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Application of Blended Controlled-Release and Normal Urea with Suitable Maize Varieties to Achieve Integrated Agronomic and Environmental Impact in a High-Yielding Summer Maize System

Author

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  • Mengjin Ma

    (Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Huan Li

    (Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Dongliang Yan

    (Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455099, China)

  • Yihan Zhang

    (Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Miaomiao Song

    (Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Yongchao Wang

    (Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
    State Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Hao Wang

    (Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
    State Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Ruixin Shao

    (Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
    State Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Jiameng Guo

    (Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
    State Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Qinghua Yang

    (Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
    State Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

Abstract

The use of blended controlled-release urea (CRU) with normal urea has appeared to effectively improve grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in summer maize systems. Nevertheless, the environmental impacts based on a life cycle assessment (LCA) and the ecosystem economic benefits with different maize varieties and ratios of CRU and urea remain unclear. In our study, a consecutive two-year field experiment was designed in the North China Plain (NCP) using two nitrogen (N) rates (0 and 180 kg N ha −1 ), four N resources (urea-N, CRU-N:urea-N = 1:2, CRU-N:urea-N = 2:1 and CRU-N), and two maize varieties (ZD958 and YH988) in 2019 and 2020. The results showed that a once-off application of basal fertilizer in N180C2 (CRU-N:urea-N = 2:1) and N180C1 (CRU-N:urea-N = 1:2) achieved high grain yields in ZD958 and YH988 (11.0–13.5 Mg ha −1 and 11.3–13.2 Mg ha −1 ), respectively. Compared to treatment N180U, treatment N180C2 reduced reactive N losses through N leaching (−34.6%), ammonia volatilization (−17.1%), and nitrous oxide emissions (−42.0%) in variety ZD958, whereas treatment N180C1 reduced reactive N losses through N leaching (−20.3%), ammonia volatilization (−13.2%), and nitrous oxide emission (−24.2%) in variety YH988. The N180C2 and N180C1 treatments achieved the lowest C footprint (267.4 and 267.9 kg CO 2 eq Mg −1 ) for ZD958 and YH988, respectively. Furthermore, N180C2 and N180C1 achieved the highest ecosystem economic benefits for ZD958 and YH988 of 831 and 1101 $ ha −1 , respectively. In summary, the application of the mixture of controlled release urea and standard urea at appropriate N rates not only achieved a high grain yield but also enhanced the ecological economic benefits while mitigating the negative environmental impacts. To sum up, using the correct CRU-N management practices coordinated with suitable genetic varieties is an effective way of achieving sustainable and environmentally friendly maize production in a high-yielding summer maize system.

Suggested Citation

  • Mengjin Ma & Huan Li & Dongliang Yan & Yihan Zhang & Miaomiao Song & Yongchao Wang & Hao Wang & Ruixin Shao & Jiameng Guo & Qinghua Yang, 2022. "Application of Blended Controlled-Release and Normal Urea with Suitable Maize Varieties to Achieve Integrated Agronomic and Environmental Impact in a High-Yielding Summer Maize System," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:8:p:1247-:d:890936
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    References listed on IDEAS

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