Effect of Combined Application of Slow-Release and Conventional Urea on Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Rice and Wheat under Full Straw Return

Abstract

The effects of one-time basal application of different mixtures of slow-release urea (SRU) and conventional urea (CU) on yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of rice and wheat were investigated to determine the appropriate ratios of SRU to CU for one-time basal fertilization in a rice–wheat rotation farmland under full residue incorporation. A field plot experiment was used in this study. Six treatments were established as follows: CK (no nitrogen fertilizer applied), T0 (100% CU, 50% applied as basal fertilizer and 50% applied as jointing fertilizer), T3 (one-time basal application of SRU and CU mixture with 30% SRU), T5 (one-time basal application of SRU and CU mixture with 50% SRU), T7 (one-time basal application of SRU and CU mixture with 70% SRU), and T10 (one-time basal application of 100% SRU). The results showed that the combined application of SRU and CU increased the yields of rice and wheat. Treatment T7 resulted in the highest rice yield, and T3 resulted in the highest wheat yield, which were 25.6% and 29.4% higher, than those of treatment T0, respectively. Compared with treatment T0 (application of CU alone), the combined application of SRU and CU resulted in 27.4–96.5% and 22.8–57.1% higher NUE in rice and wheat, respectively.

Reduction of nitrous oxide emission by using stearic acid combined zinc coated urea in silty clay and sandy loam soils under bare and planted conditions

“…The placement of fertilizer deeper in the soil promote the root length density and the roots of the plants proliferate around the fertilizer granules which ultimately increased the higher N uptake [ 68 , 89 ]. These findings are in accordance with the previous studies [ [90] , [91] , [92] , [93] ].…”

Improving Tuber Yield of Tiger Nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) through Nitrogen Fertilization in Sandy Farmland

“…This increase could be likely attributed to N fertilizer’s role in increasing chlorophyll concentrations, expanding the photosynthetic surface area, and facilitating enhanced light penetration [ 19 , 24 ]. The rate at which nitrogen is translocated from leaves during the transition from the tuber enlargement stage to maturity further supports the regulatory mechanisms of tuber development, as proposed in earlier research [ 13 , 19 , 37 ]. Tuber enlargement is a crucial phase in the formation of tiger nut yield, ultimately influencing tuber quality, weight, and yield [ 5 , 8 ].…”

“…Generally, crop yield relies on both biomass accumulation and its allocation to reproductive organs, as well as the distribution of photosynthetic products from leaves in the reproductive growth phase [ 12 , 13 ]. Therefore, the use of N fertilizer to boost photosynthetic product accumulation at this stage is crucial for achieving high yields.…”

“…Previous research suggests that N application can increase the aboveground photosynthetic production potential and belowground nutrient acquisition [ 1 , 21 ]. Yu et al [ 13 ] showed that applying N fertilizer during the gestation and filling stages of wheat could improve leaf light and capacity and delay the weakening of leaf function. With increasing N fertilizer application, the LAI, leaf nitrogen content, and yield initially increase before stabilizing [ 18 , 21 ].…”

“…With increasing N fertilizer application, the LAI, leaf nitrogen content, and yield initially increase before stabilizing [ 18 , 21 ]. Current studies show that applying nitrogen fertilizer improves the canopy photosynthetic capacity, which positively impacts crop yield [ 13 , 19 , 22 ], while the way in which the sink interacts with flow dynamics under nitrogen-enriched conditions is yet to be determined.…”