Oilseed rape-maize (OM) and wheat-maize (WM) are typical rotation patterns in the Yangtze River Basin in China. This study investigated the effects of combined application of chemical fertilizers and organic materials on maize yield and nutrient use under OM and WM rotation systems, aiming to provide a scientific basis for nutrient management in high-yielding maize production.
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.
The average results of the two-year experiment showed that there was a significant difference in maize yield among 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 was 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.
Applying chemical fertilizer alone resulted in significantly higher maize yield and nutrient accumulation under the oilseed rape-maize rotation pattern than under the wheat-maize rotation. However, the combined application of chemical fertilizer with straw return or organic fertilizer significantly increased maize yield and nutrient accumulation. In the wheat–maize rotation system, maize yield and nutrient accumulation could be raised to levels comparable to those in the oilseed rape–maize rotation, and the apparent nutrient surplus was also improved. In the wheat–maize rotation system, it is recommended to apply both chemical and organic fertilizers combined with straw return to fully meet the nutrient demands for high maize yields. In contrast, in the oilseed rape–maize rotation system, considering the organic fertilizer effect of oilseed rape itself, the combined application of chemical fertilizer with straw return is recommended to ensure maize yield and nutrient use efficiency, thereby achieving high and stable yields of both grain and oil crops.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |