A slow-release fertilizer containing cyhalofop-butyl reduces N2O emissions by slowly releasing nitrogen and down-regulating the relative abundance of nirK

To simplify the process of the application of fertilizers and herbicides for farmers, a slow-release fertilizer containing cyhalofop-butyl (SFC) was developed to prolong the combined effect of the herbicide-fertilizer and achieve a synergistic effect on weeding and reducing N2O emissions. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted using five treatments: CK (no fertilizer), CF (compound fertilizers), FC (fertilizers combined with cyhalofop-butyl), FF (film-coated compound fertilizers), and SFC (a slow-release fertilizer containing cyhalofop-butyl). The findings indicated that SFC exhibited the lowest N2O emissions, the highest paddy yield, and the highest nitrogen utilization rate among all the treatments. When compared to CF, the nitrogen release was notably delayed, leading to a significant reduction in cumulative N2O emissions under FF and SFC. When compared to CF, N2O emissions under FC were significantly decreased, suggesting that cyhalofop-butyl exerted a reduction role in N2O emissions. The SFC-treated nirK abundance was significantly lower than FF and FC, suggesting that the cyhalofop-butyl of SFC interacted with film of SFC inhibited the denitrification process in the paddy soil. Thus, the SFC reduced N2O emissions by slowing nitrogen release and down-regulating the relative abundance of nirK. [Display omitted] •Slow-release fertilizer containing cyhalofop-butyl (SFC) was environmentally friendly.•SFC had a synergistic effect on weeding and reducing N2O emissions.•SFC exhibited higher paddy yield and nitrogen utilization rate from paddy soil.•SFC reduced N2O emissions by slowly releasing nitrogen and inhibited nirK expression.