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Article

Reducing Mineral Fertilizer Can Improve the Soil Quality and Increase the Wheat Yield and Nutrient Utilization Efficiency: The Fertilizing Effect of Organic–Inorganic Compound Fertilizers

by
Ping Bo
1,
Qingyang He
2,
Yubin Lan
1,3,
Jiankun Li
4,
Haiteng Liu
1,
Xinlong Li
1 and
Huizheng Wang
1,3,*
1
College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
2
College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Qingdao Institute of Technology, Qingdao 266300, China
3
Sub-Center of National Center for International Collaboration Research on Precision Agricultural Aviation Pesticide Spraying Technology, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
4
Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., Weifang 261206, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agriculture 2025, 15(12), 1294; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15121294
Submission received: 28 April 2025 / Revised: 12 June 2025 / Accepted: 13 June 2025 / Published: 16 June 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Soils)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
Replacing chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives represents a viable strategy for enhancing agricultural productivity. The optimized integration of both fertilizer types can reduce the chemical input while improving soil conditions. However, the specific impacts of combined organic and inorganic fertilization on soil quality and crop performance require further investigation. To address this, a two-year field experiment was conducted to examine the effects of varying ratios of organic fertilizer substitution on wheat growth, grain yield, nutrient uptake, and soil quality. The results showed that the application of a 100% organic fertilizer combined with a 90% chemical fertilizer significantly increased the wheat biomass and grain yield. In terms of the nutrient uptake efficiency, the aboveground uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) increased significantly by 29.2%, 29.0%, and 56.5%, respectively. The nutrient use efficiency was also improved, with increases of 30.4% for N, 21.1% for P, and 47.7% for K. The partial factor productivity, total nutrient uptake, and the translocation efficiency of N, P, and K were all significantly enhanced. The soil quality was also markedly improved, with increases in both the soil organic matter and nutrient content. In conclusion, substituting chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers improves the soil moisture and organic matter content, thereby enhancing the total uptake and translocation efficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This leads to increased nutrient content in wheat grains, resulting in higher yields and improved grain quality. Moreover, this study provides practical guidance for wheat production and supports policy objectives related to sustainable agriculture, reduced chemical fertilizer use, and improved food security.

1. Introduction

China is one of the world’s largest producers of wheat and consumers of chemical fertilizers. Enhancing crop yields while maintaining soil health is vital to ensuring national food security [1]. In wheat production in China, fertilization plays a central role. However, in recent years, the issues of excessive fertilizer use and neglect of organic fertilizers have become increasingly prominent [2], leading to a decline in wheat yield and soil quality, increased production costs, and heightened environmental pollution risks [3]. Organic fertilizers are rich in various nutrients and organic matter, effectively improving soil fertility and fertilizer utilization efficiency [4]. Compared to chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers not only provide a continuous release of nutrients and improve soil structure but also promote nutrient cycling and transformation [5], ultimately enhancing soil and crop productivity [6]. Numerous studies have shown that using organic fertilizers to replace conventional chemical fertilizers can not only balance the input of organic and inorganic nutrients [7] and promote plant growth, nutrient uptake, and yield formation but also further increase the crop yield and fertilizer utilization efficiency by improving nutrient uptake rates and optimizing the yield composition [8,9]. In addition, organic fertilizers exert a substantial positive influence on the soil’s physical and chemical properties, contributing to improved soil structure, enhanced nutrient availability, and overall soil health [10].
Research has found that the scientific combination of organic and chemical fertilizers can effectively promote crop nitrogen uptake and utilization, significantly improve nitrogen fertilizer efficiency [11,12], enhance root development, and increase the plant stress resistance, growth rate, and intermediate metabolic capacity [13]. By stimulating crop growth and nutrient uptake, it provides nutrients that are effectively coordinated with crop growth, thereby increasing the crop yield and nutrient utilization rates. This fertilization method can improve growth indicators such as the number of winter wheat tillers, leaf area index, and specific leaf weight [14], which are beneficial for the comprehensive growth and development of winter wheat, thereby increasing yield [15]. At the same time, the scientific combination of organic and chemical fertilizers also positively affects the photosynthetic characteristics of winter wheat, such as the chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate [16]. Integrating organic fertilizers into the soil can improve the soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activity, and the micro-ecological environment to reduce or eliminate these harmful effects. The soil quality reflects the soil’s ability to provide ecosystem functions and plays a crucial role in maintaining environmental quality and the sustainability of agricultural production. It can greatly improve soil quality by boosting carbon and nutrient retention, balancing soil pH, enhancing physical structure, promoting nutrient cycling [17], reshaping microbial communities, and lowering the incidence of soil-borne diseases [18]. Studies have reported that in various experimental soils, the combination of organic and chemical fertilizers can significantly enhance rainwater infiltration, improve soil structure and aggregates, reduce soil bulk density, and promote soil carbon sequestration. Soil microorganisms are central to mediating soil–plant interactions, directly influencing soil characteristics and crop yield. They also serve as vital indicators of soil quality and crop health in agricultural systems [19]. Enhancing these microbial-related soil properties can further improve the overall soil quality and boost agricultural productivity [20].
However, despite numerous studies focusing on the role of scientifically combining organic and chemical fertilizers in improving nitrogen fertilizer utilization [21], promoting winter wheat growth and development, and increasing yield, research on wheat growth, yield formation, photosynthetic performance, nutrient uptake and utilization, and soil impacts under different types and ratios of organic fertilizer substitution for chemical fertilizers remains insufficient. Furthermore, the understanding of soil nutrient content and fertilizer supply capacity after replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers is still not comprehensive. Therefore, this study sets up treatments with organic fertilizer substituting chemical fertilizers and measures wheat yield and growth, nutrient uptake and utilization, and soil nutrient supply. The aim is to clarify the mechanisms by which organic fertilizers replace chemical fertilizers to increase wheat yield and to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for practical production.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Site Description

Field experiments were conducted in Liugongshun Village, Qingcheng Town, Gaoqing County, over two periods: October 2022 to June 2023, and October 2023 to June 2024. The test site is rain-fed dry land. Table 1 shows the basic properties of 0–20 cm topsoil before sowing. The annual average temperature of the test site is 12.7 °C, and the annual average rainfall is 681.90 mm. The sowing date was 8 November 2022, and the harvest date was 8 June 2023. The second year is 15 October 2023, and the harvest date is 4 June 2024. During the experiment, the field management measures were consistent to ensure the accuracy and comparability of the experimental data.

2.2. Experimental Design

The wheat variety tested from 2022 to 2023 was “Ken-Xing 8”. The organic fertilizer selected for the experiment was biological organic fertilizer (N 3%, P2O5 3%, K2O 1%, organic matter > 40%), and the inorganic fertilizer was compound fertilizer (N ≥ 20%, P2O5 ≥ 20%, K2O ≥ 6%). As shown in Table 2, five treatment groups were set up in the experiment: CK (0% organic fertilizer + 100% chemical fertilizer), T1 (50% organic fertilizer + 100% chemical fertilizer), T2 (100% organic fertilizer + 90% chemical fertilizer), T3 (100% organic fertilizer + 80% chemical fertilizer), and T4 (100% organic fertilizer + 70% chemical fertilizer). The fertilizer application rates were consistent for both years. Each treatment had three biological replicates, with a plot area of 35 m2 (5 m × 7 m), arranged in a completely randomized block design. The fertilizers were uniformly applied to the surface after deep plowing before sowing, followed by rotary tilling using a small rotary tiller.
The field was plowed on 26 October 2022, and sowing took place on 8 November 2022. The seeding rate was 262.5 kg/ha. During the growing season, the crop experienced a light frost in mid-December 2022 at the seedling stage. The lowest ground temperature dropped to 2 °C, causing mild damage to wheat leaves, with slight yellowing and withering observed at the tips and edges. The impact on growth was limited. On 8 June 2023, three random points from each treatment were selected for field production, two-factor survey, and harvest measurement. Each sample plot was 1 m2. According to the experimental design, each plot was irrigated and fertilized separately. The irrigation amount was controlled at 200–300 m3/ha per application to ensure adequate water infiltration into the root zone (30–40 cm). Topdressing was applied before the jointing stage using either mechanical furrowing or manual broadcasting. All other management practices followed standard wheat cultivation protocols.
In the second year, plowing was performed on 16 October 2023, and sowing took place on 23 October 2023, with a seeding rate of 262.5 kg/ha. No disasters occurred during the growing season. On 4 June 2024, the treatments were identical to those used in the 2022 experiment.

2.3. Determination Items and Methods

2.3.1. Yield Measurement

Wheat plant samples were collected during the physiological maturity stage in 2023–2024. Within each experimental plot, 50 plants were randomly selected for the measurement of biological traits. From these, 30 plants were randomly chosen, and their stems and leaves were chopped into 1 cm pieces. These samples were spread in thin layers and dried in a forced-air oven at 60 °C for 12 h. After drying, the samples were ground and passed through a 0.5 mm sieve. The chaff from threshing was processed using the same method as that used for the stems and leaves. The de-hulled grains were further dried in a forced-air oven at 60–70 °C for 4 h, ground using a sample mill, and sieved through a 0.5 mm sieve. Nitrogen content in the plant samples was determined using an automatic Kjeldahl nitrogen analyzer (Using Haineng automatic Kjeldahl nitrogen analyser K9860, purchase in Jinan, China) [15]. Phosphorus content was determined using the molybdenum-antimony colorimetric method, while potassium content was quantified via flame photometry [22]. Additionally, one row of wheat (5 m in length) was manually harvested from each experimental plot. After threshing and air-drying, the grain yield was calculated.

2.3.2. Determination of Soil Physical and Chemical Properties

Following the wheat harvest, soil sampling was conducted using a spiral auger with a 5 cm diameter, employing the five-point sampling method. In each experimental plot, five soil cores were randomly taken from a depth of 0–20 cm. The soil samples from each plot were combined and passed through a 2mm sieve to remove impurities, with each replicate representing a composite sample. Total nitrogen was determined using the Kjeldahl method [12]. Available phosphorus was analyzed using the molybdenum-antimony colorimetric method, while available potassium was extracted with neutral ammonium acetate and quantified by flame photometry. Slowly available potassium was extracted using hot nitric acid and quantified by flame photometry. Organic matter content was determined via the potassium dichromate–sulfuric acid digestion method with supplementary heating. All measurements were performed in triplicate to ensure analytical accuracy and reliability.

2.3.3. Calculation of Fertilizer Utilization Rate and Fertilizer Partial Productivity

The fertilizer utilization rate and fertilizer partial productivity are calculated using the following formula:
Transit rate = Grain nitrogen uptake/Total absorption
Nutrient harvest index = Grain nitrogen uptake/Aboveground nitrogen uptake × 100%
NUtE = Grain yield/Aboveground nitrogen uptake
PUtE = Grain yield/Aboveground phosphorus uptake
KUtE = Grain yield/Aboveground potassium uptake
Nitrogen fertilizer partial productivity (PFPN) = GY/FN
Phosphorus fertilizer partial productivity (PFPP) = GY/FP
Potassium fertilizer partial productivity (PFPK) = GY/FK
where GY is the grain yield (kg/hm2) from the fertilization treatments. FN, FP, and FK are the applied N, P, and K fertilizer rates (kg/hm2), respectively.

2.4. Data Processing

The collected wheat data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics 27.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to evaluate the significance of differences in biomass, yield, nutrient uptake and utilization, and soil properties across the various treatment groups. Duncan’s multiple comparison was used to compare the differences between the two treatments at the level of p < 0.05. Furthermore, Pearson’s correlation analysis was conducted to explore the relationships between soil properties and plant performance indicators. All graphical representations were generated using GraphPad Prism 9 software (GraphPad Software Inc., San Diego, CA, USA).

3. Results

3.1. Growth, Yield, Yield Components

The wheat in 2023 was better than that in 2022. The wheat plants treated with 6000 kg·hm−2 of organic fertilizer (T2–T4) exhibited a significantly greater plant height and spike number compared to the control group. Specifically, under the T2 treatment, both the plant height and spike number were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of the control. Additionally, both the biological yield and grain yield were markedly increased in the T2 and T3 treatments, with the differences in yield being statistically significant. Additionally, the 1000-grain weight in the T2 treatment was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the control (Table 3).

3.2. Nutrient Uptake and Utilization Efficiency

From 2022 to 2023, the wheat treated with 6000 kg·hm−2 organic fertilizer (T2–T4) showed a higher nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency compared to the other treatments. Moreover, as illustrated in Figure 1, the nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency in 2023 surpassed those observed in 2022. For the aboveground portion’s grain nutrient uptake and total uptake, there were no significant differences in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), but potassium (K) was significantly higher in 2023 compared to 2022 (p < 0.05). In terms of the nutrient transit rate, each treatment showed a significant improvement to varying degrees compared with CK. Both T2 and T3 demonstrated relatively high transit rates in 2022 and 2023. Among them, the transit rates of N, P, and K in the T2 treatment were the highest. Additionally, the nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency of treatments T2 and T3 were significantly higher than that of the CK treatment (p < 0.05), with T2 outperforming T3 (Figure 1).
In 2023, the wheat nutrient uptake efficiency was superior to that of 2022. The nutrient utilization rate for wheat in the T2 treatment was significantly higher than that of the control, showing increases of 30.4%, 21.1%, and 47.7% for the different nutrients, respectively. The nutrient harvest index for the T2 treatment was significantly higher than that of the other treatments. In 2023, both the T2 and T3 treatments showed significant (p < 0.05) improvements in the N partial productivity, while in the other partial productivity measurements, the T2 treatment was higher than the control (p < 0.05, Figure 2).

3.3. Effects of Different Treatments on Soil Nutrients

As shown in Figure 3, the nutrient concentrations in the 0–20 cm soil layer were markedly higher in 2023 than in 2022. Nevertheless, due to variations in soil type, the 2022 field exhibited a significantly greater soil moisture content. Treatments T2 and T3 significantly increased the total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, and organic matter contents compared to those with the CK treatment (p < 0.05). Moreover, the incorporation of organic fertilizer effectively reduced the soil pH, improved soil aeration and permeability, and enhanced the availability of bioavailable nutrients.

3.4. Correlation Analysis Among All Indicators

The correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the yield components of the wheat and soil nutrients. There was also a highly significant positive correlation between the nutrient uptake in the aboveground portion and the nutrient uptake in the grain. Furthermore, among the basic soil parameters, the soil pH exhibited a highly significant negative correlation (p < 0.05, Figure 4).
Due to the frost damage in 2022, the net increase multiples for all indicators in 2023 were analyzed. The T2 and T3 treatments showed significantly higher values than T1 and T4, while no significant difference was found between T2 and T3 (p < 0.05, Figure 5).

4. Discussion

4.1. Replacing Chemical Fertilizers with Organic Fertilizers Increases Wheat Yield

The combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers has been shown to significantly improve both fertilizer use efficiency and wheat yield [23]. Extensive research has demonstrated that substituting 20% of chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers during the wheat season, and 20% to 40% during the maize season, results in substantial yield improvements [24]. For example, one study observed a 23.82% increase in the glutinous maize yield when 40% of the chemical fertilizers were substituted with organic fertilizers. Furthermore, other research indicates that the well-balanced integration of organic and chemical fertilizers can enhance the number of spikes, improve photosynthesis, extend the grain-filling period, and enhance the thousand-grain weight, thereby achieving higher overall yields [25].
The findings of this study align with those of previous research, showing that replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers effectively increases the wheat yield (Table 3). Notably, even with a reduced application rate of chemical fertilizers, treatments incorporating organic fertilizers maintained biomass accumulation and yield. Specifically, reducing the chemical fertilizer application by 10% while applying organic fertilizers led to significant increases in biomass accumulation and grain yield. In 2023, the number of spikes and spikelets and the thousand-grain weight increased by 20.90%, 14.39%, and 10.29%, respectively. These improvements are likely due to the functional properties, stability, probiotics, and proteins contained in organic fertilizers [24]. The diverse nutrient composition of organic fertilizers enhances soil nutrient levels and increases organic matter content, which promotes soil aggregation and improves soil structure. Additionally, organic fertilizers boost soil microbial diversity, enabling more efficient and abundant nutrient uptake by wheat plants [26,27]. This enhanced nutrient uptake not only supports better growth but also increases the plants’ resistance to diseases and stress, thereby contributing to the observed increases in the spike number, spikelet number, and thousand-grain weight, ultimately leading to higher yields [28,29].

4.2. Replacing Chemical Fertilizers with Organic Fertilizers Can Increase Wheat Yield by Improving Nutrient Uptake and Transportation

A strong positive correlation exists between nutrient uptake and utilization in wheat and its yield. The partial substitution of chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives enhances the fertilizer use efficiency, reduces N, P, and K losses, and promotes nutrient uptake, leading to greater nutrient accumulation in plants [30]. Research has demonstrated that replacing 20% of chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers during the wheat season and 20–40% during the maize season can effectively sustain summer maize yields. This practice helps offset the negative impact of reduced N, P, and K inputs, supports maize growth and development, and enhances both the grain yield and nutrient use efficiency [31]. Additionally, studies have shown that treatments with 35% and 50% organic nitrogen significantly increased the wheat nitrogen utilization rates by 47.9% and 53.0%, respectively, compared to the exclusive application of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers [32].
In the two-year study, it was found that under the condition of optimizing fertilizer application rates, the treatments applying 6000 kg of organic fertilizer (T2–T4) did not reduce the nutrient uptake rates of wheat compared to those with the CK treatment. In terms of the wheat nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency, the T2 treatment exhibited the highest total nutrient uptake and translocation rates (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The improvements in the N, P, and K nutrient uptake in the aboveground portion, grain nutrient uptake, and total nutrient uptake were particularly significant. The partial productivity of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium increased by 31.05%, 59.26%, and 35.47%, respectively, in 2023. This can likely be attributed to the organic fertilizer, which releases nutrients slowly and continuously, improving the soil structure and microbial environment, optimizing wheat growth, enhancing grain formation, and boosting drought resistance. This enables the crop to effectively absorb and utilize the fertilized nutrients, maintain soil nutrient balance, and reduce the negative environmental impact of fertilizers on crops [33].
However, due to the frost damage in 2022, potassium ions within the wheat cells were more likely to leak out, while the difficulty for external potassium ions to enter the cells increased, leading to a reduced ability to absorb potassium and, consequently, a decrease in the potassium uptake [34]. In 2023, with no disaster impact, the potassium uptake capacity returned to normal, allowing for the proper uptake and metabolism of potassium.

4.3. Organic Fertilizer Replacing Chemical Fertilizer Promotes Wheat Nutrient Uptake by Increasing Soil Nutrient Content and Reducing pH

The substitution of chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives significantly enhanced the soil moisture retention and increased the organic matter content. Specifically, substituting 10% of chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers enhanced the wheat growth and yield, optimized the nutrient use efficiency, and demonstrated the practicality and effectiveness of this fertilization approach (Figure 3). Over a two-year period, combined applications of organic and inorganic fertilizers improved key soil parameters such as the soil organic matter, total potassium, available nutrients, and the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. This integrated fertilization not only supported wheat development but also boosted the yield and nutrient utilization efficiency, thereby enhancing the overall soil quality.
As shown in Figure 3, the application of 3000 kg/ha (T1) and 6000 kg/ha (T2–T4) of organic fertilizer significantly increased the soil organic matter content, which in turn improved the soil’s water-holding capacity. This enhancement of humus content contributes to better soil structure and aggregation, promoting greater soil porosity and water retention. Consequently, the treatments with higher organic inputs (particularly T2 and T3) also exhibited a higher soil moisture content, suggesting that increased humus levels not only enhanced nutrient cycling but also mitigated water stress by improving the availability of plant-accessible water. These improvements play a crucial role in supporting root growth and sustaining crop productivity under fluctuating moisture conditions.
Additionally, further research indicates that efficiently combining organic and inorganic fertilizers—compared to untreated controls—can alleviate water stress, increase dry matter accumulation, and improve the crop yield and water productivity through sustainable water management practices [35]. Research also indicates that an appropriate balance between biological organic fertilizers and chemical fertilizers can improve crop transpiration, enhance the water uptake capacity, and stimulate fine root development during periods of elevated water demand. In contrast to conventional treatments lacking enhanced organic fertilizer input or optimized water strategies, sustained water management in combination with integrated fertilization more effectively mitigates drought stress, supports biomass accumulation, and improves both the yield and water use efficiency [36].
The two-year experimental results demonstrated that applying 100% organic fertilizer combined with a 10% reduction in chemical fertilizer significantly enhanced the total nutrient uptake. Additionally, the nutrient content in the soil layers was significantly enhanced, with increases in the soil moisture content, organic matter, and total phosphorus, while the soil pH was lowered, promoting wheat plant growth and yield. The increase in wheat yield was significantly correlated with soil quality. Applying 100% organic fertilizer along with a 10% reduction in chemical fertilizer resulted in a decrease in the soil pH. The inherent acidic substances in the organic fertilizer, combined with organic matter, directly contributed to the reduction in the soil pH, providing a rich carbon source and greatly improving the soil quality [37,38].
The findings from the two-year experiment demonstrated that the integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizers significantly enhanced the wheat yield. This yield improvement is largely attributed to the capacity of organic fertilizers to improve the soil structure, elevate the organic matter content, and promote long-term soil fertility [39]. Simultaneously, chemical fertilizers offer an immediate and balanced supply of essential nutrients, ensuring that crops receive sufficient nourishment throughout their growth and developmental stages. The relatively limited effect observed in the T4 treatment (100% organic fertilizer + 70% chemical fertilizer) may be attributed to the substantial reduction in chemical fertilizer input, which likely resulted in a deficiency of immediately available nutrients during critical stages of crop development. Although organic fertilizers improve soil structure and provide long-term benefits, their slow nutrient release may not fully meet the immediate nutrient demands of wheat, thereby limiting the yield performance. This highlights the importance of balancing organic and inorganic inputs to achieve both short-term crop needs and long-term soil fertility improvement. The optimal integration of organic and chemical fertilizers ensures a prompt supply of nutrients to meet crop demands while simultaneously enhancing long-term soil fertility and maintaining nutrient balance [40].
Most current studies on organic fertilizer application focus on soil quality and partial productivity as prerequisites for crop yield [41,42,43]. In contrast, this study systematically assessed the soil nutrient status and investigated wheat nutrient utilization and uptake to explore the components of wheat yield (Figure 4). While previous research has predominantly concentrated on the nutrient uptake of wheat grains and the aboveground parts, our findings reveal that as nutrient uptake increases, the nutrient translocation rate within the wheat plants also rises.

5. Conclusions

This two-year study demonstrated that replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers has significant advantages in improving wheat stability and high-yield performance. Due to the frost damage affecting the wheat in 2022, both the wheat yield and nutrient uptake were less than those in 2023, though the impact was significant, which is consistent with the research findings. The results show that applying a 100% organic fertilizer with a 10% reduction in chemical fertilizer can improve the soil moisture and organic matter, thereby enhancing the total uptake and translocation efficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This, in turn, increases the wheat grain nutrient content and achieves high yields. This study offers theoretical guidance and practical insights for advancing green agriculture and promoting sustainable development. It can be promoted and applied as an important technological model for green and efficient wheat field production.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, P.B. and H.W.; methodology, Q.H. and P.B.; software, J.L. and H.L.; validation, X.L. formal analysis, P.B. and Y.L.; investigation, P.B.; resources, Y.L. and H.W.; data curation, H.L.; writing—original draft preparation, P.B., H.W. and Y.L.; writing—review and editing, P.B.; visualization, Q.H.; supervision, Y.L.; project administration, H.W.; funding acquisition, Y.L. and H.W. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2024YFD2301100), Shandong Province Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. ZR2023MC133), Ningxia key research and development plan (2023BCF01051).

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Conflicts of Interest

Author Jiankun Li was employed by the company Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Agriculture 15 01294 g001
Figure 1. Effect of organic fertilizer replacing chemical fertilizer on nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency of wheat. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences at p < 0.05. In the figure, blue represents N, red represents P, and yellow represents K. The same below.
Figure 1. Effect of organic fertilizer replacing chemical fertilizer on nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency of wheat. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences at p < 0.05. In the figure, blue represents N, red represents P, and yellow represents K. The same below.
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Figure 2. Nutrient uptake efficiency table. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences at p < 0.05.
Figure 2. Nutrient uptake efficiency table. Different lowercase letters indicate significant differences at p < 0.05.
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Figure 3. Effect of organic fertilizer substitution for chemical fertilizer on nutrient content in the 0–20 cm soil layer. Different lowercase letters denote significant differences at p < 0.05. The lighter the color in the figure, the less chemical fertilizer was applied. The absence of dots indicates that no organic fertilizer was applied, dots indicate that 50% organic fertilizer was applied, and grids indicate that 100% organic fertilizer was applied.
Figure 3. Effect of organic fertilizer substitution for chemical fertilizer on nutrient content in the 0–20 cm soil layer. Different lowercase letters denote significant differences at p < 0.05. The lighter the color in the figure, the less chemical fertilizer was applied. The absence of dots indicates that no organic fertilizer was applied, dots indicate that 50% organic fertilizer was applied, and grids indicate that 100% organic fertilizer was applied.
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Figure 4. The Pearson correlation matrix between all the measured indicators. The color gradient corresponds to the Pearson correlation coefficient; the red side represents a positive correlation and the blue side represents a negative correlation. Among them, (a) represents the analysis results of 2022 and (b) represents the analysis results of 2023. Shoot N: aboveground nutrient uptake of N; Shoot P: aboveground nutrient uptake of P; Shoot K: aboveground nutrient uptake of K; GNU: grain nutrient uptake of N; GPU: grain nutrient uptake of P; GKU: grain nutrient uptake of K; TN: total nitrogen; AP: available phosphorus; AK: rapidly available potassium; OM: organic matter.
Figure 4. The Pearson correlation matrix between all the measured indicators. The color gradient corresponds to the Pearson correlation coefficient; the red side represents a positive correlation and the blue side represents a negative correlation. Among them, (a) represents the analysis results of 2022 and (b) represents the analysis results of 2023. Shoot N: aboveground nutrient uptake of N; Shoot P: aboveground nutrient uptake of P; Shoot K: aboveground nutrient uptake of K; GNU: grain nutrient uptake of N; GPU: grain nutrient uptake of P; GKU: grain nutrient uptake of K; TN: total nitrogen; AP: available phosphorus; AK: rapidly available potassium; OM: organic matter.
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Figure 5. Paired T was used to check the net increase multiples of all indexes for each treatment relative to CK.
Figure 5. Paired T was used to check the net increase multiples of all indexes for each treatment relative to CK.
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Table 1. Soil type and basic soil properties of soil before the start of the experiment.
Table 1. Soil type and basic soil properties of soil before the start of the experiment.
YearSoil TypepHUnit Weight
(g·cm−3)		Total Nitrogen
(g·kg−1)		Available Phosphorus
(mg·kg−1)		Rapidly Available Potassium
(mg·kg−1)		Organic Matter
(g·kg−1)
2022Fine loam7.951.031.0734.50195.0011.60
2023Fine loam7.451.001.1538.20153.5827.10
Table 2. Fertilizer dosage for each treatment in the experiment.
Table 2. Fertilizer dosage for each treatment in the experiment.
TreatmentChemical FertilizerOrganic Fertilizer
Application Rate (kg/Hectare)Nutrient Dosage (kg·hm−2)Application Rate (kg/Hectare)Nutrient Dosage (kg·hm−2)
NP2O5K2ONP2O5K2O
CK600.00120.00120.0036.000.000.000.000.00
T1600.00120.00120.0036.00300090.0090.0030.00
T2540.00108.00108.0032.406000180.00180.0060.00
T3480.0096.0096.0028.806000180.00180.0060.00
T4420.0084.0084.0025.206000180.00180.0060.00
Table 3. Effect of replacement of chemical fertilizers by organic fertilizers on wheat population dynamics and biological yields.
Table 3. Effect of replacement of chemical fertilizers by organic fertilizers on wheat population dynamics and biological yields.
YearTreatmentPlant Height
(cm)		Grains Per SpikeSpike Rate
(%)		1000-Grain Weight (g)Yield (kg/ha)Biological Yield (kg/ha)Economic Coefficient (%)
2022CK64.25 d35.63 d63.11 d39.17 c3998.83 c10,568.91 b0.38 c
T167.06 cd37.20 c65.70 c40.79 b4429.67 b10,893.07 b0.41 abc
T274.53 a40.58 a69.37 a42.97 a5167.77 a11,928.85 a0.44 a
T371.90 ab39.05 b68.35 ab41.68 b5048.67 a11,779.86 a0.43 ab
T469.84 bc37.55 c66.66 bc40.80 b4412.00 b10,972.28 b0.40 bc
2023CK66.60 d36.30 b66.52 b40.17 c4132.17 c10,902.25 b0.38 b
T169.40 cd38.43 ab68.36 ab41.47 bc4696.33 b10,993.07 b0.43 a
T277.20 a41.19 a71.29 a44.30 a5534.44 a12,295.52 a0.45 a
T375.90 ab42.43 ab70.13 a43.35 ab5248.67 a11,979.86 a0.44 a
T472.27 c38.88 ab68.63 ab42.47 abc4512.00 bc11,172.28 b0.41 ab
Different letters delineate the disparities among treatments at a single phase, with statistical significance at p < 0.05. This is the same below.
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MDPI and ACS Style

Bo, P.; He, Q.; Lan, Y.; Li, J.; Liu, H.; Li, X.; Wang, H. Reducing Mineral Fertilizer Can Improve the Soil Quality and Increase the Wheat Yield and Nutrient Utilization Efficiency: The Fertilizing Effect of Organic–Inorganic Compound Fertilizers. Agriculture 2025, 15, 1294. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15121294

AMA Style

Bo P, He Q, Lan Y, Li J, Liu H, Li X, Wang H. Reducing Mineral Fertilizer Can Improve the Soil Quality and Increase the Wheat Yield and Nutrient Utilization Efficiency: The Fertilizing Effect of Organic–Inorganic Compound Fertilizers. Agriculture. 2025; 15(12):1294. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15121294

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bo, Ping, Qingyang He, Yubin Lan, Jiankun Li, Haiteng Liu, Xinlong Li, and Huizheng Wang. 2025. "Reducing Mineral Fertilizer Can Improve the Soil Quality and Increase the Wheat Yield and Nutrient Utilization Efficiency: The Fertilizing Effect of Organic–Inorganic Compound Fertilizers" Agriculture 15, no. 12: 1294. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15121294

APA Style

Bo, P., He, Q., Lan, Y., Li, J., Liu, H., Li, X., & Wang, H. (2025). Reducing Mineral Fertilizer Can Improve the Soil Quality and Increase the Wheat Yield and Nutrient Utilization Efficiency: The Fertilizing Effect of Organic–Inorganic Compound Fertilizers. Agriculture, 15(12), 1294. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15121294

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