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Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (10): 102-108.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb2024-0488

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Study on Effect of Reducing Application of Special Slow-release Fertilizer for Head Lettuce in Beijing Area

ZHANG Xueer1,2(), NIE Xiaohong3, ZHANG Weifeng1,2, QU Mingshan4, SHI Yantong4, LI Ting4, LI Yunfei4, NIE Qing4()   

  1. 1 State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management/ College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083
    2 Green Intelligent Compound Fertilizer Research Institute, CNSG Anhui Hongsifang Co. Ltd., Hefei 230001
    3 Beijing Shunyi District Agricultural Technology Integrated Service Center, Beijing 101300
    4 Beijing Agricultural Technology Extension Station, Beijing 100029
  • Received:2024-07-17 Revised:2024-12-17 Online:2025-04-05 Published:2025-04-03

Abstract:

Regarding the issue of excessive fertilization of facility-grown head lettuce in Beijing, a study on the application effect of slow-release fertilizer for lettuce with nitrification inhibitors was conducted to explore reducing chemical fertilizer application rates and frequencies. Taking the head lettuce variety ‘Archer 101’ as the test material, through field plot experiments in a vegetable greenhouse with years of cultivation in Shunyi, Beijing, six treatments were designed, including no nitrogen control (T0), traditional farmer fertilization with one basal application and two top dressings (T1), special formulated fertilizer for lettuce with one basal application and two top dressings (T2), special formulated fertilizer for lettuce with one-time application (T3), special formulated fertilizer for lettuce with one basal application and one top dressing (T4), and special formulated fertilizer for lettuce with one basal application and two top dressing (T5). The study explored the effects of special slow-release fertilizer for lettuce with nitrification inhibitors on the growth traits, yield, nitrate content, nitrogen use efficiency, and economic benefits of lettuce. The results showed that under the fertilization condition of one basal application and two top dressings, compared with traditional farmer fertilization (T1), the treatment of special formulated fertilizer for lettuce without nitrification inhibitors (T2) had no significant differences in growth trait indicators, yield indicators, quality indicators, nitrogen use efficiency, and soil inorganic nitrogen transformation of head lettuce. After adding nitrification inhibitors (T4), the chlorophyll content of head lettuce increased significantly by 16.7%, the nitrate content decreased significantly by 113.1%, the soluble sugar content increased significantly by 44.4%, the nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency increased significantly by 43.2%, and the yield increased significantly by 23.8%. Comparing the fertilization effects of one-time fertilization (T3), one basal application and one top dressing (T4), and one basal application and two top dressings (T5) under the condition of adding nitrification inhibitors, there were no significant differences in growth traits, yield indicators, quality indicators, and nitrogen use efficiency. With the increase in fertilization frequency, the economic benefit decreased. The net profit of the one-time fertilization treatment (T3) increased by 6.3% and 24.9% respectively compared with the one basal application and one top dressing treatment (T4) and one basal application and two top dressings treatment (T5). Therefore, the author believed that one-time basal application of special slow-release fertilizer could not only reduce labor input for fertilization but also reduce chemical fertilizer application, increase yield and nitrogen use efficiency, and could be recommended as a fertilization measure for head lettuce production in Beijing.

Key words: head lettuce, slow-release fertilizer, nitrification inhibitor, one-time fertilization, application effect, economic benefit