Simulating the Effects of Different Textural Soils and N Management on Maize Yield, N Fates, and Water and N Use Efficiencies in Northeast China

Overview

Journal Plants (Basel)

Date 2022 Dec 11

PMID 36501377

Authors

Fanchao Meng

Kelin Hu

Puyu Feng

Guozhong Feng

Qiang Gao

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Determining the best management practices (BMPs) for farmland under different soil textures can provide technical support for improving maize yield, water- and nitrogen-use efficiencies (WUE and NUE), and reducing environmental N losses. In this study, a two-year (2013−2014) maize cultivation experiment was conducted on two pieces of farmland with different textural soils (loamy clay and sandy loam) in the Phaeozems zone of Northeast China. Three N fertilizer treatments were designed for each farmland: N168, N240, and N312, with N rates of 168, 240, and 312 kg ha−1, respectively. The WHCNS (soil Water Heat Carbon Nitrogen Simulator) model was calibrated and validated using the observed soil water content, soil nitrate concentration, and crop biological indicators. Then, the effects of soil texture combined with different N rates on maize yield, water consumption, and N fates were simulated. The integrated index considering the agronomic, economic, and environmental impacts was used to determine the BMPs for two textural soils. Results indicated that simulated soil water content and nitrate concentration at different soil depths, leaf area index, dry matter, and grain yield all agreed well with the measured values. Both soil texture and N rates significantly affected maize yield, N fates, WUE, and NUE. The annual average grain yield, WUE, and NUE under three N rates in sandy loam soil were 8257 kg ha−1, 1.9 kg m−3, and 41.2 kg kg−1, respectively, which were lower than those of loam clay, 11440 kg ha−1, 2.7 kg m−3, and 46.7 kg kg−1. The order of annual average yield and WUE under two textural soils was N240 > N312 > N168. The average evapotranspiration of sandy loam (447.3 mm) was higher than that of loamy clay (404.9 mm). The annual average N-leaching amount of different N treatments for sandy loam ranged from 5.1 to 13.2 kg ha−1, which was higher than that of loamy clay soil, with a range of 1.8−5.0 kg ha−1. The gaseous N loss in sandy loam soil accounted for 14.7% of the fertilizer N application rate, while it was 11.1%in loamy clay soil. The order of the NUEs of two textural soils was: N168 > N240 > N312. The recommended N fertilizer rates for sandy loam and loamy clay soils determined by the integrated index were 180 and 200 kg ha−1, respectively.

Citing Articles

Assessing the Fates of Water and Nitrogen on an Open-Field Intensive Vegetable System under an Expert-N System with EU-Rotate_N Model in North China Plain.

Sun Y, Chen S, Feng P, Chen Q, Hu K Plants (Basel). 2024; 13(15).

PMID: 39124269 PMC: 11314188. DOI: 10.3390/plants13152150.

Improvement of Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiencies by Alternative Cropping Systems Based on a Model Approach.

Han L, Li Y, Hou Y, Liang H, Feng P, Hu K Plants (Basel). 2023; 12(3).

PMID: 36771681 PMC: 9919017. DOI: 10.3390/plants12030597.

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