Integrated organic-inorganic fertilization enhances soil enzyme activity and reduces agricultural emissions in pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) production systems

Ammonia (NH 3 ) volatilization and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from intensive fertilization practices threaten sustainable vegetable production. This study evaluated whether integrated organic-inorganic fertilization could reduce agricultural emissions while maintaining pakchoi ( Brassica chinensis L.) productivity. A two-year field experiment was conducted to assess NH 3 volatilization, GHG emissions, soil enzyme activities, crop growth, and yield under five fertilization regimes. Compared with sole inorganic fertilization, the combined application of reduced inorganic fertilizer and organic fertilizer (IO1) significantly decreased cumulative N 2 O emissions by 5.34–37.16%, while increasing yield by 4.59–25.36%. IO1 also enhanced catalase activities by 2.61–79.80%, respectively. Correlation and grey relational analyses further indicated that catalase activity and CH 4 flux were closely associated with pakchoi growth and yield. These results suggest that integrated organic-inorganic fertilization is a promising strategy for improving soil enzyme activity, sustaining crop productivity, and reducing agricultural emissions in arid vegetable production systems.