Optimizing water and nitrogen management for enhanced spring maize productivity and resource use efficiency under drip irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions.

IF 3.5 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture Pub Date : 2025-10-01 DOI:10.1002/jsfa.70229

Yuchen Li, Weibo Nie, Yu Wan, Xiaowen Dang, Jiayi Li, Hairui Wang, Qingjun Bai

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Maize production in arid and semi-arid regions is constrained by water shortages, high evaporation and inefficient nitrogen application. Optimizing water-nitrogen management is essential for enhancing maize growth, yield and resource use efficiency under drip irrigation. However, most existing strategies prioritize yield over a comprehensive evaluation of resource efficiency. To address this, a two-year field experiment was conducted using four irrigation levels (W1-W4: 150-295 mm in 2023; 130-250 mm in 2024) and five nitrogen applications (120-280 kg ha^-1). A high-input treatment served as a local control (385 mm irrigation + 360 kg ha^-1 N in 2023; 345 mm + 360 kg ha^-1 N in 2024).

Results: The W3N240 treatment (240 mm irrigation and 240 kg ha^-1 N) enhanced root and above-ground growth, achieving the highest observed yields (14 673.2 kg ha^-1 in 2023; 15 067.3 kg ha^-1 in 2024), as well as high water productivity (WP: 3.50 and 3.62 kg m^-3), irrigation water productivity (IWP: 6.10 and 7.65 kg m^-3) and nitrogen partial productivity (PFPN: 61.1 and 62.8 kg kg^-1). Response surface analysis indicated optimal ranges of water consumption (410-440 mm) and nitrogen application (180-250 kg ha^-1), ensuring ≥95% of maximum yield while maintaining high efficiency (≥85% of WP and IWP, and ≥60% PFPN).

Conclusion: Optimizing water-nitrogen management significantly enhanced maize productivity and resource use efficiency under drip irrigation. The identified optimal ranges offer a practical reference for sustainable water-nitrogen management in arid and semi-arid maize production systems. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

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优化水氮管理提高干旱半干旱区滴灌条件下春玉米产量和资源利用效率

背景：干旱和半干旱地区的玉米生产受到缺水、高蒸发和氮肥施用效率低下的制约。优化水氮管理对提高滴灌条件下玉米的生长、产量和资源利用效率至关重要。然而，大多数现有战略优先考虑产量，而不是资源效率的综合评价。为了解决这一问题，进行了为期两年的田间试验，采用4种灌溉水平（W1-W4: 2023年150-295 mm； 2024年130-250 mm）和5种施氮量（120-280 kg ha-1）。采用高投入处理作为局部对照（2023年灌溉385 mm + 360 kg hm -1 N； 2024年345 mm + 360 kg hm -1 N）。结果：W3N240处理（240 mm灌溉和240 kg hm -1 N）促进了根系和地上部生长，达到最高产量（2023年为14 673.2 kg hm -1, 2024年为15 067.3 kg hm -1），具有较高的水分生产力（WP: 3.50和3.62 kg m-3）、灌溉水生产力（IWP: 6.10和7.65 kg m-3）和氮素部分生产力（PFPN: 61.1和62.8 kg kg kg-1）。响应面分析表明，最佳耗水量（410 ~ 440 mm）和施氮量（180 ~ 250 kg ha-1）可保证最高产量≥95%，同时保持高效率（WP和IWP≥85%，PFPN≥60%）。结论：优化水氮管理可显著提高滴灌条件下玉米产量和资源利用效率。确定的最佳范围为干旱和半干旱玉米生产系统的可持续水氮管理提供了实践参考。©2025化学工业协会。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 工程技术-农业综合

CiteScore

8.10

自引率

4.90%

发文量

634

审稿时长

3.1 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture publishes peer-reviewed original research, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives and spotlights in these areas, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary studies at the agriculture/ food interface. Published for SCI by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. SCI (Society of Chemical Industry) is a unique international forum where science meets business on independent, impartial ground. Anyone can join and current Members include consumers, business people, environmentalists, industrialists, farmers, and researchers. The Society offers a chance to share information between sectors as diverse as food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, materials, chemicals, environmental science and safety. As well as organising educational events, SCI awards a number of prestigious honours and scholarships each year, publishes peer-reviewed journals, and provides Members with news from their sectors in the respected magazine, Chemistry & Industry . Originally established in London in 1881 and in New York in 1894, SCI is a registered charity with Members in over 70 countries.