Please wait a minute...
Journal of Integrative Agriculture
Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search
Seedling fertilizer in soil-less nursery establishment improves paddy performance and complements the early nitrogen requirements: A quantitative field analysis

Wenjun He1, Bin He2, Xuejun Tang3, Boyang Wu4, Yuhui Wang2, Ganghua Li2#

1 Taizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Taizhou 318000, China

2 China- Kenya belt and road joint laboratory on crop molecular biology/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology Ecology and Production Management, Ministry of Agriculture/Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production/National Engineering and Technology Center for Information Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China

3 Linhai Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, Taizhou 318000, China

4 Jiuquan Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, Jiuquan 735000, China

 Highlights 

Transplanting with seedling fertilizer (SF) promotes rice growth during the effective tillering stage, thereby increasing yield and nitrogen use efficiency.

The residual SF could possibly substitute a 3-4 times higher amount of basal-tillering nitrogen in terms of yield.

Residual SF of 7 kg ha-1 could produce yield comparable to those obtained by using 20.6-26.6 kg ha-1 basal-tillering nitrogen. 

Download:  PDF in ScienceDirect  
Export:  BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      
摘要  水稻机插秧缓苗期秧苗活力弱,限制其对基蘖氮肥吸收和产量提高。本研究通过两地三季试验,设置带育秧肥移栽(7.0kg N/ha)和不带育秧肥移栽两个处理,及五种不同基蘖氮肥用量(0、37.5kg N/ha、75.0kg N/ha、112.5kg N/ha、150.0kg N/ha),系统分析育秧肥对水稻产量和氮肥利用率的影响。结果表明:栽后育秧肥快速释放,显著提高分蘖期干物质积累和氮吸收及其占比。与不带肥移栽处理相比,带肥移栽处理促进分蘖早生快发,显著提高有效分蘖率和穗数,产量和氮肥利用率分别提高7.8%和13.8%。值得注意的是,在少施用37.5kg/ha基蘖氮肥情况下,带肥移栽处理在一些生长季的干物重、氮吸收和产量仍与不带肥移栽处理相当。进一步对产量和基蘖氮肥用量的回归分析表明,7.0kg N/ha育秧肥发挥了24.1kg N/ha基蘖氮肥的效果。因此,带育秧肥移栽是提高水稻产量、氮肥利用率,和减少基蘖氮肥施用量的有效策略。

Abstract  

Weak seedling vigor of machine-transplanted rice during the recovery stage often limits basal-tillering nitrogen (N) uptake and yield, particularly under the split urea application with the increasing N. In this experiment, the effect of tandem long-mat seedlings (TLMS) transplanted with seedling fertilizer (SF) on yield and N use efficiency (NUE) was studied. Three-season field experiments at two sites consisting of TSF (transplanting with 7.0 kg ha-1 SF) and T (transplanting without SF) based on five different dosages of basal-tillering N were conducted to comprehensively study the effect of SF in field. The results show that SF released rapidly after transplanting and significantly increased dry matter accumulation, N uptake and their rates during tillering stage. Consequently, TSF showed enhanced growth with early emerging tillers, significantly higher proportion of effective tillers and panicle numbers, and 7.8% higher yield than T. Consistently, basal tillering and total NUE (13.8%) of TSF was significantly higher than that of T. Notably, in some growing seasons, even with a 37.5 kg ha-1 reduction in basal-tillering N, TSF still achieved a comparable dry weight, N uptake and yield to that of T, supporting the quantitative significance of seedling fertilizer in TLMS. Further quantification through regression analysis of yield and dosage verified that 7.0 kg ha-1 N supplied via SF was equally effective as 24.1 kg/ha basal-tillering N, in terms of yield response. Overall, TLMS transplanting with SF is an effective strategy to enhance the early growth vigor, improve yield and NUE, and reduce basa-tillering N input in machine transplanted rice. This study successfully integrates the soilless nursery establishment with SF within mechanical rice-transplanting system and quantitatively demonstrating its contribution to post-transplantation performance of rice seedlings.

Keywords:  seedling fertilizer       soil-less nursery              nitrogen              quantitative analysis  
Online: 30 May 2026  
Fund: 

The research is supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFD2301300) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U24A20402 and 32301354).

Cite this article: 

Wenjun He, Bin He, Xuejun Tang, Boyang Wu, Yuhui Wang, Ganghua Li. 2026. Seedling fertilizer in soil-less nursery establishment improves paddy performance and complements the early nitrogen requirements: A quantitative field analysis. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, Doi:10.1016/j.jia.2026.05.043

Azam M G, Mahmud J A, Ahammad K U, Gulandaz M A, Islam M. 2012. Proficiency and profitability of potato as affected by urea super granule (USG) as a source of nitrogen in high Ganges river floodplain of Bangladesh. International Journal of Sustainable Crop Production, 7, 28-30.

Cao C L, Li S X. 2003. Effect of nitrogen level on the photosynthetic rate, NR activity and the contents of nucleic acid of wheat leaf in the stage of reproduction. Chinese Bulletin of Botany, 20, 319-324.

Cui Z, Zhang F, Chen X, Dou Z, Li J. 2010. In-season nitrogen management strategy for winter wheat: Maximizing yields, minimizing environmental impact in an over-fertilization context. Field Crops Research, 116, 140-146.

Dass A, Suri V K, Choudhary A K. 2014. Site-specific nutrient management approaches for enhanced nutrient-use efficiency in agricultural crops. Research and Reviews: Journal of Crop Science and Technology, 3, 1-6.

Ding W, Xu X, He P, Ullah S, Zhang J, Cui Z, Zhou W. 2018. Improving yield and nitrogen use efficiency through alternative fertilization options for rice in China: A meta-analysis. Field Crops Research, 227, 11-18.

Van Drecht G, Bouwman A F, Knoop J M, Meinardi C, Beusen A. 2001. Global pollution of surface waters from point and nonpoint sources of nitrogen. The Scientific World Journal, 1, 632-641.

Feng W A, Cheng F M, Zhang G P. 2007. Difference in grain yield and quality among tillers in rice genotypes differing in tillering capacity. Rice Science, 14, 135-140.

Gao S, Liu Z S, Wang Y H, Tao W K, Wang Z H, Sun J, Wu H, Zhang J W, Qian H Y, Jiang Y, Liu Z H, Ding Y F, Li G H. 2025. Optimizing rice productivity using controlled-release blended fertilizers in the Yangtze River Delta of China. The Crop Journal, 13, 1898-1907.

Guan G, Tu S X, Yang J C, Zhang J F, Yang L. 2011. A field study on effects of nitrogen fertilization modes on nutrient uptake, crop yield and soil biological properties in rice-wheat rotation system. Agricultural Sciences in China, 10, 1254-1261.

He W, Zhong Q, He B, Wu B, Mohi Ud Din A, Han J, Ding Y, Liu Z, Li W, Jiang Y, Li G H. 2022. N-acetylcysteine priming alleviates the transplanting injury of machine-transplanted rice by comprehensively promoting antioxidant and photosynthetic systems. Plants, 11, 1311-1123.

He W J, He B, Wu B Y, Wang Y H, Yan F Y, Ding Y F, Li G H. 2023. Growth of tandem long-mat rice seedlings using controlled release fertilizers: Mechanical transplantation could be more economical and high yielding. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 22, 3652-3666.

Hu J L, Wang D J, Wang C, Sun R J. 2009. Effect of different fertilization systems on rice yield components and their stability: Effect of different fertilization systems on rice yield components and their stability. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 17, 48-53.

Hussain M J, Ali M Y, Rahman M A, Quayyum M A, Choudury D A. 2010. Effect of urea super granule on the performance of cabbage in young Jamuna and Brahmaputra floodplain soils of Tangail. Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Research, 35, 267-272.

Kim Y H, Khan A L, Waqas M, Shahzad R, Lee I J. 2016. Silicon-mediated mitigation of wounding stress acts by up-regulating the rice antioxidant system. Cereal Research Communications, 44, 1-11.

Knight J, Deng Q, Li S. 2011. The puzzle of migrant labour shortage and rural labour surplus in China. China Economic Review, 22, 585-600.

Ladha J K, Pathak H, Krupnik T J, Six J, Van Kessel C. 2005. Efficiency of fertilizer nitrogen in cereal production: Retrospects and prospects. Advances in Agronomy, 87, 85-156.

Li G H, Lin J J, Xue L H, Ding Y F, Wang S H, Yang L Z. 2017. Uptake, residual, and loss of basal N under split fertilization in rice with 15N isotope tracer. Pedosphere, 28, 135-143.

Li J, Zhang H C, Gong J L, Chang Y, Wu G C, Guo Z H, Dai Q G, Huo Z Y, Xu K, Wei H Y. 2011. Tillering characteristics and its relationships with population productivity of super rice under different cultivation methods in rice-wheat cropping areas. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 37, 309-320. (in Chinese)

Li X C, Zhong Q Y, Li Y X, Li G H, Ding Y F, Wang S H, Liu Z H, Tang S, Ding C Q, Chen L. 2016. Triacontanol Reduces Transplanting shock in machine-transplanted rice by improving the growth and antioxidant systems. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, 872.

Lin J J, Li G H, Xue L H, Zhang W J, Ding Y F. 2014. Subdivision of nitrogen use efficiency of rice based on N tracer. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 40, 1424. (in Chinese)

Liu W M. 2013. Analysis of high-yielding cultivation techniques of a late japonica hybrid rice combination Yongyou 8. Hybrid Rice, 28, 40-42. (in Chinese)

Liu X W, Chen X Q, Wang H Y, Lu D J, Zhou J M, Chen Z M, Zhu D J. 2017a. Effects and principle of root-zone one-time N fertilization on enhancing rice (Oryza sativa L.) N use efficiency. Soils, 49, 868-875.

Liu X W, Wang H Y, Zhou J M, Chen Z M, Lu D J, Zhu D J, Deng P L. 2017b. Effect of nitrogen root zone fertilization on rice yield, uptake and utilization of macronutrient in lower reaches of Yangtze River, China. Paddy and Water Environment, 15, 625-638.

Mulyati, Bell R W, Huang L. 2009. Root pruning and transplanting increase zinc requirements of canola. Brassica napus. Plant and Soil, 314, 11-24.

Nash P R, Nelson K A, Motavalli P P. 2013. Corn yield response to yiming of strip-tillage and nitrogen source applications. Agronomy Journal, 105, 623-630.

Peng S, Buresh R J, Huang J, Yang J, Zou Y, Zhong X, Wang G, Zhang F. 2006. Strategies for overcoming low agronomic nitrogen use efficiency in irrigated rice systems in China. Field Crops Research, 96, 37-47.

Peng S, Buresh R J, Huang J, Zhong X, Zou Y, Yang J, Wang G, Liu Y, Hu R, Tang Q, Cui K. 2010. Improving nitrogen fertilization in rice by site-specific N management. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 30, 649-656.

Qi H, Wu J, Han Q, Ye X L, Yang Q. 2011. On Effect of balanced fertilization on rice yield and its components at longxi river basin. Journal of Sichuan Agricultural University, 29, 10-15. (in Chinese)

Takahashi N, Sunohara Y, Fujiwara M, Matsumoto H. 2017. Improved tolerance to transplanting injury and chilling stress in rice seedlings treated with orysastrobin. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 113, 161-167.

Wang D Y, Ye C, Xu C M, Wang Z M, Chen S, Chu G, Zhang X F. 2019. Soil nitrogen distribution and plant nitrogen utilization in direct-seeded rice in response to deep placement of basal fertilizer-nitrogen. Rice Science, 26, 404-415.

Wang H Y, Zhou J M. 2013. Root-zone fertilization: A key and necessary approach to improve fertilizer use efficiency and reduce non-point pollution from the cropland. Soils, 45, 785-790.

Wang Y, Lu J, Ren T, Hussain S, Guo C, Wang S, Cong R, Li X. 2017a. Effects of nitrogen and tiller type on grain yield and physiological responses in rice. Aob Plants, 9, plx012.

Wang Y, Lu J W, Ren T, Hussain S, Jia Q, Zhang J L, Yousaf M, Li X K. 2017b. Influence of tiller heterogeneity on yield components of rice grown under different nitrogen regimes. International Journal of Plant Production, 11, 437-452.

Wang Y H, Gao S, Sun J, He B, He W J, Tao W K, Tang X A, Geng Z, Wu Z Y, Li W W, Jiang Z R, Liu Z H, Ding Y F, Soulaiman S, Hou P F, Li G H. 2025. One-time application of controlled-release blended fertilizer increases rice yield and nitrogen utilization by optimizing root morphological trait distribution and nitrogen uptake. The Crop Journal, 13, 1234-1245.

Wei H Y, Ling Q H, Zhang H C, Guo W S, Yang J C, Chen C H, Leng S H, Lu W P, Xing Z P. 2018. The quality of crop population and its key regulation technology. Journal of Yangzhou University (Agricultural and Life Science Edition), 39, 1-9. (in Chinese)

Wu M, Liu M, Liu J, Li W T, Jiang C Y, Li Z P. 2017. Optimize nitrogen fertilization location in root-growing zone to increase grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of transplanted rice in subtropical China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 16, 2073-2081.

Wu Q, Wang Y H, Ding Y F, Tao W K, Gao S, Li Q X, Li W W, Liu Z H, Li G H. 2021. Effects of different types of slow- and controlled-release fertilizers on rice yield. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 20, 1503-1514.

Xie Z J, Shen J K, He Z Z, Yin M, Lin Q Y. 2016. Effects of different fertilizer application rates for hybrid rice on yield components and its stability. Chinese Journal of Tropical Crops, 34, 1-5. (in Chinese)

Xing Z P, Dai Q G, Zhang H C, Hu Y J, Qian H J, Cao W W, Guo B W, Wei H Y, Xu K, Huo Z Y, Zhou G S. 2017. Comparison of yield traits in rice among three mechanized planting methods in a rice-wheat rotation system. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 7, 1451-1466.

Yang Y C, Zhang M, Li Y C, Fan X Y, Geng Y Q. 2013. Controlled-release urea commingled with rice seeds reduced emission of ammonia and nitrous oxide in rice paddy soil. Journal of Environmental Quality, 42, 1661-1673.

Zeng X B, Hou G J, Qing C L, Xie D T. 2000. Interrelation of light and nitrogen in soil-plant system. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 20, 103-108. (in Chinese)

Zhang A, Gao J, Liu R, Chen Z, Yang S, Yang Z, Shao H, Zhang Q, Yoshikazu N. 2016. Nursery-box total fertilization technology (NBTF) application for increasing nitrogen use efficiency in Chinese irrigated riceland: N-soil interactions. Land Degradation & Development, 27, 1255-1265.

Zhang F C, Kang S Z, Zhang J H, Zhang R D, Li F S. 2004. Nitrogen fertilization on uptake of soil inorganic phosphorus fractions in the wheat root zone. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 68, 1890-1895.

Zhang Z J, Chu G, Liu L J, Wang Z Q, Wang X M, Zhang H, Yang J C, Zhang J H. 2013. Mid-season nitrogen application strategies for rice varieties differing in panicle size. Field Crops Research, 150, 9-18.

Zheng W K, Liu Z G, Zhang M, Shi Y F, Zhu Q. 2017. Improving crop yields, nitrogen use efficiencies, and profits by using mixtures of coated controlled-released and uncoated urea in a wheat-maize system. Field Crops Research, 205, 106-115.

Zheng Y M, Ding Y F, Wang Q S, Li G H, Wang H Z, Wang S H. 2008. Effect of nitrogen applied before transplanting on tillering and nitrogen utilization in rice. Acta Agronomica Sinica, 34, 513-519. (in Chinese)

Zheng Y M, Ding Y F, Wang Q S, Li G H, Wang S H. 2007. Favorable effect of nitrogen before transplanting on nitrogen distribution and utilization efficiency in rice rhizosphere soil. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 40, 314-321. (in Chinese)

[1] Jing Zuo, Yingying Quan, Yue Li, Dong Song, Jinpeng Li, Yuxin Wang, Li Yi, Yang Wang. Targeting ThyA: Investigating the mechanisms of 5-FU-induced inhibition of biofilm formation and virulence in Streptococcus suis through LuxS/AI-2 quorum sensing[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2510-2522.
[2] Jiangong Li, Xiaodan Hu, Ana Lucic, Yiqi Wu, Isabella C.F.S. Condotta, Ryan N. Dilger, Narendra Ahuja, Angela R. Green-Miller. Promote computer vision applications in pig farming scenarios: High-quality dataset, fundamental models, and comparable performance[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2534-2544.
[3] Hui Jiang, Yanfeng Liu, Ying Liao, Xusheng Qiu, Lei Tan, Cuiping Song, Chan Ding, Yingjie Sun. PEX5-mediated modulation of apoptotic pathways in response to Newcastle disease virus infection[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2523-2533.
[4] Ying Li, Linlin Liu, Qi Wang, Yong Wang, Jiali Yan, Moein Khojasteh, Syed Mashab Ali Shah, Zhengyin Xu, Gongyou Chen. The conserved Xanthomonas effector XopM targets allene oxide synthase OsAOS3 and interferes with jasmonate-mediated defense in rice[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2449-2461.
[5] Shuo Yang, Qianru Jia, Qiong Wang, Junyan Wang, Jiahao Li, Shengyan Hu, Wei Zhang, Hongmei Zhang, Ya Guo, Xin Chen, Yuelin Zhu, Huatao Chen. Genome-wide association study of appearance quality traits and development of KASP makers in vegetable soybean[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2341-2352.
[6] Guanghao Wang, Hui Wang, Liangqiong He, Zhuqiang Han, Jiaowen Pan, Huan Zhang, Lei Hou, Xingjun Wang, Baozhu Guo, Chuanzhi Zhao. Inheritance and QTL mapping identify multi-effect loci for fatty acid related traits in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2329-2340.
[7] Ruijing Shang, Shihai Liang, Qing Yan, Bingxin Wang, Guoliang Qian, Lang Yang, Xiaogang Wu. (p)ppGpp interacts with TrmE and regulates the PcoI/PcoR quorum-sensing system of Pseudomonas fluorescens 2P24[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2462-2484.
[8] Li Zhe, Hui Wang, Jiping Chen, Xiaoge Fu, Liang Wang, Yang Yang, Tauqeer Ahmad Yasir, Huili Yan, Hongyan Chu, Chi Zhang, Yingang Hu, Xiaoyong Liao, Hanzhong Jia, Liang Chen. Genome-wide association study of novel genetic loci for cadmium accumulation and germplasm screening for low cadmium accumulation in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2314-2328.
[9] Junhui Zhou, Yuxuan Zhao, Wenfang Luo, Hudie Shao, Wei He, Deliang Peng, Wenkun Huang, Huiqin Wang, Honghai Zhao, Jianjun Xu, Huan Peng. The occurrence and genetic diversity of vegetable root-knot nematodes in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2475-2484.
[10] Zhipeng Shi, Guohao Han, Tiantian Gu, Hanwen Yan, Yujie Chang, Shiyu Zhuo, Lijun Cao, Lixian Xing, Yuping Liu, Xiaofang Li, Yelun Zhang, Diaoguo An. Multi-dimensional comprehensive evaluation reveals the quality trait characteristics of wheat cultivars in the Huang-Huai wheat region of China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2299-2313.
[11] Qin Dai, Hong Chen, Ziqiang Chen, Chang Liu, Gaoliang Li, Yakun Wang, Xiaotao Hu. Identification of the optimal phenological periods for summer maize yield prediction using UAV-based multispectral data[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2396-2413.
[12] Luchen Zhang, Longqin Wang, Yongchao Tian, Liang Tang, Bing Liu, Yan Zhu, Weixing Cao, Liujun Xiao, Leilei Liu. Quantifying the effects of nitrogen and potassium interactions on wheat using a new development index[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2374-2388.
[13] E Li, Zhijuan Liu, Xiaomao Lin, Tao Li, Dengyu Shi, Huazhe Shang, Suliang Qiao, Guangxin Zhu, Wanrong Yang, Zhenzhen Fu, Jingjin Gong, Wanghua Yang, Zhenkang Yang, Xiaomeng Lu, Jingjing Wang, Lexuan Wang, Jin Zhao, Chuang Zhao, Xiaoguang Yang. Radiation use efficiency of maize under high-density optimal growth conditions in Jilin Province, China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2389-2395.
[14] Zhanerke Akhatayeva, Hongying Dan, Hosein Salehian-Dehkordi, Talgat Seiteuov, Abdugani Abdurasulov, Rustembay Aitjanov, Kejian Lin, Songsong Xu. Recent advances in genomic studies for domestication and genetic improvement of traits in goats[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2268-2287.
[15] Xiaomin Ma, Lisha Zeng, Jialin Wang, Yan Zhou, Yongjian Zhang, Junhui Chen, Yakov Kuzyakov. Adaptability of plants to phosphorus deficiency shapes bacterial community and spatial patterns of enzyme activities in rhizosphere[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(6): 2569-2579.
No Suggested Reading articles found!