Mixed application of controlled‐release and normal urea (MCU) is considered as a promising alternative to farmers’ practice with one‐time nitrogen fertilization (FP) and optimal split nitrogen fertilization (OPT). In this study, MCU effectiveness on maize (Zea mays L.) were investigated by conducting 2‐yr field experiments on sandy and clay soils. Across the 2 yr, grain yields in MCU increased by 22 and 18% relative to FP on sand and clay soils, respectively, and net returns increased by 65 and 19%, respectively, while total N losses reduced by 228 and 193 kg N ha−1, respectively. In general, MCU showed significant advantages in agronomic, economic, and environmental benefits relative to FP across soil types, and the advantages were more remarkable on sandy soil. Although OPT also showed better effectiveness relative to FP, while its performances were similar to MCU on clay soil but slightly less effective on sandy soil. Compared to FP, the lower N rate and optimized N management in MCU and OPT effectively reduced N loss and ensured sufficient soil N availability to meet maize N demand at the later growth stage, accumulated more dry matter (DM) and N in plants that associated with larger post‐silking ratios, and consequently improved grain yield and nitrogen recovery efficiency (REN). Our results demonstrated that MCU is an effective and promising method to concurrently meet smallholders’ requirement for simplified fertilization and the optimal N management strategy, could replace OPT as an optimal N management method for maize on both two soil types, especially on sandy soil.
To increase crop productivity while reducing environmental costs, an integrated soil–crop system management (ISSM) strategy was developed and successfully adopted in China. However, little information is available on the long-term ISSM effects on maize agronomic and environmental performance. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of ISSM with combining inorganic and organic fertilizers on maize productivity, N use efficiency (NUE) and N balance and losses as compared with farmers’ practice (FP) and high-yielding practice (HY), based on an 11-year field experiment in Northeast China. Maize yield in ISSM (11.7–14.3 Mg ha−1) achieved 97.7% of that in HY and was increased by 27% relative to FP. The excellent yield performance in ISSM was mainly attributed to optimum plant population structure and yield components. Annual N surplus in ISSM was only 7 kg ha−1, which was considerably lower than that in FP (52 kg ha−1) and HY (109 kg ha−1). Consequently, ISSM obtained significantly lower N losses and greenhouse gases emissions and higher NUE. In contrast to FP, crop performance in ISSM showing better sustainability and inter-annual stability. In conclusion, ISSM is an effective strategy to achieve long-term sustainable high crop yields and NUE with less environmental costs in the intensive agricultural system.
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