Please wait a minute...
Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2026, Vol. 25 Issue (7): 2783-2795    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.02.038
Crop Science Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
An application strategy of combined controlled-release fertilizers can balance the yield and quality of soft wheat while meeting its nutrient requirements

Yingpeng Wang1, 2*, Yifan Hua1*, Lanxin Mei1, Yixuan Meng1, Yongtao Guo2, Jian Cai1, Mei Huang1, Yingxin Zhong1, Xiao Wang1, Dong Jiang1, Qin Zhou1#

1 National Technique Innovation Center for Regional Wheat Production/Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China

2 The Kaifeng Seed Industry Development Center, Kaifeng 475000, China

 Highlights 
A combination of different types of slow-controlled release nitrogen fertilizer (BRNF) is recommended for soft wheat production.  The N release from BRNF corresponded well to the N demand of soft wheat.
By providing a continuous and stable supply of nutrients, BRNF can increase the accumulation of photosynthetic products and the contribution rate of post-anthesis dry matter accumulation to grain.
By reducing the excessive supply of N at the later stages of wheat growth, BRNF can reduce the protein content in wheat grains, thereby maintaining the unique quality of soft wheat.
Download:  PDF in ScienceDirect  
Export:  BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      
摘要  

施用缓控释肥料是一种轻简化栽培技术,能够提高小麦的产量和氮肥利用效率(NUE),然而关于一次性施用不同释放期的缓控释氮(N)肥组合配施对小麦籽粒品质的影响研究仍然有限。本研究采用了脲酶抑制剂尿素(AHA)、硫包衣尿素(SCU)、SCUAHA肥料的组合(BSAF)以及混合控释肥料(BRNF),探讨了缓控释肥料的田间养分释放以及对弱筋小麦籽粒产量、氮素利用效率(NUE)和蛋白质含量的影响。本研究旨在确定一次性施用缓控释肥料对小麦籽粒产量和蛋白质含量的影响及其潜在机制。结果表明,不同缓控释肥料处理的氮释放速率明显不同。AHA表现为快速释放模式,SCUBSAF为缓慢释放模式,而BRNF则为控释模式。与CK相比,BRNF提高了籽粒产量,降低了弱筋小麦的蛋白质含量,籽粒产量平均提高了7.47%,蛋白质含量降低了1.85%BRNF更高的氮素利用效率(NUE)、氮素农学利用效率(NAE)和氮素表观回收效率(NRF)得益于较高的氮素吸收量。然而,AHASCUBSAF则表现出相反的趋势。与CK相比,BRNF提高了花后干物质积累(PDMA)及花后干物质对籽粒的贡献率(CDA),同时降低了花后氮积累(PNA)及花后氮积累对籽粒的贡献率(CNA)。产量提高和蛋白质含量降低的主要原因分别与PDMACDA的增加以及PNACNA的降低有关。因此,BRNF是一种有效的农艺策略,可以促进弱筋小麦籽粒产量与品质的协同提高。



Abstract  

The application of slow-controlled release fertilizer is a simple and labor-saving cultivation technology that can improve the yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of wheat, although research on the impact of a single application of controlled-release nitrogen (N) fertilizers with different release periods on wheat grain quality is still limited.  In this study, urease inhibitor urea (AHA), sulfur-coated urea (SCU), a combination of SCU and AHA fertilizer (BSAF) and blended slow-controlled release fertilizer (BRNF) were used to investigate the effect of slow-controlled release fertilizers on the nutrient release, grain yield, NUE, and protein content of soft wheat.  The goal was to determine the effect of a one-time application of controlled release fertilizer on wheat grain yield and protein content and its underlying mechanisms.  The results showed that the different slow-controlled release fertilizer treatments had significantly different N release rates.  AHA presented a fast release mode, while SCU and BSAF presented slow-release modes, and BRNF presented a controlled release mode.  Compared with CK, BRNF increased grain yield and reduced the protein content of soft wheat, with an average increase of 6.73% in grain yield and a reduction of 1.85% in protein content.  The higher N absorption of BRNF led to greater NUE, N agronomic efficiency (NAE) and N apparent recovery fraction (NRF).  However, AHA, SCU and BSAF all showed the opposite trend.  Compared with CK, BRNF improved post-anthesis dry matter accumulation (PDMA) and the contribution rate of dry matter accumulated post-anthesis to the grain (CDA), while reducing post-anthesis N accumulation (PNA) and the contribution rate of post-anthesis N accumulation to grain (CNA).  The main reasons for the improvement in yield and reduction in protein content were related to the increases in PDMA and CDA, and the reductions in PNA and CNA, respectively.  Therefore, BRNF is an effective agronomic strategy for promoting the coordination of grain yield and quality in soft wheat.

Keywords:  soft wheat       slow-controlled release fertilizer        nutrient release        protein content        N use efficiency  
Received: 09 October 2024   Accepted: 07 February 2025 Online: 20 February 2025  
Fund: 

This study was supported by projects of the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFD2300202), the Key Research and Development Program of Jiangsu Province, China (BE2022308), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32372224, 32021004, 32030076, and 32172116), the China Agriculture Research System (CARS-03), and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production co-sponsored by Province and Ministry, China (CIC-MCP).

About author:  #Correspondence Qin Zhou, Tel: +86-25-84399627, E-mail: qinzhou@njau.edu.cn * These authors contributed equally to this study.

Cite this article: 

Yingpeng Wang, Yifan Hua, Lanxin Mei, Yixuan Meng, Yongtao Guo, Jian Cai, Mei Huang, Yingxin Zhong, Xiao Wang, Dong Jiang, Qin Zhou. 2026. An application strategy of combined controlled-release fertilizers can balance the yield and quality of soft wheat while meeting its nutrient requirements. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 25(7): 2783-2795.

Ding Y G, Zhang X B, Ma Q, Li F J, Tao R R, Zhu M, Li C Y, Zhu X K, Guo W S, Ding J F. 2023. Tiller fertility is critical for improving grain yield, photosynthesis, and nitrogen efficiency in wheat. Journal of Integrative Agriculture22, 2054–2066.

Dou Y X, Zhao H B, Yang H M, Wang T, Liu G F, Wang Z H, Malhi S. 2024. The first factor affecting dryland winter wheat grain yield under various mulching measures: Spike number. Journal of Integrative Agriculture23, 836–848.

Duan T, Chapman S, Guo Y, Zheng B. 2017. Dynamic monitoring of NDVI in wheat agronomy and breeding trials using an unmanned aerial vehicle. Field Crops Research210, 71–80.

Gao Y X, Shao Y Q, Wang J Q, Hu B, Feng H J, Qu Z M, Liu Z G, Zhang M, Li C L, Liu Y L. 2024. Effects of straw returning combined with blended controlled-release urea fertilizer on crop yields, greenhouse gas emissions, and net ecosystem economic benefits: A nine-year field trial. Journal of Environmental Management356, 120633.

Geng J, Chen J, Sun Y, Zheng W, Tian X, Yang Y, Li C, Zhang M. 2016. Controlled release urea improved nitrogen use efficiency and yield of wheat and corn. Agronomy Journal108, 1666–1673.

Hassan M A, Yang M J, Rasheed A, Yang G J, Reynolds M, Xia X C, Xiao Y G, He Z H. 2019. A rapid monitoring of NDVI across the wheat growth cycle for grain yield prediction using a multi-spectral UAV platform. Plant Science282, 95–103.

Hu S Y, Qiao B W, Yang Y H, Rees R M, Huang W H, Zou J, Zhang L, Zheng H Y, Liu S Y, Shen S J. 2023. Optimizing nitrogen rates for synergistically achieving high yield and high nitrogen use efficiency with low environmental risks in wheat production - Evidences from a long-term experiment in the North China Plain. European Journal of Agronomy142, 126681.

Jiang Z R, Chen Q L, Liu D, Tao W K, Gao S, Li J Q, Lin C H, Zhu M C, Ding Y F, Li W W. 2024. Application of slow-controlled release fertilizer coordinates the carbon flow in carbon–nitrogen metabolism to effect rice quality. BMC Plant Biology24, 621.

Ke J, Sun J, Chen T T, Tao S B, Zhu T Z, Yin C J, He H B, You C C, Wu L Q, Guo S S. 2023. Effects of mixed fertilizers formed by the compounding of two targeted controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers on yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and ammonia volatilization in double-cropping rice. The Crop Journal11, 628–637.

Ke J, Xing X M, Li G H, Ding Y F, Dou F G, Wang S H, Liu Z H, Tang S, Ding C Q, Chen L. 2017. Effects of different controlled-release nitrogen fertilisers on ammonia volatilisation, nitrogen use efficiency and yield of blanket-seedling machine-transplanted rice. Field Crops Research205, 147–156.

Kong X F, Hou R X, Yang G. 2024. Effects of climactic warming on the starch and protein content of winter wheat grain under conservation tillage in the North China Plain. Soil and Tillage Research238, 105995.

Lawrencia D, Wong S K, Low D Y S, Goh B H, Goh J K, Ruktanonchai U R, Soottitantawat A, Lee L H, Tang S Y. 2021. Controlled release fertilizers: A review on coating materials and mechanism of release. Plants10, 238.

Li C L, Wang Y, Li Y X, Zhu L, Cao Y Q, Zhao X H, Feng G Z, Gao Q. 2020. Mixture of controlled-release and normal urea to improve nitrogen management for maize across contrasting soil types. Agronomy Journal112, 3101–3113.

Li G H, Zhao B, Dong S T, Zhang J W, Liu P, Ren B Z, Lu D L, Lu W P. 2019. Morphological and physiological characteristics of maize roots in response to controlled-release urea under different soil moisture conditions. Agronomy Journal111, 1849–1864.

Li J P, Wang Z M, Yao C S, Zhang Z, Liu Y, Zhang Y H. 2021. Micro-sprinkling irrigation simultaneously improves grain yield and protein concentration of winter wheat in the North China Plain. The Crop Journal9, 1397–1407.

Li R C, Gao Y X, Chen Q, Li Z L, Gao F, Meng Q M, Li T G, Liu A R, Wang Q, Wu L, Wang Y, Liu Z G, Zhang M. 2021. Blended controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer with straw returning improved soil nitrogen availability, soil microbial community, and root morphology of wheat. Soil and Tillage Research212, 105045.

Lyu X X, Yang Y C, Li Y C, Fan X H, Wan Y S, Geng Y Q, Zhang M. 2015. Polymer-coated tablet urea improved rice yield and nitrogen use efficiency. Agronomy Journal107, 1837–1844.

Ma Q, Qian Y S, Yu Q Q, Cao Y F, Tao R R, Zhu M, Ding J F, Li C Y, Guo W S, Zhu X K. 2023. Controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer application mitigated N losses and modified microbial community while improving wheat yield and N use efficiency. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment349, doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2023.108445.

Ma Q, Sun Q, Zhang X B, Li F J, Ding Y G, Tao R T, Zhu M, Ding J F, Li C Y, Guo W S, Zhu X K. 2022a. Controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer management influences grain yield in winter wheat by regulating flag leaf senescence post-anthesis and grain filling. Food and Energy Security11, e361.

Ma Q, Tao R R, Ding Y G, Zhang X B, Li F J, Zhu M, Ding J F, Li C Y, Guo W S, Zhu X K, Sheng H J. 2022b. Can split application of slow-release fertilizer improve wheat yield, nitrogen efficiency and their stability in different ecological regions? Agronomy12, 407.

Ma Q, Wang M Y, Zheng G L, Yao Y, Tao R R, Zhu M, Ding J F, Li C Y, Guo W S, Zhu X K. 2021. Twice-split application of controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer met the nitrogen demand of winter wheat. Field Crops Research267, 108163.

Morris C F, Engle D A, Kiszonas A M. 2020. Breeding, selection, and quality characteristics of soft white wheat. Cereal Foods World65, 53.

Naz M Y, Sulaiman S A. 2016. Slow release coating remedy for nitrogen loss from conventional urea: A review. Journal of Controlled Release225, 109–120.

Rekowski A, Wimmer M A, Hitzmann B, Hermannseder B, Hahn H, Zörb C. 2020. Application of urease inhibitor improves protein composition and bread-baking quality of urea fertilized winter wheat. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science183, 260–270.

De Santis M A, Giuliani M M, Flagella Z, Reyneri A, Blandino M. 2020. Impact of nitrogen fertilisation strategies on the protein content, gluten composition and rheological properties of wheat for biscuit production. Field Crops Research254, 107829.

Shakoor A, Xu Y L, Wang Q, Chen N Y, He F, Zuo H F, Yin H X, Yan X Y, Ma Y H, Yang S Y. 2018. Effects of fertilizer application schemes and soil environmental factors on nitrous oxide emission fluxes in a rice-wheat cropping system, east China. PLoS ONE13, e0202016.

Shang Q S, Wang Y P, Tang H, Sui N, Zhang X S, Wang F. 2021. Genetic, hormonal, and environmental control of tillering in wheat. The Crop Journal9, 986–991.

Sieling K, Kage H. 2021. Apparent fertilizer N recovery and the relationship between grain yield and grain protein concentration of different winter wheat varieties in a long-term field trial. European Journal of Agronomy124, 126246.

Wang Q, Wen J, Wen Y J, Zhang Y, Zhang N, Wang Y N, Bai L Y, Su S M, Zeng X B. 2021. Alteration of soil-surface electrochemical properties by organic fertilization to reduce dissolved inorganic nitrogen leaching in paddy fields. Soil and Tillage Research209, 104956.

Wang Y Q, Peng Y, Lin J Q, Wang L X, Jia Z K, Zhang R. 2023. Optimal nitrogen management to achieve high wheat grain yield, grain protein content, and water productivity: A meta-analysis. Agricultural Water Management290, 108587.

Yan S C, Wu Y, Fan J L, Zhang F C, Guo J J, Zheng J, Wu L F. 2022. Optimization of drip irrigation and fertilization regimes to enhance winter wheat grain yield by improving post-anthesis dry matter accumulation and translocation in Northwest China. Agricultural Water Management271, 107782.

Yang X Y, Li C L, Zhang Q, Liu Z G, Geng J B, Zhang M. 2017. Effects of polymer-coated potassium chloride on cotton yield, leaf senescence and soil potassium. Field Crops Research212, 145–152.

Yang Y C, Zhang M, Zheng L, Cheng D D, Liu M, Geng Y Q. 2011. Controlled release urea improved nitrogen use efficiency, yield, and quality of wheat. Agronomy Journal103, 479–485.

Yin L J, Dai X L, He M R. 2018. Delayed sowing improves nitrogen utilization efficiency in winter wheat without impacting yield. Field Crops Research221, 90–97.

Yu X, Keitel C, Zhang Y, Wangeci A N, Dijkstra F A. 2022. Global meta-analysis of nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency in rice, wheat and maize. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment338, 108089.

Yu X R, Chen X Y, Wang L L, Yang Y, Zhu X W, Shao S S, Cui W X, Xiong F. 2017. Novel insights into the effect of nitrogen on storage protein biosynthesis and protein body development in wheat caryopsis. Journal of Experimental Botany68, 2259–2274.

Zhang G X, Liu S J, Dong Y J, Liao Y C, Han J. 2022a. A nitrogen fertilizer strategy for simultaneously increasing wheat grain yield and protein content: Mixed application of controlled-release urea and normal urea. Field Crops Research277, 108405.

Zhang G X, Zhao D H, Liu S J, Liao Y C, Han J. 2022b. Can controlled-release urea replace the split application of normal urea in China? A meta-analysis based on crop grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency. Field Crops Research275, 108343.

Zhang S H, Qi X H, Gao M Y, Dai C J, Yin G H, Ma D Y, Feng W, Guo T C, He L. 2024. Estimation of wheat protein content and wet gluten content based on fusion of hyperspectral and RGB sensors using machine learning algorithms. Food Chemistry448, 139103.

Zheng B Q, Fang Q, Zhang C X, Mahmood H, Zhou Q, Li W Y, Li X N, Cai J, Wang X, Zhong Y X, Huang M, Cao W X, Dai T B, Jiang D. 2020. Reducing nitrogen rate and increasing plant density benefit processing quality by modifying the spatial distribution of protein bodies and gluten proteins in endosperm of a soft wheat cultivar. Field Crops Research253, 107831.

Zheng B Q, Zhang X Q, Wang Q, Li W Y, Huang M, Zhou Q, Cai J, Wang X, Cao W X, Dai T B, Jiang D. 2021. Increasing plant density improves grain yield, protein quality and nitrogen agronomic efficiency of soft wheat cultivars with reduced nitrogen rate. Field Crops Research267, 108145.

Zheng W K, Zhang M, Liu Z G, Zhou H Y, Lu H, Zhang W T, Yang Y C, Li C L, Chen B C. 2016. Combining controlled-release urea and normal urea to improve the nitrogen use efficiency and yield under wheat–maize double cropping system. Field Crops Research197, 52–62.

Zhu T Z, Yin C J, Zhu T C, Zhou P F, Wu L Q, Wang G J, He H B, You C C, Zhang Q W, Ke J. 2024. Delaying panicle nitrogen application to emergence of 3rd leaf from flag leaf increases the grain-filling ability and yield of large-panicle rice by increasing stem nonstructural carbohydrates at heading. Field Crops Research312, 109405.

[1] Jiyu Zhao, Xudong Sun, Yuqi Xue, Alam Sher, Jiayu Ran, Peng Liu, Bin Zhao, Baizhao Ren, Ningning Yu, Hao Ren, Jiwang Zhang. Optimizing nitrogen management for higher grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in summer maize by coordinating the N supply–demand balance[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(5): 1902-1912.
[2] Lingxiao Zhu, Hongchun Sun, Liantao Liu, Ke Zhang, Yongjiang Zhang, Anchang Li, Zhiying Bai, Guiyan Wang, Xiaoqing Liu, Hezhong Dong, Cundong Li. Optimizing crop yields while minimizing environmental impact through deep placement of nitrogen fertilizer[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(1): 36-60.
No Suggested Reading articles found!