Managing nitrogen for sustainable crop production with reduced hydrological nitrogen losses under a winter wheat–summer maize rotation system: an eight-season field study

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1274943
• Publication Date: 2023-11-14T10:04:48Z
• Authors: Li Wang; Lei Ma; Yan Li; Christoph-Martin ...; Jianlin Wei; Fuli Zheng; Zhaohui Liu; Deshui Tan
• Keywords: Crop Rotation; Growing season; Cropping system

Excessive nitrogen (N) application in wheat-maize cropping systems was adjusted towards more sustainable practices to reduce hydrological N losses while maintaining crop yield. In comprehensive quantification of management effects on yield, use efficiency (NUE), losses, and soil nitrate residual across eight seasons, we have added growing evidence strategies beneficial for production with lower losses. The results show that enhanced yield NUE, as compared farmer's practices, but benefits varied rates types. Optimized treatment (OPT, 180 kg ha-1 both maize wheat seasons) or without straw returning produced the most They increased by 5.5% 7.3% 6.2% 3.2% average, practice huge (FP, 345 240 wheat). Regulation release through amendment controlled urea at a rate 144 crop-1 (CRU treatment) obtained 4.4% greater than FP, sustained similar less input, resulting highest NUE. Additionally, CRU effective mitigating loss, 39.5% 45.5% leachate 31.9% 35.9% runoff loss FP seasons. Synthetic input correlated significantly positively indicating it one dominant factors driving Moreover, OPT, additional (STR) substituting 20% nutrients duck manure (DMS) further reduced discharges due fact organic matter incorporation resilience rainfall. over-application caused considerable accumulation 0-90-cm profile, i.e., STR, CRU, DMS treatments effectively range 79.6-92.9 ha-1. This study suggests efforts using optimized integrated should be encouraged this region.