Slow or controlled release fertilizers have been researched and used more and more widely, developing new slow or controlled release fertilizers is very important. To improve the use efficiency of inorganic fertilizers through the use of coated fertilizer and nitrification inhibitors, 3 newly developed fertilizers (FCRF1:coated fertilizer + 1% DCD, FCRF2: coated fertilizer + 2% DCD and FCRF3:coated fertilizer + 4% DCD) amended with nitrification inhibitors (DCD, C 2 H 4 N 4), and coated with fly ash were prepared by coating conventional compound fertilizer (N-P-K: 15-6.55-12.4). Using a coated fertilizer (resin coated compound fertilizer, N-P-K: 15-6.55-12.4, 90 day, CRF) made in China and a conventional compound fertilizer (CCF) as checks, their effects on physiological characteristics, yield and quality of maize were examined in a field experiment. The results indicated that, compared to CCF, 3 new developed fertilizers kept higher ammonium nitrogen (NH 4 +-N)and nitrate nitrogen (NO 3-N) content at later stages and FCRF3 had the highest content, being similar to CRF treatment. At tasselling stage (TS) and filling stage (FS), the chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were significantly increased upon FCRF1, FCRF2 and FCRF3 treatments. In addition, FCRF1, FCRF2 and FCRF3 treatments produced 24.0-35.8% more grain yield, 57.2%-74.4% more total yield, increased 11.20%-49.55% starch, 61.38%-113% protein and 2.67%-9.33% Vitamine C content than CCF，respectively. This product with excellent slow release capacity, being easy to get at a low price and environment-friendly, could be especially useful in agricultural application.

The effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a nitric oxide donor), salicylic acid (SA), and their combination on some physiological parameters of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings grown under saline conditions were studied. 100 mM NaCl resulted in a decrease in photosynthetic attributes and chlorophyll content, and induced an increase in the level of electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, O 2 .-generation rate, H 2 O 2 and proline contents. 0.1 mM SNP decreased Na + and Cl -accumulation as well as the lipid peroxidation level and O 2 .-accumulation in leaves, which contributed to alleviate oxidative stress in cotton leaves. 0.1 mM SA alleviated the oxidative stress by increasing K + and Mg 2+ absorption and osmotic regulators accumulation, and decreasing the H 2 O 2 content. However, the protective action of NO and SA (especially 0.05 mM SNP and 0.05 mM SA) against salt-induced oxidative damage was more efficient than the separate effects of SA and SNP.We observed that the accumulation of osmotic regulators was apparently accelerated by 0.05 mM SNP and 0.05 mM SA. As well, it was observed that they had synergistic effects in antioxidant system and ion absorption. Thus, the combination of SNP and SA can be a new indicator of a protective mechanism to lower lipid peroxidation, improve ion absorption, activate the metabolic of osmotic-regulated substances and facilitate the membrane transport to detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS).