Nanotechnology-driven coordination of shoot-root systems enhances rice nitrogen use efficiency

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is crucial for sustainable agriculture, aiming to reduce fertilizer input, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution.
• Current challenges involve enhancing NUE without compromising global food security.
• Synergistic approaches leveraging both above- and belowground plant processes are needed for field-scale improvements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply selenium-based nanotechnology for enhancing field-scale NUE in rice production.
• To investigate the impact of selenium nanomaterials on rice photosynthesis, rhizosphere processes, and nitrogen metabolism.
• To evaluate the environmental and economic benefits of this nano-regulation technology compared to conventional practices.

Main Methods:

• Foliar application of selenium nanomaterials to rice crops with a 30% reduction in nitrogen (N) fertilizer.
• Measurement of photosynthesis rates, carbohydrate synthesis and translocation, and rhizosphere N transformation processes (ammonification, nitrification, denitrification).
• Analysis of rice root growth, gene expression related to N uptake and translocation, yield, quality parameters, environmental impact, and economic benefits.

Main Results:

• Selenium nanomaterials significantly enhanced rice photosynthesis (40.3%) and NUE (48.3%) with 30% less N fertilizer.
• Reduced N fertilizer application by 30% led to decreased methane, ammonia, and nitrous oxide emissions (18.8% to 45.6%).
• Improved rice root growth, N uptake/translocation gene expression, quality (protein, amino acids, Se content), reduced environmental impact (41.0%), and increased economic benefits (38.2%).

Conclusions:

• Selenium-based nanotechnology effectively enhances field-scale NUE in rice by optimizing above- and belowground synergies.
• This nano-regulation technology offers a sustainable solution for reducing fertilizer input, mitigating environmental pollution, and improving agricultural economics.
• Nanotechnology holds significant potential for revolutionizing agricultural practices, particularly in improving nitrogen fertilizer utilization efficiency.