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Purpose <p>Excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizer use remains a persistent challenge in China, contributing to environmental degradation and inefficient N utilization. Despite previous efforts, conventional fertilization methods continue to exhibit inefficiencies under changing climate scenarios, necessitating to adopt innovative approaches to sustain high crop productivity with minimal N losses, particularly in intensive agricultural systems. Here, we propose a one-time root-zone targeted fertilization (RTF) method, in which the entire fertilizer amount is precisely placed as briquettes once during sowing at a certain depth and distance from the seed within the crop active root-zone.</p> Methods <p>Two-year (2023–2024) field study was conducted to systematically evaluate the efficacy of a novel one-time RTF method compared to conventional split surface broadcast (SSB) and band fertilization (BF) through a multifaceted approach including agronomic evaluation, in situ <sup>15</sup>N-tracing, and kinetic modeling of N mineralization.</p> Results and discussion <p>At an optimal N rate of 225&#xa0;kg ha<sup>− 1</sup>, root-zone fertilization led to the highest maize grain yield resulting up to 24.6% and 17.5% increase over SSB and BF, respectively. Increasing N rates enhanced N uptake in both grain and straw; however, RTF improved grain uptake up to 11.8% and straw uptake up to 19.9% compared to other methods. In situ <sup>15</sup>N-tracing revealed that RTF increased residual <sup>15</sup>N in the 0–40&#xa0;cm soil layer and achieved the highest <sup>15</sup>N recovery in maize (48.8%) and soil (31.5%). Moreover, the <sup>15</sup>N loss rate under RTF (19.6%) was substantially lower than under BF (33.8%) and SSB (41.4%), demonstrating its efficiency in N use and retention within the soil-plant system. Higher N rates (≥ 270&#xa0;kg ha<sup>− 1</sup>) led to excessive N surplus, exceeding the critical threshold of 80&#xa0;kg N ha<sup>− 1</sup>. However, RTF effectively minimized apparent N surplus by 22.7–23.9% than SSB, and by 10.8–22.9% than BF. Kinetic modeling further confirmed superior N mineralization potential under RTF, underscoring its importance in enhancing N availability.</p> Conclusion <p>Root-zone fertilization significantly enhances maize productivity by fostering an efficient coupling between N mineralization and plant N acquisition, while reducing the apparent N surplus and thus promoting sustainable N management in Northeast China.</p>

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Optimizing nitrogen dynamics and agronomic efficiency through one-time root-zone targeted fertilization in maize cropping systems of Northeast China: a multifaceted assessment

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月28日

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  • Muhammad Irfan,
  • Yiliu Wang,
  • Solomon Yokamo,
  • Weiwei Huan,
  • Bin Wang,
  • Dianjun Lu,
  • Xiaoqin Chen,
  • Zhuxiu Liu,
  • Huoyan Wang

摘要

Purpose

Excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizer use remains a persistent challenge in China, contributing to environmental degradation and inefficient N utilization. Despite previous efforts, conventional fertilization methods continue to exhibit inefficiencies under changing climate scenarios, necessitating to adopt innovative approaches to sustain high crop productivity with minimal N losses, particularly in intensive agricultural systems. Here, we propose a one-time root-zone targeted fertilization (RTF) method, in which the entire fertilizer amount is precisely placed as briquettes once during sowing at a certain depth and distance from the seed within the crop active root-zone.

Methods

Two-year (2023–2024) field study was conducted to systematically evaluate the efficacy of a novel one-time RTF method compared to conventional split surface broadcast (SSB) and band fertilization (BF) through a multifaceted approach including agronomic evaluation, in situ 15N-tracing, and kinetic modeling of N mineralization.

Results and discussion

At an optimal N rate of 225 kg ha− 1, root-zone fertilization led to the highest maize grain yield resulting up to 24.6% and 17.5% increase over SSB and BF, respectively. Increasing N rates enhanced N uptake in both grain and straw; however, RTF improved grain uptake up to 11.8% and straw uptake up to 19.9% compared to other methods. In situ 15N-tracing revealed that RTF increased residual 15N in the 0–40 cm soil layer and achieved the highest 15N recovery in maize (48.8%) and soil (31.5%). Moreover, the 15N loss rate under RTF (19.6%) was substantially lower than under BF (33.8%) and SSB (41.4%), demonstrating its efficiency in N use and retention within the soil-plant system. Higher N rates (≥ 270 kg ha− 1) led to excessive N surplus, exceeding the critical threshold of 80 kg N ha− 1. However, RTF effectively minimized apparent N surplus by 22.7–23.9% than SSB, and by 10.8–22.9% than BF. Kinetic modeling further confirmed superior N mineralization potential under RTF, underscoring its importance in enhancing N availability.

Conclusion

Root-zone fertilization significantly enhances maize productivity by fostering an efficient coupling between N mineralization and plant N acquisition, while reducing the apparent N surplus and thus promoting sustainable N management in Northeast China.