Irrigation is a considerable nitrogen input in global cropland

Irrigation is a considerable nitrogen input in global cropland | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Irrigation is a considerable nitrogen input in global cropland João Serra, Luis Lassaletta, Gerard H. Ros, Franca Giannini-Kurina, and 11 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7206628/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Irrigation unintentionally delivers reactive nitrogen to croplands via nitrate-rich water (NIrrig), yet this input remains largely absent from nitrogen budgets and policies. Here, we compile over 1300 field observations of NIrrig to quantify its magnitude and agronomic relevance, and upscale its global contribution. While the median inputs reached 19 kg N ha-1 yr-1, 10% of observations exceeded 100 kg N ha-1 yr-1. Globally, we estimate that irrigation supplies 14 Tg N yr-1, equivalent to 14% of synthetic fertilisers in croplands. Hotspots emerge in regions with intensive irrigation and high inputs, highlighting NIrrig as a substantial but underused nitrogen source. Our findings expose a major overlooked component of agricultural nitrogen budgets, offering a pathway to reduce fertiliser overuse, enhance nitrogen use efficiency and promote nitrogen circularity in irrigated systems. Earth and environmental sciences/Biogeochemistry/Element cycles Earth and environmental sciences/Hydrology Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences/Environmental chemistry/Environmental monitoring Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files SI.pdf Supplementary information Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7206628","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":490389095,"identity":"a2061199-d5a2-42ff-9eb7-c6d2ad820f25","order_by":0,"name":"João Serra","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAyklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACxgYwZYMQmEGkljQStEDBYRK0MPcfPva5oua8vHz04QMMP9sYZGc2EHLYjLTkmWeO3TbceC4tgbG3jcF4NiFbGGfwGDM2sN1m3NjDY8DA28aQOI+glv7znxkb/p2zB2lh/EuUloYcZsbGtgOJ83l4DJhBthDhsDRjxsa+5OQNPGwJh2XOSRgT9L5h/+HHjA3f7Gzn9zAffPimzEZ2xgFCWmBmGgBVApEEIWcxMMjDGYTcMwpGwSgYBSMXAADK1T70q6IL4AAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Center for Landscape Research in Sustainable Agricultural Futures (Land-CRAFT), Aarhus University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"João","middleName":"","lastName":"Serra","suffix":""},{"id":490389096,"identity":"7e0359bb-9ae8-4616-818a-e07f23029c1a","order_by":1,"name":"Luis Lassaletta","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9428-2149","institution":"Universidad Politécnica de Madrid","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Luis","middleName":"","lastName":"Lassaletta","suffix":""},{"id":490389097,"identity":"03521d01-6ea5-4151-9131-346d4490de09","order_by":2,"name":"Gerard H. 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