Field Crop 2024, Vol.7, No.4, 191-200 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 191 Review Article Open Access Sustainable Sugarcane Cultivation: The Impact of Biological Nitrogen Fixation on Reducing Fertilizer Use Kaiwen Liang Agri-Products Application Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572000, Hainan, China Corresponding email: kaiwen.liang@hitar.org Field Crop, 2024, Vol.7, No.4 doi: 10.5376/fc.2024.07.0019 Received: 03 May, 2024 Accepted: 14 Jun., 2024 Published: 05 Jul., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Liang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Liang K.W., 2024, Sustainable sugarcane cultivation: the impact of biological nitrogen fixation on reducing fertilizer use, Field Crop, 7(4): 191-200 (doi: 10.5376/fc.2024.07.0019) Abstract Sustainable sugarcane cultivation is critical for reducing environmental impacts and enhancing agricultural productivity. This study examines the role of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in reducing the reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers in sugarcane farming; synthesizes findings from multiple studies to evaluate the effectiveness of BNF in improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), soil health, and crop yields. Key insights include the potential of legume cover crops to enhance soil nitrogen storage and microbial biomass, the genetic variability in BNF among sugarcane progenitors, and the influence of endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria on nitrogen metabolism in sugarcane. Additionally, this study highlights the environmental benefits of optimized water-fertilizer management and the synergistic effects of intercropping with legumes. The findings underscore the importance of integrating BNF strategies into sugarcane cultivation to achieve sustainable agricultural practices and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Keywords Biological nitrogen fixation; Sugarcane; Nitrogen use efficiency; Sustainable agriculture; Soil health 1 Introduction Sugarcane is a critical agricultural commodity with a significant role in the global economy, providing raw material for sugar production and biofuels, among other products (Li, 2024). It accounts for 80% of global sugar production and is the second-largest bioenergy crop worldwide (Yang et al., 2020). Major producers like Brazil have seen their sugarcane production more than double in recent decades to meet the increasing global demand for bioenergy, which helps reduce crude oil dependency and mitigate climate change (Bordonal et al., 2018). However, the intensive cultivation practices, including high nitrogen (N) fertilizer inputs, have significant environmental impacts, such as increased nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, which contribute to greenhouse gas effects (Bordonal et al., 2018; Yang et al., 2020). The rapid expansion of sugarcane cultivation has raised concerns about its sustainability, particularly regarding its environmental footprint. Therefore, optimizing the production performance and adaptability of sugarcane will not only enhance its economic value, but is also an important factor in the continued improvement of the global environment (Liang, 2024). Sustainable agriculture aims to balance the need for food and bioenergy production with the preservation of environmental quality and natural resources. In the context of sugarcane, this involves optimizing agricultural practices to reduce negative impacts such as soil degradation, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions (Bordonal et al., 2018). The adoption of best management practices, including the use of organic amendments and precision agriculture, is crucial for enhancing the sustainability of sugarcane production (Bordonal et al., 2018; Yang et al., 2020). Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) is a natural process where atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is converted into a form usable by plants through the action of symbiotic bacteria. This process can significantly reduce the need for synthetic N fertilizers, which are a major source of N2O emissions when used in sugarcane cultivation (Medorio-García et al., 2020; Yang et al., 2020). The integration of legume cover crops, which facilitate BNF, has shown promise in increasing soil nitrogen storage and reducing the dependency on synthetic fertilizers, thereby enhancing the sustainability of sugarcane production (Tenelli et al., 2021).
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