[Effects of reduced nitrogen application on yield, nitrogen utilization of spring maize and soil nitrate content in...

To get a scientific pattern for nitrogen-reducing and efficiency-increasing production of spring maize in Weibei dryland, we conducted an in-situ field experiment of spring maize (Zhengdan 958 and Shaandan 8806) under dryland farming from 2016 to 2019 in Heyang County, located in Weibei dryland of Shaanxi. There were five nitrogen (N) treatments, including 360 kg·hm^-2(N₃₆₀, a rate commonly adopted by local farm households), 270 kg·hm^-2(N₂₇₀), 150-180 kg·hm^-2(N_150-180), 75-90 kg·hm^-2(N_75-90) and 0 kg·hm^-2(N₀). We investigated the effects of reduced nitrogen application on maize yield, nitrogen uptake and utilization of spring maize and soil nitrate residue. The results showed that: 1) Maize yield of both varieties at N_150-180 was increased by 0.9%-7.1% and nitrogen uptake was decreased by 4.1%-4.6%, while average reco-very efficiency, partial-factor productivity and agronomic efficiency of N at N_150-180 were increased by 79.3%-83.6%, 105.9%-157.7%, and 101.9%-114.1% compared with those at N₃₆₀, respectively. 2) The contents of residual nitrate increased significantly when nitrogen application rate was more than 180 kg·hm^-2, while nitrogen uptake was significantly reduced under rainfall shortage, and thus resulted in increasing soil residual nitrogen. After four-year treatments, the residual nitrate was up to 504.7-620.8 kg·hm^-2 in 0-200 cm soil layer, with a peak in 80-140 cm soil layer. There was a risk of nitrate leaching. According to the comprehensive evaluation for annual yield, nitrogen use efficiency and soil nitrate residue, the optimum N application rate was recommended to be 150-180 kg N·hm^-2 for spring maize in Weibei dryland.