Objectives Oilseed rape-maize (OM) and wheat-maize (WM) are typical rotation patterns in the Yangtze River Basin in China. Chemical and organic fertilizer inputs, as well as straw return, are the pivotal measures for high yield and efficient production. We compared the effects of chemical and organic material combined application modes on maize yield and nutrient utilization under the OM and WM rotations, in order to provide a basis for scientific nutrient management of maize cultivation.

Methods Field experiments were conducted in Shayang County, Hubei Province in 2020 and 2021. Four fertilization treatments were set up under the OM and WM rotations: no fertilization (CK), chemical fertilizers (NPK), chemical fertilizers+straw return (NPK+S), chemical fertilizers+straw return+manure (NPK+S+M). Maize yield, aboveground biomass, nutrient utilization efficiency and nutrient apparent balance were analyzed.

Results The average results of the two-year experiment showed that there was a significant difference in maize yield between four treatments under two rotation patterns, and the order from high to low was NPK+S+M>NPK+S>NPK>CK (P<0.05). The maize yield of OM were significantly higher than that of WM under CK and NPK treatments, but not significantly different from that of WM under NPK+S and NPK+S+M treatments. The N, P and K nutrient accumulation of maize shoots were significantly different among the four treatments in both the rotation patterns, showing an order of NPK+S+M>NPK+S>NPK>CK (P<0.05), and the N, P, and K nutrient accumulation of OM maize were 9.6%−52.7%, 9.9%−28.7% and 9.2%−36.2% higher than those of WM, respectively. The input of organic materials reduced the nutrient use efficiency of maize in the four treatments. Compared with NPK treatment, the physiological utilization rates of N, P and K in NPK+S and NPK+S+M treatments decreased by 12.7%−25.4% and 9.1%−28.3%, respectively. Under CK and NPK treatments, the nutrient harvest index and nutrient physiological utilization rate of OM were higher than those of WM, but lower than those of WM under NPK+S and NPK+S+M treatments. Under the two rotation patterns, the apparent surplus of nutrients among the four treatments was significantly different. The apparent surplus of N and P from high to low was NPK+S+M>NPK>NPK+S>CK, and the apparent surplus of K was in order of NPK+S+M>NPK+S>NPK>CK. Under the four treatments, the apparent surplus of N, P and K was WM>OM.

Conclusions Applying chemical fertilizer alone resulted in significantly higher maize yield and nutrient accumulation under the oilseed rape-maize rotation pattern, compared to the wheat-maize rotation. The combination of chemical fertilizer with straw return and organic fertilizer can significantly increase maize yield and nutrient accumulation, especially for the wheat-maize rotation, the maize yield and nutrient accumulation can be raised to a level comparable to that of the oilseed rape-maize rotation. In the wheat-maize rotation pattern, it is recommended to apply chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizer, and incorporate straw return together to fully meet the nutrient demands for high maize yield. In the oilseed rape-maize rotation pattern, considering the effect of oilseed rape as an organic fertilizer, it is advised to combine chemical fertilizer with straw return to ensure maize yield and nutrient use efficiency, thereby achieving abundant production of both grain and oil crops.