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Abstract <p>Tillage and nitrogen (N) management critically affect soil health and crop productivity</p> Purpose <p>This study evaluated the effects of subsoiling combined with reduced N application on soil enzyme activities, physical properties, and summer maize performance in a wheat‒maize rotation system.</p> Methods <p>A split-plot trial was performed to test two tillage methods (rotary tillage and subsoiling) and three N application rates (conventional, reduced, and zero N) over two years.</p> Results <p>Compared with rotary tillage, subsoiling reduced the bulk density (3.80–6.10%) and enhanced the moisture and porosity (10–30&#xa0;cm layer), improving the soil structure. Enzyme (urease, invertase, and protease) activities were greater under subsoiling, particularly with conventional N, because of the optimized nutrient distribution. Reduced N application decreased urease and protease activities in the surface layers (0–20&#xa0;cm) but minimally affected invertase activity. The maize yield under conventional N exceeded that under reduced N by 7.30–22.7%, although the nitrogen use efficiency slightly decreased. Subsoiling with conventional N increased the yield by 9.35–12.6%, driven by increased kernel number and weight. The protein content peaked under reduced N with subsoiling (10.3%) but was highest under conventional N with rotary tillage. The starch and fat contents varied inversely with N rates, indicating yield-quality trade-offs. The correlations highlighted strong links between soil porosity, enzyme activity, and yield.</p> Conclusion <p>The optimal strategy involves combining subsoiling with conventional nitrogen application to improve the soil’s physico-biological environment and get higher yield, while with strategic nitrogen reduction to optimize resource use efficiency and get higher quality.</p>

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Effect of subsoiling with reduced nitrogen application on soil health and maize growth

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月16日

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  • Jinkai Lv,
  • Hongchang Sun,
  • Zhenbo Zhang,
  • Deheng Zhang,
  • Shenghao Zhang,
  • Jincheng Si,
  • Zhen Liu,
  • Tangyuan Ning

摘要

Abstract

Tillage and nitrogen (N) management critically affect soil health and crop productivity

Purpose

This study evaluated the effects of subsoiling combined with reduced N application on soil enzyme activities, physical properties, and summer maize performance in a wheat‒maize rotation system.

Methods

A split-plot trial was performed to test two tillage methods (rotary tillage and subsoiling) and three N application rates (conventional, reduced, and zero N) over two years.

Results

Compared with rotary tillage, subsoiling reduced the bulk density (3.80–6.10%) and enhanced the moisture and porosity (10–30 cm layer), improving the soil structure. Enzyme (urease, invertase, and protease) activities were greater under subsoiling, particularly with conventional N, because of the optimized nutrient distribution. Reduced N application decreased urease and protease activities in the surface layers (0–20 cm) but minimally affected invertase activity. The maize yield under conventional N exceeded that under reduced N by 7.30–22.7%, although the nitrogen use efficiency slightly decreased. Subsoiling with conventional N increased the yield by 9.35–12.6%, driven by increased kernel number and weight. The protein content peaked under reduced N with subsoiling (10.3%) but was highest under conventional N with rotary tillage. The starch and fat contents varied inversely with N rates, indicating yield-quality trade-offs. The correlations highlighted strong links between soil porosity, enzyme activity, and yield.

Conclusion

The optimal strategy involves combining subsoiling with conventional nitrogen application to improve the soil’s physico-biological environment and get higher yield, while with strategic nitrogen reduction to optimize resource use efficiency and get higher quality.