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Acta Agronomica Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 51 ›› Issue (6): 1618-1628.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1006.2025.43040

• TILLAGE & CULTIVATION · PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Long-term combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers achieving high yield and high quality of maize in northwest irrigated oasis

ZHENG Hao-Fei1,2,3, YANG Nan2, DU Jian1, JIA Gai-Xiu1, ZOU Yue1, MA Wen-Hao2, WANG Yan-Ting2, SUO Dong-Rang1, ZHAO Jian-Hua3,*,SUN Ning-Ke1,*,ZHANG Jian-Wen1,*   

  1. 1 Zhangye Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Zhangye 734000, Gansu, China; 2 State Key Laboratory of Arid Habit Crop Science / College of Agriculture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China; 3 Institute of Soil, Fertilizer and Water-Saving Agriculture, Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
  • Received:2024-08-15 Revised:2025-03-26 Accepted:2025-03-26 Online:2025-06-12 Published:2025-03-31
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the Municipal Science and Technology Plan of Zhangye (ZY2022KY04).

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Abstract:

The long-term effects of combined organic and inorganic fertilizer application on maize yield and grain quality were evaluated based on a long-term field experiment initiated in 1982 in the irrigated desert soil region of Northwest China. The experiment was conducted at the Zhangye Academy of Agricultural Sciences Experimental Station in Gansu Province, China, using a two-factor split-plot design. The main factor was the application of organic manure (M) versus no organic manure (NM), while the sub-factor consisted of different chemical fertilizer treatments: no chemical fertilizer (CK), nitrogen fertilizer (N), nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer (NP), and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer (NPK), resulting in a total of eight treatments. Agronomic traits were assessed at harvest in 2022 and 2023, and maize grain quality parameters, including protein, starch, and fat content, were measured. Crude protein yield was also calculated. The results showed that, compared with N application alone, the addition of organic manure (M) significantly increased maize grain yield by 11.51%–18.26%, with a 17.02% increase in crude protein yield. Under M conditions, NP and NPK treatments achieved higher yields, averaging 12.85 t hm?2 and 13.29 t hm?2, respectively, with no significant difference between them. Regardless of organic manure application, N, NP, and NPK treatments increased yield by 17.89%, 49.86%, and 54.44%, respectively, compared with CK. Additionally, NP application significantly improved yield by 27.12% compared with N. The interaction between organic manure and inorganic fertilizer had a significant effect on maize grain protein content. Compared with CK, N application increased grain protein content by 12.83%, while NP and NPK showed no significant difference in protein content relative to CK. Organic manure application (M) increased protein yield by 21.88% and starch content by 0.56% compared with NM. Furthermore, compared with CK, N, NP, and NPK treatments increased protein yield by 29.08%, 52.31%, and 61.84%, respectively, but had no significant effect on maize grain fat content. In conclusion, organic manure application enhances maize yield, while inorganic fertilizer application, particularly NP, further improves both yield and grain quality. The combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizers promotes high-yield, high-quality maize production and contributes to sustainable agricultural development.

Key words: crude protein yield, organic manure addition, grain quality, maize, oasis irrigated area

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