Root-zone fertilization improves crop yields and minimizes nitrogen loss in summer maize in China

• Published in: Scientific reports 2018-10, Vol.8 (1), p.15139-9, Article 15139
• Main Authors: Jiang, Chaoqiang, Lu, Dianjun, Zu, Chaolong, Zhou, Jianmin, Wang, Huoyan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 704/172; 704/172/169; Cereal crops; Corn; Crop yield; Cropping systems; Fertilization; Grain; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Nitrogen; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Slow release fertilizers; Turfgrasses; Urea
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33591-9

It is urgently to minimize nitrogen (N) loss while simultaneously ensuring high yield for maize in China. A two-year field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of root-zone fertilization (RZF) and split-surface broadcasting (SSB) on grain yield, N use efficiency (NUE), and urea- 15 N fate under different N rates (135, 180 and 225 kg ha −1 ). Results showed that RZF increased grain yield by 11.5%, and the N derived from fertilizer (Ndff%) by 13.1–19.6%, compared with SSB. The percentage of residual 15 N in the 0–80 cm soil was 37.2–47.4% after harvest; most 15 N (64.4–67.4%) was retained in the top 20 cm. RZF significantly increased the N apparent recovery efficiency (NARE) and 15 N recovery in maize by 14.3–37.8% and 21.9–30.0%, respectively; while decreased N losses by 11.2–24.2%, compared with SSB. The RZF of urea can be considered a slow-release fertilizer, which better matches maize N demand and effectively reduces N losses. Overall, RZF achieved yields as high as the SSB, but with a 20–25% reduction in N application. These results help improve our understanding of N fate in the maize cropping system, and may help guide recommendations for N management in southeastern China.