Yield Gap, Indigenous Nutrient Supply and Nutrient Use Efficiency for Maize in China

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Agronomy
• Soil Science

Background:

• China's agricultural production faces challenges in balancing food security and environmental protection.
• Analyzing yield gaps and nutrient use efficiency is crucial for developing effective agricultural strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze yield gaps and nutrient use efficiency in Chinese maize production.
• To inform agricultural policies for increased grain yield and environmental sustainability.

Main Methods:

• Utilized on-farm datasets from 1,971 field experiments (2001-2012) across four maize agro-ecological regions in China.
• Employed meta-analysis and ANOVA to assess yield gap, nutrient use efficiency, and indigenous nutrient supply under optimal (OPT) and farmers' practices (FP).
• Included nutrient omission treatments to evaluate responses to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).

Main Results:

• The average yield gap between OPT and FP was 0.7 t ha-1.
• Yield responses to N, P, and K were 1.8, 1.0, and 1.2 t ha-1, respectively.
• Optimal management increased N, P, and K recovery efficiency by 12.2%, 5.5%, and 6.5% compared to farmers' practices, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Significant potential exists to enhance maize yield and nutrient use efficiency in China.
• Integrated management strategies incorporating soil, plant, and nutrient management with advanced technologies are necessary.
• Findings support the development of informed agricultural policies for sustainable food production.