title: Responses of Nitrogen Utilization and Apparent Nitrogen Loss to Different Control Measures in the Wheat and Maize Rotation System.
abstract: Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and excessive application rates can decrease crop yield and increase N loss into the environment. Field experiments were carried out to understand the effects of N fertilizers on N utilization, crop yield and net income in wheat and maize rotation system of the North China Plain (NCP). Compared to farmers' N rate (FN), the yield of wheat and maize in reduction N rate by 21-24% based on FN (RN) was improved by 451 kg ha-1, N uptakes improved by 17 kg ha-1and net income increased by 1671 CNY ha-1, while apparent N loss was reduced by 156 kg ha-1. The controlled-release fertilizer with a 20% reduction of RN (CRF80%), a 20% reduction of RN together with dicyandiamide (RN80%+DCD) and a 20% reduction of RN added with nano-carbon (RN80%+NC) all resulted in an improvement in crop yield and decreased the apparent N losses compared to RN. Contrasted with RN80%+NC, the total crop yield in RN80%+DCD improved by 1185 kg ha-1, N uptake enhanced by 9 kg ha-1and net income increased by 3929 CNY ha-1, while apparent N loss was similar. Therefore, a 37-39% overall decrease in N rate compared to farmers plus the nitrification inhibitor, DCD, was effective N control measure that increased crop yields, enhanced N efficiencies, and improved economic benefits, while mitigating apparent N loss. There is considerable scope for improved N use effieincy in the intensive wheat -maize rotation of the NCP.
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Laboratory for Farmland Eco-Environment of Hebei, Agricultural University of Hebei Baoding, China.
authors.forename: Zhengping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Laboratory for Farmland Eco-Environment of Hebei, Agricultural University of Hebei Baoding, China.
authors.forename: Yanan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural Ministry of China Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yingchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Applied Climate Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abawi
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Laboratory for Farmland Eco-Environment of Hebei, Agricultural University of Hebei Baoding, China.
authors.forename: Yanqun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Key Laboratory for Farmland Eco-Environment of Hebei, Agricultural University of Hebei Baoding, China.
authors.forename: Mingxin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Men
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Applied Climate Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, ToowoombaQLD, Australia; Computational Engineering and Science Research Centre, University of Southern Queensland, ToowoombaQLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Duc-Anh
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: An-Vo
keywords: apparent nitrogen loss; maize; net income; nitrogen efficiency; nitrogen fertilizer measures; wheat