Abstract
The application of fertilizer to ensure the steady improvement of crop yield has become the main means of agricultural production. However, it remains to be determined whether fertilization practices with different combinations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and organic (O) fertilizers play a positive role in the sustainability of maize yield and the soil in which it is grown. Therefore,this meta-analysis extracted 2663 data points from 76 studies to systematically analyze and explore the effects of different fertilization measures on maize yield, soil nutrients, water content and water use efficiency (WUE) in northern China. Articles addressing this topic showed that fertilization effectively increased the soil nutrient content and maize yield. The soil organic matter (SOM) increased by 2.36 (N)-55.38% (NPO), total nitrogen content increased by 6.10 (N)-56.39% (NPO), available phosphorus content increased by 17.12 (N)-474.74% (NPO), and available potassium content changed by - 2.90 (NP)-64.40% (NPO). Soil moisture increased by 3.59% under a single organic fertilizer application and decreased by 4.27-13.40% under the other treatments. Compared with no fertilization, the yield increase of fertilized maize reached 11.65-220.42%. NP, NPK and NPKO contributed the most to increased yield in lithological, black and fluvo-aquic soils, respectively. The effects of different fertilization practices on maize yield varied in response to the same meteorological factors. The WUE increased from 9.51 to 160.72%. In conclusion, rational fertilization can improve the soil nutrient content and increase maize yield. The combined application of chemical and organic fertilizer showed the greatest increase in yield and WUE. Organic fertilizer application alone increased soil moisture. Our results provide a theoretical basis for fertilizer application and for improving the soil structure for maize cultivation in northern China.
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilization increased soil organic matter by 2.36 to 55.38%.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The soil organic matter (SOM) increased by 2.36 (N)-55.38% (NPO)”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilization increased total nitrogen content by 6.10 to 56.39%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“total nitrogen content increased by 6.10 (N)-56.39% (NPO)”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilization increased available phosphorus content by 17.12 to 474.74%.
- Treatment
- NPOe0
- Outcome
- available phosphorus contente0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 17.12 (N)-474.74% (NPO)e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“available phosphorus content increased by 17.12 (N)-474.74% (NPO)”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Available potassium content varied from −2.90 to 64.40% across fertilizer combinations.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“available potassium content changed by - 2.90 (NP)-64.40% (NPO)”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
A single organic fertilizer application increased soil moisture by 3.59%.
- Treatment
- a single organic fertilizer applicatione0
- Outcome
- Soil moisturee0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 3.59%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Soil moisture increased by 3.59% under a single organic fertilizer application”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Other fertilizer treatments decreased soil moisture by 4.27–13.40%.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Soil moisture increased by 3.59% under a single organic fertilizer application and decreased by 4.27-13.40% under the other treatments”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilized maize yield increased by 11.65–220.42% compared with no fertilization.
- Treatment
- fertilized maizee0
- Outcome
- yielde0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- 11.65-220.42%e0
- Comparator
- no fertilizatione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared with no fertilization, the yield increase of fertilized maize reached 11.65-220.42%.”
Claim · model-written summary
NP contributed most to increased maize yield in lithological soil.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“NP, NPK and NPKO contributed the most to increased yield in lithological, black and fluvo-aquic soils, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
NPK contributed most to increased maize yield in black soil.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“NP, NPK and NPKO contributed the most to increased yield in lithological, black and fluvo-aquic soils, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
NPKO contributed most to increased maize yield in fluvo-aquic soil.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“NP, NPK and NPKO contributed the most to increased yield in lithological, black and fluvo-aquic soils, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Effects of fertilization on maize yield varied with meteorological factors.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The effects of different fertilization practices on maize yield varied in response to the same meteorological factors.”
Claim · model-written summary
Water use efficiency increased from 9.51 to 160.72%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The WUE increased from 9.51 to 160.72%.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Combined chemical and organic fertilizer had the greatest increases in yield and WUE.
- Treatment
- combined application of chemical and organic fertilizere0
- Outcome
- yield and WUEe0
- Direction
- greatest increasee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The combined application of chemical and organic fertilizer showed the greatest increase in yield and WUE.”
t0“maize”
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