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Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (22): 7-12.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb2025-0107

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Effects of Different Fertilization Methods on Yield and Quality of Waxy Corn, Soil Fertility and Economic Benefits

HAN Chengwei1,2(), HAO Futing1, FU Guilin1, XUE Faxin1, ZHANG Yan1, SONG Chunlin1,2, WU Qiuping1,2, JIANG Fei1,2()   

  1. 1 Jining Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jining, Shandong 272031
    2 Jining Comprehensive Experimental Station of the National Corn Industry Technology System, Jining, Shandong 272031
  • Received:2025-02-12 Revised:2025-05-30 Online:2025-08-05 Published:2025-08-11

Abstract:

To address the issues of declining grain quality and deteriorating soil chemical properties caused by irrational fertilization practices in waxy corn production, a field experiment was conducted using the new waxy corn cultivar ‘Jinuo 23’ to investigate the synergistic effects of five fertilization methods on yield formation, nutritional quality, soil fertility and economic benefits. The results indicated significant variations in the synergistic mechanisms of different fertilization treatments on maize growth and soil improvement, with comprehensive fertilizer efficiency ranking as followed: organic-inorganic combined application (chicken manure+NPK)> controlled-release specialized fertilizer> high-nitrogen compound fertilizer> urea-only application> no-fertilization control (CK). Compared with CK, all fertilization treatments increased yield by 12.1%-32.5%, with the organic-inorganic combined regime (chicken manure+NPK) exhibiting optimal agronomic regulation effects. This treatment significantly enhanced soil organic matter, available phosphorus and potassium content, improved ear traits (increased ear length and kernel number per ear while reducing barren tip length), and elevated both flavor and nutritional quality. This treatment increased single ear weight by 13.7% and fresh ear yield by 18.2% compared with urea-only treatment, with respective increments of 21.2%, 8.3%, 15.5%, 29.8% and 10.3% observed in crude protein, crude fat, crude starch, soluble solids and lysine contents. This approach generated an additional net profit of 4518.9 yuan/hm2. Under the experimental conditions, the combined application of chicken manure and high-nitrogen compound fertilizer effectively coordinated the interactions among yield, quality and soil fertility in waxy corn production. The revealed synergistic mechanisms provide a reliable fertilization strategy and agronomic regulation approach for green and efficient waxy corn production in Shandong Province.

Key words: waxy corn, fertilization methods, yield, nutritional quality, soil fertility, economic benefits