Abstract
China’s agricultural production suffers significant constraints due to low water productivity (WP) and partial factor productivity for nitrogen (PFPN). The pivotal solution to enhance maize yield, WP, and PFPN is through optimizing field management practices. However, previous studies primarily focused on the effects of individual or coupled field management practices on maize yield, WP, or PFPN in an area or land mass, so it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various field management practices on maize yield, WP, and PFPN at the national scale. In this study, we compiled 286 studies encompassing 6959 pairs of experimental data spanning from 1990 to 2023. Meta-analysis was conducted to observe the variations in maize yield, WP, and PFPN across diverse field management practices (straw returning, nitrogen fertilizer application, irrigation practice, and tillage practice) on a national scale. The results showed that nitrogen fertilizer application (215 kg N ha −1 ) was the most effective in enhancing maize yield and WP by 68.1 % and 54.8 %, respectively. Additionally, irrigation had the most substantial impact on PFPN, enhancing 16.8 %. Straw mulching, application of slow and controlled release fertilizers, drip irrigation, and subsoiling were identified as the most effective practices in increasing maize yield, WP, and PFPN by Random forest model. Maize straw returning could reduce nitrogen fertilizer application by 20 kg ha −1 , while increasing WP and PFPN by 4.2 % and 11.6 %, respectively. Moreover, straw returning could reduce water consumption by 23–60 mm, while increasing WP and PFPN by 2.9 % and 6.8 %, respectively. These findings can provide a reference for the formulation of comprehensive management strategies for sustainable maize production in China and globally. • Quantifying the effects of field management practices on maize yield WP, and PFPN. • Nitrogen fertilizer application was the most effective in raising maize yield and WP, as well as irrigation in PFPN. • Straw returning (6949±185 kg ha −1 ) could reduce applying nitrogen fertilizer by 20 kg ha −1 and water consumption by 23–60 mm.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Nitrogen fertilizer application increased maize yield by 68.1 %.
- Treatment
- nitrogen fertilizer application (215 kg N ha −1 )e0
- Outcome
- maize yielde0
- Direction
- enhancinge0
- Value
- 68.1 %e0
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“nitrogen fertilizer application (215 kg N ha −1 ) was the most effective in enhancing maize yield and WP by 68.1 % and 54.8 %”
Claim · model-written summary
Nitrogen fertilizer application increased maize water productivity by 54.8 %.
- Treatment
- nitrogen fertilizer application (215 kg N ha −1 )e0
- Outcome
- WPe0
- Direction
- enhancinge0
- Value
- 54.8 %e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“nitrogen fertilizer application (215 kg N ha −1 ) was the most effective in enhancing maize yield and WP by 68.1 % and 54.8 %”
Claim · model-written summary
Irrigation increased maize partial factor productivity for nitrogen by 16.8 %.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“irrigation had the most substantial impact on PFPN, enhancing 16.8 %”
Claim · model-written summary
A random forest model identified straw mulching, slow and controlled release fertilizers, drip irrigation, and subsoiling as effective practices for maize yield, WP and PFPN.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“Straw mulching, application of slow and controlled release fertilizers, drip irrigation, and subsoiling were identified as the most effective practices in increasing maize yield, WP, and PFPN by Random forest model”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize straw returning reduced nitrogen fertilizer application by 20 kg ha −1.
- Treatment
- straw returninge0
- Outcome
- nitrogen fertilizer applicatione0
- Direction
- reducee0
- Value
- 20 kg ha −1e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize straw returning could reduce nitrogen fertilizer application by 20 kg ha −1”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize straw returning increased water productivity by 4.2 %.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize straw returning could reduce nitrogen fertilizer application by 20 kg ha −1 , while increasing WP and PFPN by 4.2 % and 11.6 %”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize straw returning increased partial factor productivity for nitrogen by 11.6 %.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize straw returning could reduce nitrogen fertilizer application by 20 kg ha −1 , while increasing WP and PFPN by 4.2 % and 11.6 %”
Claim · model-written summary
Straw returning reduced water consumption by 23–60 mm.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“straw returning could reduce water consumption by 23–60 mm”
Claim · model-written summary
Straw returning increased water productivity by 2.9 %.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“straw returning could reduce water consumption by 23–60 mm, while increasing WP and PFPN by 2.9 % and 6.8 %”
Claim · model-written summary
Straw returning increased partial factor productivity for nitrogen by 6.8 %.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“straw returning could reduce water consumption by 23–60 mm, while increasing WP and PFPN by 2.9 % and 6.8 %”
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