Enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers maintain yields and mitigate global warming potential in an intensified spring wheat system

Abstract Enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers (EENFs), including nitrification inhibitors (NIs) and slow-release fertilizers (SRFs), are considered a feasible pathway for improving grain yield and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the usage of EENFs in an intensified spring wheat system has not been well documented. The combined application of EENFs with water and fertilizer management (EENFs-WFM) was investigated in an irrigated spring wheat cropping system over two years. Measurements of soil nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes were taken across five treatments: no N fertilizer as a control (CK), conventional N fertilization and irrigation (Con), optimum N fertilization and irrigation (Opt), optimum N fertilization and irrigation plus nitrification inhibitor (Opt + NI), and optimum N fertilization as slow-release fertilizer and irrigation (Opt-SRF). The cumulative N2O emissions in both growing seasons were significantly (P