Synthesis of Climate, Soil Factors, and Nitrogen Management Practices Affecting the Responses of Wheat Productivity and Nitrogen Use Efficiency to Nitrogen Fertilizer in China

Abstract

The reported effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on wheat yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) vary greatly, due to differences in climate, soil factors, and N management practices in different regions of China. We collected literature published during 1950-2017 that reported the yield and NUE for wheat in China, under N application and control treatments, and analyzed the data therein. A significant increase in yield was observed with N application, and varied with climate, soil factors, and N management practices in different regions. A larger increase in yield was observed under an average annual temperature of 13-15 • C, an average annual precipitation of >800 mm, respectively. Greater yield-increasing effects were observed in soil with a coarse soil texture, lower soil total N, available N, and a soil pH of ≤7 and >8, respectively. In Northwest China, the yield increase was greater under multiple coated urea applications after anthesis, while the higher NUE was observed under single coated urea application before anthesis. In North China, the yield and NUE were greater under multiple coated urea applications before anthesis. In South China, the yield and NUE were greater under multiple N applications. Consequently, to improve wheat yield and NUE, site-specific N management practices should be adopted.

Wheat Growth and Yield in the Rice -Wheat Cropping System: Impact of Crop Establishment Techniques, Sowing Schedule and Nitrogen management

“…Iimprovement in available nitrogen status with residue incorporation was also observed (Cui et al, 2022). Nitrogen fertilizer when applied at required rates, soil total N and available N status are increased in the surface of the soil, which also increases crop productivity and the N economy of cereal cropping systems (Wang et al, 2018;Aula et al, 2016).…”

A Macro Perspective on the Relationship between Farm Size and Agrochemicals Use in China

“…In 2018, China used 26.1%, 19.4%, and 27.8% of the global nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium fertilizers, respectively, and 43% of the total global pesticides (http://www.fao.org/faostat). Although agrochemical use is essential to maintain high grain productivity and ensure food security in China [1][2][3][4], it is generally realized that agrochemicals have been overused in China [1,[4][5][6][7][8]. The Ministry of Ecology Environment of China estimated that the utilization rate was only 37.8% for fertilizers and 38.8% for pesticides in rice, corn, and wheat production in 2017 [9].…”

“…Agrochemical use and use efficiency in China have been subject to extensive research. There are significant variabilities in agrochemical use and use efficiency across different regions due to great spatial variations in biophysical conditions such as climate, soil and topography in China and agrochemical use should adapt to these specific conditions [3,4,19,20]. Agrichemical use is also crop-specific and a significant amount of research is dedicated to improving agrochemical use efficiency of specific crops [1,8,10].…”