Aligning Nitrogen Form With Rice Preference Through Enhanced-Efficiency Fertilizers Raises Yield and Cuts Emissions

Rice sustains nearly half of the global population, yet its nitrogen (N) use efficiency remains low, undermining both food security and environmental integrity. Rice predominantly absorbs ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), which is readily nitrified and lost through irrigation and drainage, posing a persistent management challenge. Integrating 1756 paired field observations and global modelling, we show that using enhanced-efficiency fertilizers to maintain soil NH₄ ⁺ relative to conventional practices increases rice yield by 6%-10% and N use efficiency by 18%-33%, while reducing ammonia (NH₃) volatilization by 16%-50%, nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions by 25%-49%, and methane (CH₄) emissions by 9%-30%. This N transformation-based management could reduce global N fertilizer inputs by 1.4 ± 0.06 million tonnes (Tg), generate an additional 72 ± 13 Tg of rice, and lower N₂O, CH₄, and NH₃ emissions by 0.07 ± 0.02, 6.8 ± 2.0, and 0.6 ± 0.2 Tg, respectively, equivalent to an annual reduction of about 202 Tg CO₂-eq. The total social benefit is valued at US$51 ± 5 billion, including US$29 ± 2 billion in added food value, achieved with only US$1.6 ± 0.6 billion in fertilizer investment and US$0.9 ± 0.1 billion in transaction costs. Aligning N transformation processes with crop N preference thus represents a pivotal strategy for sustaining rice productivity while minimizing environmental impacts.