Optimizing Water and Nitrogen Application to Furrow-Irrigated Summer Corn Using the AquaCrop Model

Summer maize is an important grain crop in the North China Plain, but the problem of irrational application of water and fertilizer is becoming increasingly serious. Optimizing water and nitrogen management not only improves yield but also reduces water and fertilizer waste and environmental polluti...

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Main Authors: Yifei Zhao, Shunsheng Wang, Aili Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1229
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author Yifei Zhao
Shunsheng Wang
Aili Wang
author_facet Yifei Zhao
Shunsheng Wang
Aili Wang
author_sort Yifei Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Summer maize is an important grain crop in the North China Plain, but the problem of irrational application of water and fertilizer is becoming increasingly serious. Optimizing water and nitrogen management not only improves yield but also reduces water and fertilizer waste and environmental pollution. The Aquacrop model was calibrated and validated using a two-year summer maize field trial, and 16 different water and nitrogen scenarios were simulated and analyzed. In particular, the field trials were divided into 10 water–nitrogen treatments. The results showed that (1) the model has good applicability to the growth process of summer maize in the North China Plain. (2) Excessive water and nitrogen application would reduce yield by 5.6–33.7%, nitrogen bias productivity by 8.1–32.5%, and water use efficiency by 6.4–84.6%. (3) The optimal irrigation and nitrogen application program for furrow-irrigated summer maize is an irrigation quota of 360 mm in conjunction with nitrogen application of 240 kg/ha. This study provides a theoretical basis for a water-saving, fertilizer-saving, high-yield water and fertilizer management system for summer maize in the North China Plain.
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spelling doaj-art-f61e9da79fc14d6da1e3f0ed6723d0542025-08-20T01:57:01ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-05-01155122910.3390/agronomy15051229Optimizing Water and Nitrogen Application to Furrow-Irrigated Summer Corn Using the AquaCrop ModelYifei Zhao0Shunsheng Wang1Aili Wang2School of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaSchool of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaSchool of Water Conservancy, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaSummer maize is an important grain crop in the North China Plain, but the problem of irrational application of water and fertilizer is becoming increasingly serious. Optimizing water and nitrogen management not only improves yield but also reduces water and fertilizer waste and environmental pollution. The Aquacrop model was calibrated and validated using a two-year summer maize field trial, and 16 different water and nitrogen scenarios were simulated and analyzed. In particular, the field trials were divided into 10 water–nitrogen treatments. The results showed that (1) the model has good applicability to the growth process of summer maize in the North China Plain. (2) Excessive water and nitrogen application would reduce yield by 5.6–33.7%, nitrogen bias productivity by 8.1–32.5%, and water use efficiency by 6.4–84.6%. (3) The optimal irrigation and nitrogen application program for furrow-irrigated summer maize is an irrigation quota of 360 mm in conjunction with nitrogen application of 240 kg/ha. This study provides a theoretical basis for a water-saving, fertilizer-saving, high-yield water and fertilizer management system for summer maize in the North China Plain.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1229summer maizeAquaCrop modelyieldnitrogen bias productivityirrigation water use efficiency
spellingShingle Yifei Zhao
Shunsheng Wang
Aili Wang
Optimizing Water and Nitrogen Application to Furrow-Irrigated Summer Corn Using the AquaCrop Model
Agronomy
summer maize
AquaCrop model
yield
nitrogen bias productivity
irrigation water use efficiency
title Optimizing Water and Nitrogen Application to Furrow-Irrigated Summer Corn Using the AquaCrop Model
title_full Optimizing Water and Nitrogen Application to Furrow-Irrigated Summer Corn Using the AquaCrop Model
title_fullStr Optimizing Water and Nitrogen Application to Furrow-Irrigated Summer Corn Using the AquaCrop Model
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing Water and Nitrogen Application to Furrow-Irrigated Summer Corn Using the AquaCrop Model
title_short Optimizing Water and Nitrogen Application to Furrow-Irrigated Summer Corn Using the AquaCrop Model
title_sort optimizing water and nitrogen application to furrow irrigated summer corn using the aquacrop model
topic summer maize
AquaCrop model
yield
nitrogen bias productivity
irrigation water use efficiency
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1229
work_keys_str_mv AT yifeizhao optimizingwaterandnitrogenapplicationtofurrowirrigatedsummercornusingtheaquacropmodel
AT shunshengwang optimizingwaterandnitrogenapplicationtofurrowirrigatedsummercornusingtheaquacropmodel
AT ailiwang optimizingwaterandnitrogenapplicationtofurrowirrigatedsummercornusingtheaquacropmodel