Subsoiling Combine with Layered Nitrogen Application Optimizes Root Distribution and Improve Grain Yield and N Efficiency of Summer Maize

No-tillage of summer maize after the harvest of winter wheat is the primary agricultural practice on the North China Plain. However, prolonged no-tillage without deep tillage practices negatively impacts soil properties, which is detrimental to the growth and yield of summer maize. In this study, Xi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inAgronomy (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 6; p. 1228
Main Authors Li, Xiangling, Wang, Rui, Lou, Fei, Ji, Pengtao, Wang, Jian, Dong, Weixin, Tao, Peijun, Zhang, Yuechen
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.06.2024
Subjects
Agricultural chemicals
Agricultural practices
Agricultural production
Agriculture
Bulk density
Corn
Crop yield
Cropping systems
Cultivars
Dry matter
Efficiency
Fertilization
Fertilizers
Grain
grain yield
Labor force
Morphology
Nitrogen
nitrogen efficiency
Potassium
Productivity
Root distribution
root morphology
Senescence
Soil density
Soil layers
Soil properties
Summer
summer maize
Tillage
Wheat
Winter wheat
China
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:No-tillage of summer maize after the harvest of winter wheat is the primary agricultural practice on the North China Plain. However, prolonged no-tillage without deep tillage practices negatively impacts soil properties, which is detrimental to the growth and yield of summer maize. In this study, Xianyu 688 and Jifeng 2 were used as test maize materials, no-tillage and surface fertilizing with normal nitrogen (N) (BC240), no-tillage and surface fertilizing with N reduction (BC180), subsoiling layered fertilization with normal N (FC240) and subsoiling layered fertilization with N reduction (FC180)were designed, in order to assess root distribution, N utilization and grain yield of summer maize. In the two maize cultivars, the FC240 and FC180 treatments significantly reduced soil bulk density in the 10–50 cm depth soil layer compared to the other two treatments, and also increased total N content in the 20–50 cm depth soil layer. Compare BC 240 treatment, the FC240 treatment significantly increased root length in the 20–40 cm soil layer and root rap bleeding. Additionally, the FC240 and FC180 treatments enhanced dry matter and N accumulation, grain yield, N uptake efficiency and N fertilizer partial factor productivity. In various treatment, Xianyu 688 exhibited increased grain yield, N uptake efficiency and N fertilizer partial factor productivity compare with Jifeng 2. When employing a total N application level of 180–240 kg N/hm[sup.2], the synergistic improvement of summer maize grain yield and N efficiency can be achieved by incorporating subsoiling combined with layered nitrogen application.
ISSN:2073-4395
2073-4395
DOI:10.3390/agronomy14061228