Effects of substituting chemical fertilizers with manure on rice yield and soil labile nitrogen in paddy fields of China: A meta-analysis

Substituting chemical fertilizers with manure is an important method for efficient nutrient management in rice cropping systems of China.Labile nitrogen(N) is the most active component of the soil N pool and plays an essential role in soil fertility.However,the effects of manure substitution on soil labile N in rice cropping systems and their relationships with soil properties,fertilization practices,and climatic conditions remain unclear and should be systematically quantified.Here,we investigated rice grain yield and four types of soil labile N that have been widely reported,including available nitrogen (AN),ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N),nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N),and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN).We reviewed 187 published articles and performed a meta-analysis to quantify the effects of manure substitution on yield and soil labile N.The results showed that manure substitution increased AN,MBN,NH4+-N,and NO3--N by 11.3%,38.5%,5.9%,and 8.1%,respectively.Partial substitution significantly increased the yield by 1.4%–5.9%,but full substitution significantly decreased the yield by 2.9%.The positive effects of manure substitution on yield and AN were stronger with long-term fertilization.The differences in responses varied across specific manure types,N application rates,soil properties,and climatic factors.In conclusion,manure substitution can increase soil labile N and is regarded as an efficient strategy for improving soil N fertility and a recommended measure for applying both chemical and organic fertilizers in rice systems.This study provides evidence of the effects of manure substitution on yield enhancement by increasing soil labile N.