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Optimizing irrigation and nitrogen levels for improved soil nitrogen dynamics and use efficiency in temperate ecology of Kashmir

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Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate nitrogen dynamics and use efficiency of transplanted rice under variable irrigation regimes and nitrogen levels. Two field experiments were conducted during the 2021 and 2022 rice-growing seasons using a split-plot design with four irrigation treatments in the main plots and four nitrogen levels in the sub-plots, each replicated thrice. Results indicated that nitrogen concentration and uptake by grain and straw were significantly influenced by both irrigation scheduling and nitrogen application. Among irrigation treatments, recommended scheduling and irrigation at field capacity produced the highest nitrogen concentration and uptake, whereas 10 and 20% depletion from field capacity resulted in lower values. For nitrogen levels, 125% of the recommended dose (RDN) recorded the highest grain nitrogen content and uptake, but values were statistically similar to 100% RDN. Flooded rice cultivation led to the greatest nitrogen removal from soil, followed by field capacity and deficit irrigation treatments. The highest nitrogen use efficiency was observed under deficit irrigation, followed by field capacity, while flooded irrigation was the least efficient. Adequate irrigation (I1/I2) resulted in the highest nitrogen uptake and grain yield, while deficit irrigation (I4) saved water but led to lower yield and nitrogen use efficiency, with greater amounts of residual nitrogen remaining in the soil. Overall, applying irrigation at field capacity combined with 100% RDN was found optimal for maximizing nutrient uptake and nitrogen use efficiency in transplanted rice, suggesting a sustainable approach to improve resource use without over-application of water or fertilizer.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2025R365), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for supporting this study

Funding

Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. This work is supported by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2025R365), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for supporting this study. The article processing charge was funded by the Open Access Publication Fund of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, WaduraSopore, 193201, India

    Mohd Salim Mir, Waseem Raja, Raihana Habib Kanth, Amal Saxena & Lal Singh

  2. Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Wadura, 190006, India

    Eajaz Ahmad Dar

  3. West Florida Research and Education Centre, University of Florida, Jay, FL, 32565, USA

    Eajaz Ahmad Dar

  4. Division of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, WaduraSopore, 193201, India

    Zahoor Ahmad Shah

  5. Division of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, WaduraSopore, 193201, India

    Danishta Aziz

  6. Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P. O. Box 84428, 11671, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Laila A. Al-Shuraym & Lamya Ahmed Alkeridis

  7. Directorate of Research, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, WaduraSopore, 190025, India

    Parmeet Singh

  8. Division of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, WaduraSopore, 193201, India

    Umer Fayaz

  9. Head and Principal Scientist (Agril Extension), Division of Agricultural Extension, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, India

    Satyapriya

  10. Department of Crop and Animal Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 5, 14195, Berlin, Germany

    Amged El-Harairy

  11. Unit of Entomology, Plant Protection Department, Desert Research Center, 1 Mathaf El-Matariya St., El-Matariya, Cairo, 11753, Egypt

    Amged El-Harairy

  12. Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Sharkia, Egypt

    Ahmed A. A. Aioub

  13. Department of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt

    Samy Sayed

Authors

  1. Mohd Salim Mir
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  2. Waseem Raja
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  3. Raihana Habib Kanth
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Contributions

All authors conceived and designed the study and experiments; MSM, WR, RHK, EAD, ZAH, DA, PS, AS, LS, UF and DS performed the experiments; LAA-S, LAA, AAA, SS, and AE analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript; All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

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Zahoor Ahmad Shah, Amged El-Harairy or Samy Sayed.

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Mir, M.S., Raja, W., Kanth, R.H. et al. Optimizing irrigation and nitrogen levels for improved soil nitrogen dynamics and use efficiency in temperate ecology of Kashmir.
Sci Rep (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-32465-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-32465-1

Keywords

  • Irrigation
  • Nitrogen
  • Nutrient uptake
  • Transplanted rice
  • Flooded rice
  • Nitrogen use efficiency

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