Nitrogen (N) –loaded clinoptilolite is renowned for its high–water retention and nutrient supplementation properties, which benefit crop growth. However, its combined effects with water–saving irrigation regime on N mineralization, root system characteristics, and nutrient yield, particularly their regulatory pathways, remain underexplored. This two–year split–plot experiment evaluated the impact of two irrigation regimes (ICF: continuous flooding irrigation; IAWD: alternate wet–dry irrigation) and two rates of N–loaded clinoptilolite (NZ0: no N–loaded clinoptilolite; NZ10: 10 t·ha–1) on root characteristics, mineralized N, nutrient yield, and water productivity. We employed principal component analysis (PCA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the interactions among the factors. The IAWDNZ10 treatment showed the greatest water–saving potential, increasing the irrigated area by 0.29–fold compared to ICFNZ0. N–loaded clinoptilolite under IAWD increased root surface area by 12.6 %, average root diameter by 14.2 %, and root volume by 13.8 %. Additionally, IAWD increased mineralized N by 22.4 %, while N–loaded clinoptilolite further boosted it by 34.7 %. Root characteristics (r = 0.78) were crucial mediators in the effect of N–loaded clinoptilolite on protein (r = 0.64) and amylose nutritional yield (r = 0.68). Water usage influenced protein (r = -0.93) and amylose nutritional water productivity (r =-0.67) indirectly via chalky rice rate (r =0.90). In summary, integrating N–loaded clinoptilolite with the IAWD regime not only enhanced rice root characteristics and mineralized N but also led to substantial increases in nutrient yield and water productivity. These findings underscore the potential for N–loaded clinoptilolite to be adopted as a key component in sustainable agricultural practices, offering a pathway to optimize resource use, reduce environmental impact, and improve crop productivity in water–limited regions.

中文翻译：

---

节水灌溉与含 N 斜发沸石相结合，通过改善水稻根系特性来提高养分产量和水生产力：PCA-SEM 联合分析


含氮 （N） 的斜发沸石以其高保水和养分补充特性而闻名，这有利于作物生长。然而，它与节水灌溉制度对氮矿化、根系特征和养分产量的综合影响，特别是它们的调节途径，仍未得到充分探索。这项为期两年的裂区实验评估了两种灌溉制度（ICF：连续漫灌;IAWD：干湿交替灌溉）和两种含 N 的斜发沸石（NZ0：无含 N 的斜发沸石;NZ10： 10 t·ha–1） 对根特性、矿化氮、养分产量和水生产力的影响。我们采用主成分分析 （PCA） 和结构方程建模 （SEM） 来分析因素之间的交互作用。IAWDNZ10处理显示出最大的节水潜力，与 ICFNZ0 相比，灌溉面积增加了 0.29 倍。IAWD 下含 N 的斜发沸石增加了 12.6 %的根表面积，平均根直径增加了 14.2 %，根体积增加了 13.8 %。此外，IAWD 使矿化氮增加了 22.4 %，而含氮斜发沸石进一步提高了 34.7 %。根特性 （r = 0.78） 是负载 N 的斜发沸石对蛋白质 （r = 0.64） 和直链淀粉营养产量 （r = 0.68） 影响的关键介质。水分使用通过白垩米用量 （r = 0.90） 间接影响蛋白质 （r = -0.93） 和直链淀粉营养水生产力 （r = -0.67）。总之，将含氮斜发沸石与 IAWD 制度相结合不仅增强了水稻根系特性和矿化氮，而且还导致养分产量和水生产力的大幅提高。 这些发现强调了负载 N 的斜发沸石作为可持续农业实践的关键组成部分的潜力，为优化资源利用、减少环境影响和提高水资源有限地区的作物生产力提供了一条途径。