Appropriate nitrogen application rate with decreased basal/topdressing ratio improves yield, quality, water productivity, and N-use efficiency of forage maize in a rainfed region
Crop cultivation in rainfed agricultural regions globally faces the challenges of water scarcity and irrational nitrogen (N) fertilizer application, causing fluctuating yields, reduced N-use efficiency, and increased environmental pollution. A two-year field experiment was conducted from 2021 to 202...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Agricultural Water Management |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425003439 |
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| author | Zhongli Li Wei Gao Congze Jiang Yongli Lu Muhammad Kamran Xianlong Yang |
| author_facet | Zhongli Li Wei Gao Congze Jiang Yongli Lu Muhammad Kamran Xianlong Yang |
| author_sort | Zhongli Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Crop cultivation in rainfed agricultural regions globally faces the challenges of water scarcity and irrational nitrogen (N) fertilizer application, causing fluctuating yields, reduced N-use efficiency, and increased environmental pollution. A two-year field experiment was conducted from 2021 to 2022 in a typical rainfed region of northwestern China to investigate the effects of four N application rates (0, 90, 180, 270 kg hm−2) and two basal/topdressing ratios (2:8 and 4:6) and their interactions on the growth, dry matter (DM) yield, forage quality, water productivity (WP), and N-use efficiency of forage maize (Zea mays L.). The LAI, DM yield, crude protein (CP) yield, food equivalent unit yield (FEU yield), WPDM, WPCP, WPFEU and aboveground N uptake of forage maize significantly (P < 0.05) increased with the increase in N application rate from 0 to 180 kg hm−2. The soil NO3-N accumulation in 0–200 cm soil layer increased linearly, whereas the partial factor productivity of applied N (PFPN) and N recovery efficiency (REN) decreased linearly with the increase in N rates. The regression analysis further revealed that the DM yield, FEU yield, WPDM, WPFEU, N uptake, PFPN and REN at all N rates were generally higher at 2:8 basal/topdressing ratio compared to 4:6 ratio. The required nitrogen application rates to achieve maximum values for DM yield, FEU yield, WPDM, WPFEU and above-ground N uptake under the 2:8 basal/topdressing ratio were reduced by 3.3 %, 7.3 %, 7.3 %, 9.6 % and 13.8 %, respectively, compared to the 4:6 ratio. Therefore, N application rate of 180 kg hm−2 and basal/topdressing ratio of 2:8 is recommended as a proper N fertilization management for achieving high yield, quality, water productivity, and N-use efficiency of forage maize in northwestern China and areas with similar climatic conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5c1e30aa6ca64c4499c96afaddbda20d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1873-2283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agricultural Water Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-5c1e30aa6ca64c4499c96afaddbda20d2025-08-20T03:56:08ZengElsevierAgricultural Water Management1873-22832025-08-0131710962910.1016/j.agwat.2025.109629Appropriate nitrogen application rate with decreased basal/topdressing ratio improves yield, quality, water productivity, and N-use efficiency of forage maize in a rainfed regionZhongli Li0Wei Gao1Congze Jiang2Yongli Lu3Muhammad Kamran4Xianlong Yang5College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China; National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems in Gansu Qingyang, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, ChinaCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China; National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems in Gansu Qingyang, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, ChinaCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China; National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems in Gansu Qingyang, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, ChinaCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China; State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China; National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems in Gansu Qingyang, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China; Correspondence to: No. 768 Jiayuguan West Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730020, China.Crop cultivation in rainfed agricultural regions globally faces the challenges of water scarcity and irrational nitrogen (N) fertilizer application, causing fluctuating yields, reduced N-use efficiency, and increased environmental pollution. A two-year field experiment was conducted from 2021 to 2022 in a typical rainfed region of northwestern China to investigate the effects of four N application rates (0, 90, 180, 270 kg hm−2) and two basal/topdressing ratios (2:8 and 4:6) and their interactions on the growth, dry matter (DM) yield, forage quality, water productivity (WP), and N-use efficiency of forage maize (Zea mays L.). The LAI, DM yield, crude protein (CP) yield, food equivalent unit yield (FEU yield), WPDM, WPCP, WPFEU and aboveground N uptake of forage maize significantly (P < 0.05) increased with the increase in N application rate from 0 to 180 kg hm−2. The soil NO3-N accumulation in 0–200 cm soil layer increased linearly, whereas the partial factor productivity of applied N (PFPN) and N recovery efficiency (REN) decreased linearly with the increase in N rates. The regression analysis further revealed that the DM yield, FEU yield, WPDM, WPFEU, N uptake, PFPN and REN at all N rates were generally higher at 2:8 basal/topdressing ratio compared to 4:6 ratio. The required nitrogen application rates to achieve maximum values for DM yield, FEU yield, WPDM, WPFEU and above-ground N uptake under the 2:8 basal/topdressing ratio were reduced by 3.3 %, 7.3 %, 7.3 %, 9.6 % and 13.8 %, respectively, compared to the 4:6 ratio. Therefore, N application rate of 180 kg hm−2 and basal/topdressing ratio of 2:8 is recommended as a proper N fertilization management for achieving high yield, quality, water productivity, and N-use efficiency of forage maize in northwestern China and areas with similar climatic conditions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425003439Rainfed agricultureDry matter yieldForage qualityWater productivityN-use efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Zhongli Li Wei Gao Congze Jiang Yongli Lu Muhammad Kamran Xianlong Yang Appropriate nitrogen application rate with decreased basal/topdressing ratio improves yield, quality, water productivity, and N-use efficiency of forage maize in a rainfed region Agricultural Water Management Rainfed agriculture Dry matter yield Forage quality Water productivity N-use efficiency |
| title | Appropriate nitrogen application rate with decreased basal/topdressing ratio improves yield, quality, water productivity, and N-use efficiency of forage maize in a rainfed region |
| title_full | Appropriate nitrogen application rate with decreased basal/topdressing ratio improves yield, quality, water productivity, and N-use efficiency of forage maize in a rainfed region |
| title_fullStr | Appropriate nitrogen application rate with decreased basal/topdressing ratio improves yield, quality, water productivity, and N-use efficiency of forage maize in a rainfed region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Appropriate nitrogen application rate with decreased basal/topdressing ratio improves yield, quality, water productivity, and N-use efficiency of forage maize in a rainfed region |
| title_short | Appropriate nitrogen application rate with decreased basal/topdressing ratio improves yield, quality, water productivity, and N-use efficiency of forage maize in a rainfed region |
| title_sort | appropriate nitrogen application rate with decreased basal topdressing ratio improves yield quality water productivity and n use efficiency of forage maize in a rainfed region |
| topic | Rainfed agriculture Dry matter yield Forage quality Water productivity N-use efficiency |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425003439 |
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