Optimizing Maize Production and Soil Microbiome Structure Through Reduced Chemical Nitrogen Supplemented with Organic Fertilizer
2025
Jian Zhang | Yaoyao Li | Jiawei Yuan | Lu Wang | Guoying Wei | Zhejun Liang
This study investigated the effects of reduced nitrogen combined with an organic fertilizer on maize yield, soil microbial communities, and enzyme activities to optimize fertilization strategies. A field experiment on cinnamon soil in Yuncheng, Shanxi, was conducted and included six treatments: no fertilizer (CK), conventional N (NC0, 180 kg N/ha), sole organic fertilizer (CN0, 3000 kg/ha), and reduced-N + organic fertilizer (CN1: 90 kg N/ha + 3000 kg/ha: CN2: 135 kg N/ha + 3000 kg/ha: and CN3: 180 kg N/ha + 3000 kg/ha). We analyzed yield components, soil nutrients, urease and invertase activities, and bacterial community structure (16S rRNA sequencing). The key results are as follows: CN1 achieved the highest yield (9764.87 kg/ha), which was 46.8% higher than CK. CN2 maintained comparable yields while delivering higher enzyme activities and microbial abundance, positioning this strategy as suitable for soil remediation. Co-application enriched two beneficial phyla, Proteobacteria and Planctomycetota (19% in CN2), with Proteobacteria positively correlating with urease activity and alkali-hydrolyzable N (p <: 0.05), while Verrucomicrobiota negatively correlated with urease activity. In conclusion, 25&ndash:50% N reduction with an organic fertilizer (3000 kg/ha) synergistically enhances yield, soil enzymes, and beneficial microbiota, supporting sustainable high-yield agriculture with improved soil fertility.
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