Integrated agronomic practice increases maize grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency under various soil fertility conditions

Crop yield potential can be increased through the use of appropriate agronomic practices. Integrated agronomic practice (IAP) is an effective way to increase maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE);however, the physiological processes associated with gains in yield potential obtained from IAP, particularly the different under various soil fertility conditions, remain poorly understood. An IAP strategy including optimal planting density, split fertilizer application, and subsoiling tillage was evaluated over two growing seasons to determine whether the effects of IAP on maize yield and NUE differ under different levels of soil fertility. Compared to farmers' practices (FP), IAP increased maize grain yield in 2013 and 2014 by 25% and 28%, respectively, in low soil fertility (LSF) fields and by 36% and 37%, respectively, in high soil fertility (HSF) fields. The large yield gap was attributed mainly to greater dry matter (DM) and N accumulation with IAP than with FP owing to increased leaf area index (LAI) and DM accumulation rate, which were promoted by greater soil mineral N content (Nmin) and root length. Post-silking DM and N accumulation were also greater with IAP than with FP under HSF conditions, accounting for 60% and 43%, respectively, of total biomass and N accumulation;however, no significant differences were found for post-silking DM and N accumulation between IAP and FP under LSF conditions. Thus, the increase in grain yield with IAP was greater under HSF than under LSF. Because of greater grain yield and N uptake, IAP significantly increased N partial factor productivity, agronomic N efficiency, N recovery efficiency, and physiological efficiency of applied N compared to FP, particularly in the HSF fields. These results indicate that considerable further increases in yield and NUE can be obtained by increasing effective soil N content and maize root length to promote post-silking N and DM accumulation in maize planted at high plant density, especially in fields with low soil fertility.

Tillage and straw mulching impacts on grain yield and water use efficiency of spring maize in Northern Huang–Huai–Hai Valley

A two-year field experiment(2012–2013) was conducted to investigate the effects of two tillage methods and five maize straw mulching patterns on the yield, water consumption,and water use efficiency(WUE) of spring maize(Zea mays L.) in the northern Huang–Huai–Hai valley of China. Compared to rotary tillage, subsoil tillage resulted in decreases in water consumption by 6.3–7.8% and increases in maize yield by 644.5–673.9 kg ha-1, soil water content by 2.9–3.0%, and WUE by 12.7–15.2%. Chopped straw mulching led to higher yield,soil water content, and WUE as well as lower water consumption than prostrate whole straw mulching. Mulching with 50% chopped straw had the largest positive effects on maize yield, soil water content, and WUE among the five mulching treatments. Tillage had greater influence on maize yield than straw mulching, whereas straw mulching had greater influence on soil water content, water consumption, and WUE than tillage. These results suggest that 50% chopped straw mulching with subsoil tillage is beneficial in spring maize production aiming at high yield and high WUE in the Huang–Huai–Hai valley.

Effects of different continuous fertilizer managements on soil total nitrogen stocks in China: A meta-analysis

Soil total nitrogen is critical for crop productivity and related to agricultural managements. However, the effects of different fertilizer applications on soil total nitrogen storage are not well understood. To quantify soil total nitrogen storage under different fertilizer management practices and explore the effects of climate, soil texture, experimental duration, and cropping system on soil total nitrogen storage in China, we conducted a meta-analysis of 67 fertilizer management strategies from experiments conducted over a period of at least three years. This meta-analysis included 854 observations of changes in soil total nitrogen stock(TNS) under no fertilizer application(control, CK), chemical fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium(CF), CF plus straw retention(CFS), and CF plus manure addition(CFM) relative to initial soil TNS. The CFM and CFS treatments increased soil TNS, and the CFM treatments increased soil C/N ratio the most. The longer the experimental duration, the greater the increase in soil TNS in the CF, CFS, and CFM treatments.Soil texture and crop type significantly affected the changes in soil TNS. The experimental duration, initial soil TNS, soil C/N ratio, and cropping system had significant linear correlations with the change in soil TNS. Temperature and precipitation were not correlated with soil TNS. Results of random forest modeling indicated that the most important factor affecting changes in soil TNS was experimental duration(positive correlation), followed by initial soil TNS(negative correlation). The CFM treatments had the largest increase in soil TNS under various conditions. We recommend promoting CFM to improve soil fertility in farmlands globally.