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Long-term effects of nitrogen fertilization on methane emissions in drained tropical peatland

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Abstract

Nitrogen (N) fertilization improves crop productivity. However, the long-term effects of N application on methane (CH4) emissions in drained peat soils, particularly under different hydrological conditions, remain poorly understood. Accurate quantification of CH4 emissions from peatlands is essential for assessing carbon losses and formulating effective climate change mitigation strategies. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of N fertilization on CH4 emissions and identify the main factors influencing CH4 emissions from drained tropical peatlands. This study was conducted on an oil palm plantation in Sarawak, Malaysia, a randomized block design included four N fertilizer treatments: Control (0 kg N ha− 1 yr− 1) (T1); low (31.1 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) (T2), moderate (62.2 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) (T3), and high (124.3 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) (T4). Soil CH4 fluxes showed no statistically significant differences between treatments or across years, with emissions ranging from − 163.6 to 320.7 µg C m− 2 hr− 1 at T1, -86.7 to 285.8 µg C m− 2 hr− 1 at T2, -131.6 to 274.1 µg C m− 2 hr− 1 at T3 and − 125.7 to 185.9 µg C m− 2 hr− 1 at T4 (p > 0.05). Although ammonium sulfate fertilization did not significantly alter CH4 emissions, its pronounced acidifying effect on soil pH, particularly at application rates above 62.2 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ along with elevated sulfate (SO42−) inputs and nitrogen pools exceeding the critical threshold (> 400 ppm), likely suppressed methanogenic activity and constrained soil organic matter decomposition. Water-filled pore space (WFPS) influenced CH4 emissions more than groundwater level (GWL), with the low GWL at the site limiting its impact. Increased WFPS (60–80%) reduced nitrate (NO3−) through enhanced denitrification, lowering its inhibition on CH4 production and thus increasing emissions. This study highlights the key role of soil moisture and nitrogen cycling in regulating CH4 emissions in peatland.

Data availability

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

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the generous support from the Sarawak State Government and the Federal Government of Malaysia for making this research possible. We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the dedicated staff of the Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (TROPI) for their invaluable technical assistance and unwavering support throughout every phase of this study, including the challenging fieldwork. Their expertise and dedication contributed greatly to the successful completion of this study.

Funding

This research was funded by the Federal Government of Malaysia and the Sarawak State Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute, Kuching-Samarahan Expressway, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, 94300, Malaysia

    Auldry Chaddy, Faustina Elfrida Sangok, Sharon Yu Ling Lau & Lulie Melling

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  1. Auldry Chaddy
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  2. Faustina Elfrida Sangok
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  3. Sharon Yu Ling Lau
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Contributions

Literature collection, data collection and analysis were performed by Auldry Chaddy, Faustina Elfrida Sangok, and Sharon Yu Ling Lau. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Auldry Chaddy. Faustina Elfrida Sangok, Sharon Lau Yu Ling and Lulie Melling revised the draft. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Auldry Chaddy.

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Chaddy, A., Sangok, F.E., Lau, S.Y.L. et al. Long-term effects of nitrogen fertilization on methane emissions in drained tropical peatland.
Sci Rep (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-32378-z

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