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Effects of different nitrogen application methods on yield and fertilizer nitrogen fate of spring maize fields in the Loess Tableland

Li Jia1,Lyu Shen-Qiang2,Wang Jin-Feng1,Wang Xiao-Fei2,Yang Ze-Yu2,Wang Lin-Quan2,3,*   

  1. 1 Department of Life Sciences, Yuncheng University, Yuncheng 044000, Shanxi, China; 2 College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; 3 Luohe Food Engineering Vocational University, Luohe 462000, Henan, China 
  • Received:2026-04-20 Revised:2026-08-21 Accepted:2026-08-21 Published:2026-08-26
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation Project of Shanxi Province (202403021222302), the Excellent Doctoral Research Project for Invited Scholars from Shanxi Province (QZX-2023041; LJZX-202504), the Yuncheng University Doctoral Research Initiation Project (YQ-2024001; YQ-2024028) and the Applied Research Project of Yuncheng University (YY-202402). 

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Abstract: This study investigated the effects of fertilizer application time and nitrogen (N) fertilizer type on spring maize yield and fertilizer N fate to provide a theoretical basis for rational nitrogen management in rain-fed spring maize on the Loess Tableland. A field experiment combining large plots and microplots was conducted from 2020 to 2022. Four large-plot treatments were established: (1) no N application (CK); (2) split-applied common urea (S-U, with 40% applied as basal fertilizer and 60% as topdressing at the ten-leaf stage (V10)); (3) a single basal application of common urea (B-U); and (4) a single basal application of matrix-based slow-release urea (B-SRU). In the microplots, the fate of N fertilizer was traced using 15N?labeled urea (10.14 atom%). For the split-applied N treatment, two additional microplot treatments were established, with 15N-labeled urea applied only as basal fertilizer (S-Ubm) and only as topdressing (S-Utm). The N application rate for all fertilization treatments was 180 kg hm?2. The results showed that the B-SRU treatment produced a higher yield, but the difference from the other N treatments was not significant; however, its economic benefit was 2338 yuan hm?2 higher than that of S-U. There was no significant difference in total plant N accumulation among fertilization treatments during the whole growing season, but the stage-specific characteristics of the amount of plant N derived from fertilizer N (Ndff) varied with fertilization time and N fertilizer type. Compared with B-Um, S-Um significantly reduced pre-V10 Ndff by 53.7% and increased post-V10 Ndff by 63.2%; B-SRUm decreased pre-V10 Ndff by 12.4% and increased post-V10 Ndff by 22.4%. In the split-application treatment, S-Um plants derived N mainly from topdressed N, yet the first season 15N recovery efficiency (15NRE) of S-Ubm was greater than that of S-Utm. Regarding fertilizer N fate, the first season 15NRE, residual rate, and loss rate of S-Um were 29.7%, 49.6%, and 20.8%, respectively. The B-Um treatment exhibited a first-season 15NRE similar to that of S-Um, but significantly decreased the residual rate by 29.3%, increased the loss rate by 70.7%, and reduced the cumulative 15NRE by 18.5%. Compared with B-Um, B-SRUm increased the amount of soil 15N residue in the 0–20 cm layer by 31.4%, significantly increased the residual rate by 39.5%, decreased the loss rate by 26.7%, and enhanced the uptake of residual N by the succeeding crop, thus increasing the cumulative 15NRE by 7.4%. In conclusion, a single basal application of matrix-based slow-release urea can maintain yield while effectively improving economic benefit and reducing the N loss rate for rain-fed spring maize on the Loess Tableland. This practice is recommended as an appropriate fertilization strategy for simplified and labor-saving spring maize cultivation in this region.

Key words: yield, semi-film mulching, rain-fed, 15N recovery efficiency, slow-release nitrogen fertilizer

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