Summary
This meta-analysis of 144 global studies demonstrates that enhanced-efficiency fertilisers—specifically nitrification inhibitors and polymer-coated urea—improve vegetable productivity by 7.5–8.1% and substantially enhance quality metrics, including vitamin C (10.7–13.6% increase) and reduced nitrate content (17.2–25.1% reduction). Critically, these fertiliser types simultaneously reduce major reactive nitrogen losses, with polymer-coated urea proving most effective across all loss pathways, whilst nitrification inhibitors substantially reduce N₂O emissions at the expense of increased ammonia volatilisation.
Regional applicability
The findings are potentially relevant to UK horticultural systems, particularly glasshouse and field vegetable production, though effectiveness will depend on UK soil pH, organic carbon levels, and climate conditions, which the study identifies as key moderating factors. UK growers and policy-makers should note that choice of enhanced-efficiency fertiliser type carries trade-offs between N₂O and ammonia mitigation.
Key measures
Vegetable yield percentage change, nitrogen uptake, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), vitamin C content, soluble sugar content, nitrate content, N₂O emissions reduction, NH₃ volatilisation, NO₃⁻ leaching reduction
Outcomes reported
The study measured the effects of nitrification inhibitors and polymer-coated urea on vegetable yield, nitrogen use efficiency, vegetable quality parameters (vitamin C, soluble sugar, nitrate content), and reactive nitrogen losses (N₂O emissions, NH₃ volatilisation, NO₃⁻ leaching) across 144 studies worldwide.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.