Abstract:
Objectives This study aimed to investigate the impact of straw return combined with nitrogen application on soil active nitrogen components, maize yield, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), thereby providing a theoretical foundation for nitrogen fertilizer reduction and efficient straw return technologies.
Methods A field experiment was conducted from 2021 to 2023 on lime-calcareous soil in the Gansu Yellow River Diversion Irrigation Area. Under conditions of no straw return and straw return, three nitrogen application levels (0, 375, and 450 kg/hm2) were set, resulting in a total of six treatments: N0, N375, N450, and SN0, SN375, SN450, respectively. After the second year's harvest, maize yield, above-ground nitrogen accumulation, and NUE were measured. Additionally, soil samples from the 0−40 cm layer were collected to determine soil total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N), soluble organic nitrogen (DON), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) content.
Results Compared with N375, SN375 significantly increased maize yield and above-ground nitrogen accumulation by 8.58% and 9.21%, respectively. Moreover, the NUE of SN375 was significantly higher than that of N375, N450, and SN450 by 17.98%, 57.12%, and 38.92%, respectively. In the 0−20 cm soil layer, SN375 significantly increased soil TN, DON, PON, and MBN content compared with N375, and significantly increased soil DON, PON, and MBN compared with N450. SN450 significantly increased soil DON and MBN content compared with N375 and N450, while both SN375 and SN450 significantly decreased soil NO3−-N content. In the 20−40 cm soil layer, SN375 significantly increased soil TN, NH4+-N, DON, PON, and MBN content compared with N375, and significantly increased soil TN, DON, PON, and MBN compared with N450. SN450 significantly increased soil TN, DON, and MBN compared with N375 and N450. SN375 significantly increased PON/TN and MBN/TN ratios in the 20-40 cm soil layer, while SN450 significantly increased MBN/TN and DON/TN ratios in the 0−20 cm soil layer and NO3−-N/TN ratio in the 0-40 cm soil layer. In the 0−40 cm soil layer, PON, MBN, DON, NO3−-N, and NH4+-N were significantly correlated with TN, above-ground nitrogen accumulation, and NUE. In the 0−20 cm soil layer, PON, NH4+-N, and NO3−-N were significantly or extremely significantly correlated with yield, while in the 20−40 cm soil layer, DON and NO3−-N were significantly or extremely significantly correlated with yield.
Conclusions In lime-calcareous soil in the Gansu Yellow River Diversion Irrigation Area, nitrogen fertilizer application plays an irreplaceable role in enhancing soil nitrogen storage, nitrogen supply, and fertilizer retention capacity. However, long-term single nitrogen fertilizer reduction may risk decreasing soil fertility and crop yield. Combining straw return with an appropriate amount of nitrogen fertilizer can enhance nitrogen absorption and utilization rates, reduce nitrate nitrogen accumulation in the plough layer, and increase soluble, particulate organic nitrogen, and microbial nitrogen content in the 0−40 cm soil layer, significantly improving the effect of nitrogen fertilizer in enhancing soil nutrient retention and stable nutrient supply capacity. Excessive nitrogen application may reduce the effectiveness of straw return in improving nitrogen fertilizer efficiency and mitigating environmental risks.