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Nitrogen placement at sowing affects root growth, grain yield formation, N use efficiency in maize

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Abstract

Aims

Grain yields of summer maize are significantly affected by different nitrogen (N) rates and depths through regulating root growth and distribution in soil. Understanding of effects of the deep placement of N on the root and shoot growth, grain yield and N use efficiency in summer maize are limited.

Methods

In this study, four N rates: 225, 191.25, 157.5 and 0 kg ha−1 applied at four depths: 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm were studied. Soil N content, root dry weight, root length density, biomass, grain yield and N use efficiency of maize were measured.

Results

Compared to 225 kg N ha−1 applied at a depth of 5 cm, a 15% reduction in the N application rate at a depth of 15 cm induced a larger root length density in the subsoil, as well as a larger rooting depth. It also facilitated maintaining a higher level of biomass and N accumulation during the later growth period, which increased the N assimilation of grain and enhanced grain yield by 3.9%, N recovery efficiency by 66.7%, N agronomic efficiency by 38.5%, and partial factor productivity of N by 22.1%.

Conclusions

Overall, this study demonstrates that reducing the recommended N application rate of 225 kg ha−1 by 15% but applying it at a depth of 15 cm might be considered an efficient fertilization method that increases agricultural productivity and N use efficiency.

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Abbreviations

RDW:

root dry weight

RLD:

root length density

NA:

N accumulation amount

NRE:

N recovery efficiency

NAE:

N agronomic efficiency

PFPN :

partial factor productivity of N

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for grants from National Basic Research Program of China (2016YFD0300106), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31771713, 31371576), and Shandong Province Key Agricultural Project for Application Technology Innovation (SDAIT02-08).

Funding

This study was supported by National Basic Research Program of China (2016YFD0300106), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31771713, 31371576), and Shandong Province Key Agricultural Project for Application Technology Innovation (SDAIT02–08).

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  1. Yi Cheng and Hui-Qin Wang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Agronomy, State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong, 271018, People’s Republic of China

    Yi Cheng, Hui-Qin Wang, Peng Liu, Shu-Ting Dong, Ji-Wang Zhang, Bin Zhao & Bai-Zhao Ren

  2. College of Agronomy, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, People’s Republic of China

    Yi Cheng

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  1. Yi Cheng
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Correspondence to Peng Liu.

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Cheng, Y., Wang, HQ., Liu, P. et al. Nitrogen placement at sowing affects root growth, grain yield formation, N use efficiency in maize. Plant Soil 457, 355–373 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04747-2

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