain protein that was affected by the N source (lower protein content in PS). The higher unaccounted N from soil balance in PS compared to U fertilization could be associated with higher ammonia volatilization, although additional studies should confirm this hypothesis. Our study suggests that, under the considered cropping conditions, PS does not affect productivity or N₂O losses compared to U. The addition of MCDHS to pig slurry did not display agronomic or environmental benefits under the evaluated agro-environmental conditions.
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