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Article

Effects of Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates on Spring Maize Yield and Soil Nitrogen Balance Under Straw Returning Conditions of Cold Regions

1
Heilongjiang Academy of Black Soil Conservation and Utilization, Harbin 150086, China
2
Key Laboratory of Black Soil Protection and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Harbin 150086, China
3
Institute of Life Sciences, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
4
Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150086, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Plants 2025, 14(19), 3087; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193087
Submission received: 8 August 2025 / Revised: 28 September 2025 / Accepted: 4 October 2025 / Published: 7 October 2025

Abstract

Under the condition of straw returning to the field, appropriate nitrogen fertilizer application is one of the key factors used to improve crop yield and ensure environmental safety. Therefore, an experiment with different rates of nitrogen fertilization was conducted with a randomized block design in Harbin, China. The straw was deeply plowed back into the field after harvest in the autumn. The nitrogen application rates were 0, 75, 150, 180, 225, and 300 kg·ha−1. The purpose of this study is to clarify the appropriate amount of nitrogen fertilizer under the condition of straw returning to the field and to provide technical support for high-yield and high-efficiency maize in cold regions. The results indicated that the yield of maize first increased and then stabilized as the amount of nitrogen fertilizer increased, while the economic benefits first increased and then decreased. When the nitrogen application rate exceeds 225 kg·ha−1 or is lower than 150 kg·ha−1, the economic benefits significantly decrease. When high-nitrogen fertilizer rates of 225 kg·ha−1 and 300 kg·ha−1 were applied, the residual nitrate nitrogen in the soil was increased by 2.1 times and 2.3 times, respectively, compared to before sowing. With the increase in the nitrogen application rate, the nitrogen fertilizer utilization efficiency and agronomic efficiency decreased, and the apparent nitrogen loss and nitrogen surplus significantly increased. Comprehensively considering the maize yield, benefits, and environmental risk factors the suitable nitrogen application rate was in a range of 170.2 kg·ha−1 to 178.2 kg·ha−1 in the first year and 150.0 kg·ha−1 to 171.3 kg·ha−1 in the second year. This work provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the rational application of nitrogen fertilizer and high-yield and high-efficiency spring maize under the condition of straw returning to the field.
Keywords: straw returning; nitrogen balance; nitrogen fertilizer; spring maize yield; black soil of cold regions straw returning; nitrogen balance; nitrogen fertilizer; spring maize yield; black soil of cold regions

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Ji, J.; Liu, S.; Hao, X.; Zheng, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Xia, Y.; Xing, Z.; Guo, W. Effects of Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates on Spring Maize Yield and Soil Nitrogen Balance Under Straw Returning Conditions of Cold Regions. Plants 2025, 14, 3087. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193087

AMA Style

Ji J, Liu S, Hao X, Zheng Y, Zhao Y, Xia Y, Xing Z, Guo W. Effects of Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates on Spring Maize Yield and Soil Nitrogen Balance Under Straw Returning Conditions of Cold Regions. Plants. 2025; 14(19):3087. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193087

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ji, Jinghong, Shuangquan Liu, Xiaoyu Hao, Yu Zheng, Yue Zhao, Yuqi Xia, Zhanqiang Xing, and Wei Guo. 2025. "Effects of Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates on Spring Maize Yield and Soil Nitrogen Balance Under Straw Returning Conditions of Cold Regions" Plants 14, no. 19: 3087. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193087

APA Style

Ji, J., Liu, S., Hao, X., Zheng, Y., Zhao, Y., Xia, Y., Xing, Z., & Guo, W. (2025). Effects of Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates on Spring Maize Yield and Soil Nitrogen Balance Under Straw Returning Conditions of Cold Regions. Plants, 14(19), 3087. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193087

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