Can controlled-release urea replace the split application of normal urea in China? A meta-analysis based on crop grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency

Zhang, Guangxin; Zhao, Dehao; Liu, Shiju; Liao, Yuncheng; Han, Jie

doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2021.108343

Cited by 67 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…B. et al, 2021 ). This study contradicts our findings, suggesting that the effect of the combination of controlled-release and conventional urea on microbial diversity may be influenced by regional conditions, such as nutrient availability or changes in the crop fertility stage ( Figure 2 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ). For example, when nutrient availability in the soil decreases or when reduced nutrient levels may limit microbial proliferation and nutrient mineralization, competition between crops and microbes for N may reduce microbial diversity ( Inselsbacher et al, 2010 ).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…This result suggests that SU3 treatment is more effective in improving N agronomic efficiency and N partial factor productivity than CT and other treatments. This is probably because this favorable ratio of controlled-release to regular urea both avoids rapid N losses and matches the fertilizer requirements of the maize growth stage, thus improving the N agronomic efficiency and N partial factor productivity ( Zhang et al, 2022 ). Therefore, those results suggest that a 3:7 (SU3) blend of controlled-release urea and regular urea is the best ratio that maximizes summer maize yields and N agronomic efficiency in the North China Plain (Hebei Province).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Network Analysis Reveals the Combination of Controlled-Release and Regular Urea Enhances Microbial Interactions and Improves Maize Yields

Zhou

et al. 2022

Front. Microbiol.

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Increased complexity of microbial networks can contribute to increased biodiversity and multifunctionality and thus crop productivity. However, it is not clear which combination ratio of regular and controlled-release urea will increase the soil microbial community complexity and improve maize yield in the North China Plain. To address this knowledge gap, a 2-year field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of the combination of regular (U) and controlled release (S) urea ratios [no fertilizer control (CT), regular urea alone (U), controlled-release urea alone (S), controlled-release urea mixed with regular urea 3:7 (SU3), controlled-release urea mixed with regular urea 5:5 (SU5), and controlled-release urea mixed with regular urea 7:3 (SU7)] on XianYu 688 yield and its rhizosphere and bulk soil microbial community composition and network complexity at different fertility stages. The combination of controlled-release and regular urea increased the N agronomic efficiency, N partial factors productivity, maize yield, and grain number per spike, with the maximum maize yield (9,186 kg ha–1) being achieved when the ratio of controlled-release urea to regular urea was 3:7 (SU3, p < 0.05). Maize yield increased by 13% in the SU3 treatment compared to the CT treatment. Rhizosphere soil microbial diversity remained stable at the silking stage of maize while increased at the physiological maturity stage of maize, with the increasing controlled-release to regular N fertilizer ratios (from 3:7 to 7:3, p < 0.05). This result suggests that a combination of regular and controlled-release N fertilizer can still substantially increase soil microbial diversity in the later stages of maize growth. The combination of controlled-release and regular urea is more effective in improving microbial network total links and average degree, and N agronomic efficiency (R2 = 0.79, p < 0.01), N partial factor productivity (R2 = 0.79, p < 0.01), spikes per unit area (R2 = 0.54, p < 0.05), and maize yield (R2 = 0.42, p < 0.05) increased with the microbial network complexity. This result indicates that the higher microbial network complexity is strongly associated with the higher N agronomic efficiency and N partial factors productivity and maize yield. In conclusion, the ratio of controlled-release to regular urea at SU3 not only increases the yield of maize and N agronomic efficiency but also enhances microbial diversity and network complexity in the North China Plain.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Network Analysis Reveals the Combination of Controlled-Release and Regular Urea Enhances Microbial Interactions and Improves Maize Yields

Zhou

et al. 2022

Front. Microbiol.

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“…Developing new types of urea, such as environmentally friendly nitrogen [15] and controlled-release urea (CRU) [16], and overcoming the easy volatilization and leaching of urea, are likely the most feasible ways to promote both grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency [17,18]. Recently, CRU, which was designed to prolong nutrient release duration to better match crop nutrient uptake, combined with a one-time basal application method, has been widely used in China [19,20]. However, the cost of CRU is basically higher than that of conventional urea and seems too costly for cereal production.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Urea Coated with Polyaspartic Acid on the Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, (L.) Moench.)

Peng

Fang

et al. 2022

Plants

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Innovative approaches to enhance N fertilization to improve season-long N availability are essential to optimal sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, (L.) Moench.) productivity and N use efficiency. A two-year field experiment was conducted in the 2020 and 2021 summer seasons on the North China Plain to determine the effects of a novel urea coated with polyaspartic acid (PAA) (PN) and a control treatment (CN) on grain sorghum yield and N utilization characteristics at four N application rates (0, 60, 120, and 240 kg ha−1). The results showed that sorghum yield, agronomic traits (including leaf area duration (LAD), crop growth rate (CGR), and dry matter accumulation (DMA)), the accumulation of nitrate N and ammonium N in the 0–60 cm soil layer, stover and grain N content, and total N uptake (NUT) in 2020 and 2021 significantly increased as N application rates increased from 0 to 240 kg ha−1, whereas nitrogen agronomic efficiency (NAE), N uptake efficiency (NUpE), and N utilization efficiency (NUtE) varied inversely with increasing N application rates. Compared to CN, PN demonstrated a significant enhancement in grain sorghum yield, LAD, and CGR, from 3.3% to 7.1%, from 4.8% to 6.1%, and from 5.8% to 6.8%, respectively, at 60 and 120 kg N ha−1. PN improved the N availability (mainly nitrate-N) in the sorghum soft dough and the stover and grain N content at harvest and NUT, NUpE, and NAE accordingly compared with CN at the 60 and 120 kg ha−1 N application rates. In short, our two-year field trials demonstrated that PN with 120 kg N ha−1 is recommended in grain sorghum to optimize sorghum productivity and nitrogen use efficiency at the current yield level in the North China Plain.

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“…The yield and NAE of the fourth-split urea application were stable, but at low levels. This could be due to the fact that multiple applications of urea ensured the N supply in the key growth periods of wheat to some extent, but its characteristics of rapid evaporation and easy loss limited its full effect [43]. The effects of different fertilization patterns on the soil-available N in different ecological regions and its regulation mechanism on wheat growth will be further discussed in subsequent studies.…”

Section: Assessment Of Environmental Adaptability Of Different Fertil...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Split Application of Slow-Release Fertilizer Improve Wheat Yield, Nitrogen Efficiency and Their Stability in Different Ecological Regions?

Tao

Ding

et al. 2022

Agronomy

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Environmental conditions (precipitation, temperature and soil properties) differ greatly in different regions and have dual effects on the wheat growth and nutrient release of slow-release fertilizer (SRF). Conventional fertilization methods such as the multiple-split application of urea and the one-time application of SRF may have difficulty achieving a stable and high wheat yield and nitrogen (N) efficiency in various environments. Therefore, the exploration of a rational application strategy of SRF is needed for improving wheat yield and its stability in different regions. A two-year field experiment was conducted in different regions (eight test sites per year) with five patterns: 100% N (270 kg ha−1) SRF applied pre-sowing (M1); 60% N SRF applied pre-sowing and 40% N urea applied at jointing (M2); 60% N SRF applied pre-sowing and 40% N SRF applied at re-greening (M3); M2 reducing the N rate by 15% (M4); M3 reducing the N rate by 15% (M5). The fourth-split application of urea was taken as the control (CK, 270 kg N ha−1). The results suggested that the average yield in M1 decreased by 3.65% of the CK, and the yield stability was poor. Both M2 and M3 significantly increased N efficiency, grain yield and benefit, but the stability of M3 was higher than that of M2 in different environments. Considering further improvements in wheat yield, N efficiency and profit, our results suggested that the twice-split application of SRF, which also improved the adaptability of wheat in different environments, could be recommended for wheat cultivation.

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Can controlled-release urea replace the split application of normal urea in China? A meta-analysis based on crop grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency

Cited by 67 publications

References 65 publications

Network Analysis Reveals the Combination of Controlled-Release and Regular Urea Enhances Microbial Interactions and Improves Maize Yields

Network Analysis Reveals the Combination of Controlled-Release and Regular Urea Enhances Microbial Interactions and Improves Maize Yields

Effect of Urea Coated with Polyaspartic Acid on the Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, (L.) Moench.)

Can Split Application of Slow-Release Fertilizer Improve Wheat Yield, Nitrogen Efficiency and Their Stability in Different Ecological Regions?

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