Objectives This study aims to clarify the effects of different organic fertilizers (sheep manure, chicken manure, and vermicompost) replacing chemical nitrogen fertilizer on the yield and quality of waxy maize, and to provide a theoretical basis for the synergistic improvement of yield and quality of waxy maize in eastern Hebei Province.

Methods Field experiments were conducted in 2021 and 2022, the waxy maize variety ‘Sidanuo 41’ was used as the test material. Five treatments were set up in the experiment: no nitrogen application (CK), 100% chemical fertilizer nitrogen (CF), 40% chemical fertilizer replaced with chicken manure (CM), vermicompost (VM), and sheep manure (SM), respectively. Among them, the dosages of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were the same for CF, CM, VM and SM treatments. Samples were collected at the jointing stage, big trumpet stage, flowering stage, and harvest stage to measure dry matter and nitrogen accumulation in various organs of wax maize. At the fresh ear harvest stage, ear yield, cooking quality, grain nutritional quality and texture characteristics were determined.

Results Compared with the 100% chemical nitrogen fertilizer (CF) treatment, the organic fertilizer substitution for chemical nitrogen treatments (CM, VM, and SM) all significantly promoted the dry matter and nitrogen accumulation of waxy maize plants at the harvest stage. In 2021, these treatments increased the fresh ear yield by 9.99%, 14.16%, and 13.61%, respectively. In 2022, the increases were 18.14%, 32.91%, and 16.03%, respectively. Compared to the CF treatment, the CM, VM, and SM organic fertilizer treatments significantly increased the single fresh ear weight and yield, and enhanced the ear length. VM and SM treatments reduced the bald tip length. The CM, VM, and SM treatments improved the nitrogen use efficiency, the partial factor productivity of nitrogen fertilizer, and nitrogen agronomic efficiency of waxy maize. Notably, the three organic fertilizer treatments significantly enhanced the flavor, tenderness, and sweetness of the ears after cooking. The VM treatment achieved the highest cooking score (90.7) and a grade 1 quality evaluation, both of which were significantly superior to those of the CM and SM treatments. Furthermore, compared to the CF treatment, the three organic treatments markedly increased the soluble sugar, total starch, and amylopectin content in the grains, along with improving grain chewability. The correlation analysis revealed that the total score for cooking and eating quality showed a significant positive correlation with glutinousness, tenderness; grain chewiness exhibited a significant positive correlation with glutinousness, flavor, tenderness, the total score for cooking and eating quality, grain amylose content, and amylopectin content.

Conclusions In the waxy maize production of the eastern Hebei region, replacing 40% of chemical fertilizer nitrogen with organic fertilizers such as chicken manure, earthworm castings, and sheep manure can significantly increase the fresh ears yield of waxy maize, enhance partial factor productivity of nitrogen fertilizer and nitrogen agronomic efficiency, improve the appearance quality of fresh ears, elevate the overall scores for grain flavor and eating quality, thereby achieving a coordinated improvement in both the yield and quality of fresh ears of waxy maize. Under the condition of a total nitrogen application rate of 180 kg/hm², replacing 40% of chemical fertilizer nitrogen with vermicompost has demonstrated more pronounced effects in enhancing both the yield and flavor of waxy maize compared to chicken manure and sheep manure, making it a recommended option for the application and promotion of technologies aimed at improving quality and efficiency in waxy maize production in eastern Hebei.