Nitrogen Fertilization Modulates Spatial Distribution of Water, Nitrogen and Salt in Soil, and Growth and Yield of Maize

Abstract

【Objective】 Nitrogen is not only a plant nutrient but also functions as a signal affecting crop growth and yield in complex ways. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the effect of nitrogen fertilization on water and solute dynamics in soil, as well as the consequence for growth and yield of maize in semi-arid regions in northern China. 【Method】 The experiment was conducted from May to September in 2019 in a rain shelter at the Experimental Station of Taiyuan University of Technology. We compared four nitrogen fertilizations: without nitrogen application (N0), applying nitrogen fertilizer at 225 kg/hm2 (N1), 275 kg/hm2 (N2) and 325 kg/hm2 (N3), respectively. In each treatment, we measured, at different growing stages, the distributions of water, salt and nitrogen in the soil profile, as well as the final grain yield. 【Result】 Nitrogen application affected distribution of water, nitrogen and salt in the soil, with volumetric water content in the 0~40 cm of soil decreasing significantly (p0.05), despite the former saving 50 kg/hm2 of fertilizer and increasing partial productivity of the nitrogen fertilizer to 3.4 kg/kg higher (p<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Considering the effects of nitrogen application and crop growth and yield, the most suitable nitrogen fertilization for maize production in the salinized soils in the studied region is 275 kg/hm2.

Keywords

• maize
• yield
• water use efficiency
• soil electrical conductivity
• nitrate nitrogen
• ammonium nitrogen