Regulation of denitrification/ammonia volatilization by periphyton in paddy fields and its promise in rice yield promotion

Abstract BACKGROUND Nitrogen (N) is the most limiting nutrient in rice production. N loss via denitrification and ammonia (NH 3 ) volatilization decreases N utilization efficiency. The effect of periphyton (a widespread soil surface microbial aggregate in paddy soil) on N‐cycling processes and rice growth in paddy soils remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to reveal the interactions of periphyton with the overlying water and sediment in paddy soils on denitrification/NH 3 emissions and rice yield by combining pot experiments and path analysis modeling. RESULTS The sediment exerted significant direct and positive effects on denitrification. The periphyton both directly and indirectly enhanced denitrification, mainly by regulating the ammonium (NH 4 + )‐N content in the sediment. The total contribution of periphyton to denitrification was stronger than that of the overlying water but smaller than that of the sediment. The pH in the overlying water and the NH 4 + ‐N content in the sediment had a strong positive effect on NH 3 volatilization. Although the periphyton biomass and chlorophyll a directly prohibited NH 3 emissions, this was counterbalanced by the indirect stimulation effects of the periphyton due to its positive alteration of the pH. Moreover, periphyton facilitated rice yield by 10.2% by releasing N. CONCLUSION Although the periphyton may have driven N loss by regulating the NH 4 + ‐N content in the sediment and the pH in the overlying water, our study also found that the periphyton was considered a temporary N sink and provided a sustained release of N for rice, thus increasing the rice yield. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.