Nitrapyrin Mitigates Nitrous Oxide Emissions, and Improves Maize Yield and Nitrogen Efficiency under Waterlogged Field

In order to explore the effects of nitrapyrin (N-Serve) application on greenhouse gas emission and nitrogen (N) leaching of a waterlogged maize (Zea mays L.) field, we investigated the effects of applying nitrapyrin on soil ammonium (NH(4)(+)-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO(3)(−)-N) content, nitrous oxide (N(2)O) fluxes, and the warming potential (GWP(N(2)O)) in a waterlogged maize field. The design included three treatments: waterlogging treatment with only urea application (V-3WL), waterlogging treatment with urea and nitrapyrin application (V-3WL+N), and no waterlogging treatment applying only urea (CK). Our results revealed that waterlogging led to the increase of nitrate concentrations across the soil profile, thus potentially increasing N leaching and decreasing N use efficiency. The accumulated N(2)O emissions increased significantly in waterlogged plots compared to control plots, and maximum N(2)O emission fluxes occurred during the process of soil drying after waterlogging; this resulted in an increase in GWP(N(2)O) and N(2)O greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI(N(2)O)) by 299% and 504%, respectively, compared to those of CK. However, nitrapyrin application was able to reduce N(2)O emissions. Nitrapyrin application was also good for decreasing GWP(N(2)O) and GHGI(N(2)O) by 34% and 50%, respectively, compared to V-3WL. In addition, nitrapyrin application was conducive to reduce N leaching and improve N use efficiency, resulting in a yield increase by 34%, compared to that of V-3WL. The application of nitrapyrin helped to mitigate agriculture-source greenhouse effects and N leaching induced by waterlogging, and was a high N-efficient fertilizer method for a waterlogged field.