Straw Return with Reduced Nitrogen Fertilizer Maintained Maize High Yield in Northeast China

Abstract

Crop residue management is a major concern in China. Returning straw to the field has been promoted to reduce chemical fertilizer input and increase crop yield. For this, the present study as a part of an existing long-term field experiment was conducted including four treatments: (1) Maize straw return with reduced nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers (straw + NPK; SNPK); (2) NPK fertilizers; (3) PK fertilizers; and (4) no fertilizers added (nF) in the years of 2016 and 2017. Results showed SNPK and NPK produced similar grain yield over the two years (12,485 vs. 12,754 kg ha−1), which was approximately 3-fold of PK and nF (4763 vs. 3858 kg ha−1). The yield difference was not significant between SNPK and NPK and between PK and nF. The effect of straw return on plant productivity is related to precipitation. In contrast to total carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), K was lost from leaf, stem, and grain. Dynamics of plant N post-flowering is critical to determine maize yield and yield components relative to C, P, and K. Dynamics of P and K in leaf were more correlated with yield than in stem, implying the significance of leaf productivity in determining grain yield. These results indicate that combination of NPK fertilizers is critical for increasing grain yield in maize. Crop straw return with reduced NPK fertilizers will help to improve yield and reduce chemical fertilizer input in the long run.

Maize Straw Return and Nitrogen Rate Effects on Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Performance and Soil Physicochemical Characteristics in Northwest China

“…Returning straw to the soil has different effects on crop yield depending on the type of crop grown [34]. The effects of straw return on cereal crops such as maize, rice and wheat have been extensively studied [27,[35][36][37]; however, the effects on tuber crops such as potato are elusive. Therefore, this study was to investigate the effects of straw return and different inorganic N rates on potato growth, tuber yield and quality, profit margin, and soil physicochemical properties.…”

Effect of magnesium fertilizer combined with straw return on nitrogen use efficiency

“…(2015a) showed that under the same N application rate, the DM, P, and K accumulation of straw treatment were higher than that of non‐straw treatment. The application of straw has been promoted as an alternative way to reduce chemical fertilizer input and for ensuring an increase in grain yield (Lv, Wang, Wang, & Zhu, 2019). As observed in the current study, straw return significantly improved the DM and the grain yield of maize.…”

Magnesium accumulation, partitioning and remobilization in spring maize (Zea mays L.) under magnesium supply with straw return in northeast China

“…discovered that the addition of Mg fertilizer, lime, and green manure increased the available Ca, Mg, and K plant nutrients for maize plants. Lv et al . indicated that straw return increased carbon concentrations in maize leave and grain and increased K concentrations and contents in stems.…”

“…Noor et al 56 discovered that the addition of Mg fertilizer, lime, and green manure increased the available Ca, Mg, and K plant nutrients for maize plants. Lv et al 57 indicated that straw return increased carbon concentrations in maize leave and grain and increased K concentrations and contents in stems. In our current study, the results indicated that there were changes in Mg accumulations in the studied organs of maize under the JM3 and WM3 treatments.…”