Determining the Critical Nitrogen Application Rate for Maximizing Yield While Minimizing NO3−-N Leaching and N2O Emissions in Maize Growing on Purple Soil

Liu, Yuanyuan; Chen, Yuanxue; Peng, Dandan; Lu, Huabin; Shuai, Ting; Quan, Ying; Zeng, Chunling; Xu, Kaiwei

doi:10.3390/agronomy15061358

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Open AccessArticle

Determining the Critical Nitrogen Application Rate for Maximizing Yield While Minimizing NO₃⁻-N Leaching and N₂O Emissions in Maize Growing on Purple Soil

by

Yuanyuan Liu

^†,

Yuanxue Chen

^†,

Dandan Peng

,

Huabin Lu

,

Ting Shuai

,

Ying Quan

,

Chunling Zeng

and

Kaiwei Xu

^*

College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Agronomy 2025, 15(6), 1358; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061358

Submission received: 29 March 2025 / Revised: 4 May 2025 / Accepted: 29 May 2025 / Published: 31 May 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)

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Abstract

Optimization of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is essential to achieve higher crop yields at lower environmental costs. This study investigated the impacts of N application rates (0, 180, and 360 kg N ha⁻¹) on maize productivity, N use efficiency (NUE), NO₃⁻-N leaching, cumulative N₂O emissions, and N surplus in maize growing in the purple soil of Southwest China through a 2-year field study. The critical N rate balancing yield optimization with reduced NO₃⁻-N leaching and N₂O emissions was identified. The results showed that grain yield initially increased linearly and then stabilized with increasing N rates, while NUE significantly decreased. NO₃⁻-N leaching, N₂O emissions, and N surplus exhibited quadratic increase. Regression analysis indicated that 158–163 kg N ha⁻¹ achieved optimal yield while maintaining acceptable NO₃⁻-N leaching and N₂O emissions compared to 360 kg N ha⁻¹. This range also enhanced NUE and minimized soil N residue.

Keywords: maize grain yield; nitrogen use efficiency; nitrogen surplus

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MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, Y.; Chen, Y.; Peng, D.; Lu, H.; Shuai, T.; Quan, Y.; Zeng, C.; Xu, K. Determining the Critical Nitrogen Application Rate for Maximizing Yield While Minimizing NO₃⁻-N Leaching and N₂O Emissions in Maize Growing on Purple Soil. Agronomy 2025, 15, 1358. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061358

AMA Style

Liu Y, Chen Y, Peng D, Lu H, Shuai T, Quan Y, Zeng C, Xu K. Determining the Critical Nitrogen Application Rate for Maximizing Yield While Minimizing NO₃⁻-N Leaching and N₂O Emissions in Maize Growing on Purple Soil. Agronomy. 2025; 15(6):1358. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061358

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, Yuanyuan, Yuanxue Chen, Dandan Peng, Huabin Lu, Ting Shuai, Ying Quan, Chunling Zeng, and Kaiwei Xu. 2025. "Determining the Critical Nitrogen Application Rate for Maximizing Yield While Minimizing NO₃⁻-N Leaching and N₂O Emissions in Maize Growing on Purple Soil" Agronomy 15, no. 6: 1358. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061358

APA Style

Liu, Y., Chen, Y., Peng, D., Lu, H., Shuai, T., Quan, Y., Zeng, C., & Xu, K. (2025). Determining the Critical Nitrogen Application Rate for Maximizing Yield While Minimizing NO₃⁻-N Leaching and N₂O Emissions in Maize Growing on Purple Soil. Agronomy, 15(6), 1358. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061358

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Determining the Critical Nitrogen Application Rate for Maximizing Yield While Minimizing NO₃⁻-N Leaching and N₂O Emissions in Maize Growing on Purple Soil

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