• ISSN 1008-505X
  • CN 11-3996/S
WANG Xiu-kang, LI Zhan-bin, XING Ying-ying. Effects of mulching and fertilization on maize yield, soil temperature and nitrate-N distribution[J]. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers, 2015, 21(4): 884-897. DOI: 10.11674/zwyf.2015.0407
Citation: WANG Xiu-kang, LI Zhan-bin, XING Ying-ying. Effects of mulching and fertilization on maize yield, soil temperature and nitrate-N distribution[J]. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers, 2015, 21(4): 884-897. DOI: 10.11674/zwyf.2015.0407

Effects of mulching and fertilization on maize yield, soil temperature and nitrate-N distribution

  • 【Objectives】The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of furrow mulching and nitrogen fertilization on soil temperature, soil nitrate-N content and grain yield for sustainable corn production in corrugation cultivation.【Methods】 The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with six treatments: 1) a control plot with no basal fertilizer, no top dressing and no mulching, 2) plastic film mulching with no basal fertilizer and no top dressing, 3) basal N (80 kg/hm2) and P2O5 (80 kg/hm2) with no top dressing and no mulching, 4) plastic film mulching and basal N (80 kg/hm2), P2O5 (80 kg/hm2) with no top dressing, 5) basal N (80 kg/hm2), P2O5 (80 kg/hm2) and top dressing N (80 kg/hm2) with no mulching, and 6) plastic film mulching with basal N (80 kg/hm2) and P2O5 (80 kg/hm2), and top dressing N (80 kg/hm2).【Results】 1) The soil temperature of the 10-cm mulching treatment was significantly higher than the no-mulching treatment, and the average soil temperature of the mulching treatment increased 2.3℃ before July which may be beneficial for germination and growth, and approximately 1.2℃ after July in 0 to 20 cm. The soil temperature in fertilizer treatment was slightly higher than no fertilizer treatment before the middle of June and the soil temperature difference decreased after the middle of June, and the influence of the fertilizer treatment on the soil temperature was not significant. 2) The soil nitrate-N content with basal fertilizer was 1.65 times higher than that with no fertilizer at 36 days after sowing, and was mainly concentrated in the 0 to 30 cm. The distribution of soil nitrate-N was symmetrical along the taproot, and the soil nitrate-N content was in a small area of soil appeared at 40 cm. The soil nitrate-N content was reduced to 30.77 to 48.67 mg/kg in the topsoil after two months sowing. Mulching decreased fertilizer N down moving in a short term, mainly in the depth of 0-80 cm. 3)Water use efficiency (WUE) was positively correlated with the fertilizer application rate and the highest WUE was 2.09 kg/m3. With the same fertilizer treatments, Mulching improved the efficiency of water use. Under basal fertilizer treatment, the WUE in mulching was increased by 12.8% to 19.5% than no mulching. With basal and dressing fertilizer treatment, the WUE in mulching was increased by 20.3% to 27.4% than no mulching. 4) 100-grain weight, spike grain weight were positively related with production, and the grain yield increase was directly by 100-grain weight and grain weight increase, fertilization and mulching increased hundred grain weight and spike grain weight obviously. The results indicated that plastic film mulching could increase grain yield in nitrogen fertilization, 10.61%, 9.48% and 15.36% for the plastic film mulching with basal fertilizer and 16.61%, 20.94% and 12.24% for basal and topdressing, respectively.【Conclusions】 The corn grain yield increased from 23.42% to 83.23% with basal fertilizer, topdressing and plastic film mulching compare with CK. This study indicated that the best yield received the furrow mulching and basal, top dressing nitrogen fertilization 80 kg/hm2 each.
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