The Effects of the Application of Organic Manure in Combination with Nitrogen Fertilizer on the Physicochemical Properties of Waxy Maize Starch

The application of organic manure is a crucial agronomic practice for enhancing crop quality. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of organic manure and nitrogen fertilizers on the physicochemical properties of waxy maize starch. A field experiment was conducted with two cultivars (JKN768 and S...

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Main Authors: Fei Lou, Linxiao Liu, Wenxin Zhang, Pengtao Ji, Xiangling Li, Peijun Tao, Yuechen Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/7/1525
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Summary:The application of organic manure is a crucial agronomic practice for enhancing crop quality. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of organic manure and nitrogen fertilizers on the physicochemical properties of waxy maize starch. A field experiment was conducted with two cultivars (JKN768 and SYN2) and six fertilization treatments: no nitrogen fertilizer application (T1); constant nitrogen fertilizer application (T2); and the replacement of 20% (T3), 40% (T4), 60% (T5), and 100% (T6) of nitrogen fertilizer with organic manure. The combined application of organic manure and nitrogen fertilizer improved the morphology and volume-weighted mean diameter of starch granules and reduced the relative crystallinity and enthalpy gelatinization of the starch. Compared with T2, the treatment in which 40% of the nitrogen fertilizer was replaced with organic manure (T4) significantly increased the volume-weighted mean diameter of starch granules in JKN768 and decreased it in SYN2, while it increased the content of rapidly digestible starch in JKN768 and SYN2 by 7.85% and 4.96%, respectively. Additionally, T4 decreased the relative crystallinity of starch in JKN768 and SYN2 by 7.12% and 3.72%, respectively, while it decreased the content of slowly digestible starch in JKN768 and SYN2 by 20% and 13.45%, respectively. The results of this study highlight that replacing 40% of nitrogen fertilizer with organic manure can significantly enhance the multi-scale structural characteristics of waxy maize starch, and they provide theoretical support for the improvement of waxy maize starch quality.
ISSN:2073-4395