Abstract: 【Objective】This study aimed to estimate differences in the effects of P fertilizer application on maize yield increases among the different ecological zones and counties of Jilin province, and further to improve yield level and P fertilizer efficiency by optimizing regional P fertilizer management and allocation. 【Method】A total of 1 110 maize “3414” field experiments were conducted in Jilin province during 2005-2013, the data of the -P (No P fertilizer applied) and +P (P fertilizer applied as recommended) treatments in these experiments were collected in this study, and the indexes such as yield increase, agronomic efficiency (AE) and fertilizer contribution rate (FCR) of P fertilizer were calculated at regional and county levels, aiming to compare maize yield response to P fertilizer among the ecological zones. Moreover, the relationships between maize yield in +P treatment, FCR and the yield in -P treatment were established to investigate the effects of soil indigenous P supply on P fertilizer responses of maize yield among different ecological zones.【Result】The results showed that P fertilizer application played an important role for ensuring high yield in recent maize production of Jilin province. The yield response to P fertilizer was 1.4 t·hm^-2 (18.4%) in the eastern humid mountainous area (EHMA), 1.2 t·hm^-2 (14.5%) in the central semi-humid plain area (CSPA) and 1.7 t·hm^-2 (24.7%) in the western semi-arid plain area (WSPA), respectively. Under current optimal P application rate condition, the averaged 23.2 kg·kg^-1 for AE of P fertilizer being in the EHMA, the averaged 17.5 kg·kg^-1 being in the CSPA, and the averaged 24.1 kg·kg^-1 being in the WSPA; and the values were 14.6%, 11.9%, and 18.3% for FCR of P fertilizer in the three ecological zones, respectively. The results of statistical analysis suggested that maize yield response and FCR of P fertilizer were higher in the WSPA than those in the EHMA and CSPA, while AE was higher in WSPA and CSPA than that in the EHMA. Across all the ecological zones, significant positive and linear correlations were observed in maize yields between -P and +P treatments, the model equation was y =0.855 x + 2605(R²=0.697**) in the EHMA, y=0.846 x + 2658(R²=0.739**) in the CSPA and y=0.761 x + 3545(R²=0.623**) in the WSPA. Meanwhile, significant negative and logarithmic correlations were observed between FCPs of P fertilizer and maize yields in -P treatment, these model equations were y= -21.8 ln(x) + 211.7(R²=0.248**), y= -18.8 ln(x) + 183.3(R²=0.230**) and y = -26.7 ln(x) + 257.4(R²=0.342**) in the three ecological zones, respectively. With the increasing maize yield in -P treatments, WSPA showed higher magnitude of change in maize yield increase in +P treatment but lower performance in FCR of P fertilizer than the other ecological zones.【Conclusion】In conclusion, P fertilizer response to maize yield was significantly affected by ecological zones due to natural environment characteristics and soil fertility, and thereby P fertilizer should be allocated and managed appropriately in the crop production based on regional soil indigenous P supply and crop response to P fertilization. Compared with EHMA and CSPA, soil indigenous P supply was relatively lower in the WSPA whilst greater yield increases were observed when P fertilizer was applied. For the maize production in Jilin province, P fertilizer management and adjustment should receive more attention in the WSPA than the other ecological zones, and also should combine with other cultivation management practices to improve yield level and fertilizer use efficiency simultaneously.

Key words: Jilin province, ecological zones, phosphorous fertilizer, maize yield, fertilizer use efficiency