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Controlled-release urea enhances nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency by synchronizing soil nitrogen supply with
Rongying Xiao1, Minghui Jin1, Jixuan Heng2
1College of Agronomy, Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, Xinyang, China.
Frontiers in Plant Science
|July 14, 2026
Summary
Controlled-release urea (CRU) and split-application urea (TU) significantly improved oilseed rape yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) compared to single-application urea (OU). CRU offers comparable benefits to TU with fewer applications, enhancing crop productivity.
Area of Science:
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Soil Science and Nutrient Management
- Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
Background:
- Effective nitrogen (N) management is crucial for optimizing oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) productivity and nutrient uptake.
- Suboptimal soil N availability relative to crop demand frequently limits nitrogen use efficiency (NUE).
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of different nitrogen application strategies on soil inorganic N dynamics, biomass, nutrient uptake, yield, and NUE in winter oilseed rape.
- To evaluate controlled-release urea (CRU) as an alternative to conventional single (OU) and split-application urea (TU) strategies.
Main Methods:
- A two-year field experiment assessed four N application strategies: CRU, OU, TU, and a 25% N reduction.
- Evaluated soil inorganic N, biomass accumulation, nutrient uptake, yield components (e.g., pod number), and NUE metrics (partial factor productivity, recovery efficiency).
- Analyzed N dynamics and crop performance under varying N application rates and release patterns.
Main Results:
- CRU and TU treatments significantly enhanced overwintering dry matter, N accumulation, and grain N accumulation compared to OU.
- Pod number, N partial factor productivity, and N recovery efficiency were substantially higher with CRU and TU versus OU.
- CRU maintained elevated soil ammonium (NH4+-N) and nitrate (NO3--N) levels during vegetative growth; a 25% N reduction impacted yield, but CRU and TU mitigated losses.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing N release timing synchronizes soil N supply with crop demand, improving NUE and productivity in winter oilseed rape.
- Controlled-release urea (CRU) provides comparable benefits to split-application urea (TU) with reduced application frequency, enhancing nutrient uptake coordination and biomass accumulation.
- CRU demonstrates potential as an effective N management strategy for improving winter oilseed rape yield and NUE, even with reduced N inputs.
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