Optimizing nitrogen management for grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in summer maize via coordinating the N supply–demand balance

doi:10.1016/j.jia.2024.12.028

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Jiyu Zhao, Xudong Sun, Yuqi Xue, Alam Sher, Jiayu Ran, Peng Liu, Bin Zhao, Baizhao Ren, Ningning Yu, Hao Ren, Jiwang Zhang^#

Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China

Highlights

l Early-maturing hybrids have lower N uptake than late-maturing summer maize hybrids.

l CRU or SAU can achieve N supply-demand balance of early-maturing hybrids.

l CRU combined with SAU can achieve N supply-demand balance of late-maturing hybrids.

Abstract
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摘要

明确不同玉米品种的氮素吸收和利用特性对于优化氮肥施用和提高生产效益至关重要。大田条件下设置4个氮肥管理方式：控释尿素（CRU）作为基肥（TC）、普通尿素作为基肥（T1）、普通尿素分2次施肥(播种时施入40%+小喇叭口期施入60%，T2)和普通尿素分3次施肥(播种时施入30%+小喇叭口期施入50%+抽雄期施入20%，T3)，结合¹⁵N同位素示踪技术，研究其对2个玉米品种DH518(中早熟品种)和DH605(中晚熟品种)氮素吸收、氮素利用效率和产量的影响。结果表明，与T1相比，CRU作基肥、尿素分2次和分3次施用显著提高了籽粒产量和氮肥利用率，同时减少了环境氮损失。与T1相比，TC、T2和T3处理下DH518的籽粒产量分别增加了11.1%、9.8%和11.7%，而DH605分别增加了16.4%、15.7%和22.9%。回归分析显示，DH518的籽粒产量随着花后氮素积累量、总氮素积累量、氮素回收效率和氮素营养指数（NNI）的增加，呈现出先快速后缓慢的双线性增长趋势。相比之下，DH605则表现出单一的线性回归关系，且增幅较快。在T3处理下，DH518在播种阶段施氮和在V9期追氮的作物氮回收率（CRN）分别比在VT期追氮高出60.0%和62.4%，而DH605在V9期追氮和VT期追氮的CRN分别比在播种阶段施氮高出37.7%和37.1%。DH518较高的花前氮素需求和较短的生育期维持了氮素供需平衡，导致在T2和TC处理下NNI（NNI≥0.988）处于产量缓慢增加的范围，而DH605植株的氮素状况仅在T3处理下达到最优水平。因此，建议中晚熟品种采用分3次施用尿素或将CRU作为基肥并在生育后期追施尿素以获得最佳产量。此外，对于中早熟品种，施用CRU或减少分施次数，如分2次施用，可保证生育后期氮素供应充足，提高产量和效益。

Abstract

Characterizing the N uptake and utilization of different maize hybrids is essential for optimizing N application and increasing the profits from maize production. Research trials were conducted with controlled-release urea (CRU) as a base fertilizer (TC) and urea split application in one (T1), two (T2), and three (T3) stages to evaluate the effects on N uptake, NUE, and yield using the ¹⁵N tracer technique between two maize hybrids; DH518 (an mid-early-maturing hybrid) and DH605 (a late-maturing hybrid). According to the results, compared with urea, CRU as a base fertilizer and urea split application in two and three stages significantly increased grain yield and NUE while reducing environmental N loss. Compared with T1, the grain yields of the TC, T2, and T3 treatments were, respectively, increased by 11.1, 9.8, and 11.7% in DH518 and by 16.4, 15.7, and 22.9% in DH605. Regression analysis showed that the grain yield of DH518 displayed a bilinear trend of an initial rapid increase and then a slow increase with the increase in post-anthesis N accumulation, total N accumulation, N recovery efficiency, and N nutrition index (NNI). By contrast, DH605 consistently showed a linear regression relationship with a rapid increase. The crop recovery N efficiency (CRN) values in the T3 treatment for urea applied at the sowing stage and topdressing at the V9 stage in DH518 were 60.0 and 62.4% higher than under topdressing at the VT stage, respectively, while the CRN values of urea topdressing at the V9 and VT stages in DH605 were 37.7 and 37.1% higher than when applied at the sowing stage, respectively. The higher pre-anthesis N demand and shorter growth period of DH518 maintained the N supply–demand balance, resulting in NNI (NNI≥0.988) falling within the range of slow yield increase under the T2 and TC treatments, while the N status of DH605 plants only reached optimal levels in the T3 treatment. Therefore, a split three-stage application of urea or applying CRU as a base fertilizer and topdressing with urea in the later growth stages is recommended for mid-late-maturing hybrids to obtain an optimal yield. In addition, for mid-early-maturing hybrids, applying CRU or reducing the number of times of split application, e.g., a split two-stage application, can ensure an adequate N supply in the later growth stages and increase production and thus profits.

Keywords: summer maize ¹⁵N tracer technique N use efficiency N nutritional index grain yield

Online: 24 December 2024

Fund:

This study was supported by the National Major Science and Technology Projects of Agricultural of China (FSNK202218080314), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32172115), China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA (CARS-02-21).

About author: Jiyu Zhao, Tel: +86-538-8245838, E-mail: 993963997@qq.com; #Correspondence Jiwang Zhang, Tel: +86-538-8245838, E-mail: jwzhang@sdau.edu.cn

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Jiyu Zhao, Xudong Sun, Yuqi Xue, Alam Sher, Jiayu Ran, Peng Liu, Bin Zhao, Baizhao Ren, Ningning Yu, Hao Ren, Jiwang Zhang. 2024. Optimizing nitrogen management for grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in summer maize via coordinating the N supply–demand balance. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, Doi:10.1016/j.jia.2024.12.028

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