Abstract
Context or problem Phosphorus (P) over-fertilization in rainfed maize systems of the Loess Plateau of China contributes to environmental pollution and low P use efficiency. This study assessed how the reduced P fertilization rates and different application methods influence maize yield, P use efficiency, root morphology, rhizosphere enzyme activity, and soil P fractions. Methods Exp. 1 compared a P-unfertilized control (CK), a farmer’s practice (FP) at 52.4 kg P ha −1 , and a reduced rate of 30.6 kg P ha −1 (RF) over four years. Exp. 2 included P-unfertilized control, broadcasted application of single superphosphate (RF), banded application of single superphosphate (BP), and banded application of single superphosphate plus ammonium sulfate (AS) over two years. Maize yield, P use efficiency, root morphology, rhizosphere enzyme activity, and soil P fractions were measured and analyzed. Results In Exp. 1, reducing P fertilization to 30.6 kg ha −1 (RF) maintained yield, grain P content, and aboveground P uptake compared to the farmer’s practice (FP). In Exp. 2, compared to broadcasted application of single superphosphate (RF), yield was significantly increased by banded application of single superphosphate (BP) and banded application of superphosphate plus ammonium sulfate (AS), with AS showing a 13 % increase over two years. The AS treatment also lowered rhizosphere pH, enhanced labile P pool, and improved root morphology, promoting P uptake. Root traits (total root length, volume, surface area, and average root diameter) at the V3, V10, and R1 stages were positively correlated with the β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity, phosphatase activity, and NH 4 + -N availability. Both random forest and Mantel analyses identified soil available P as the primary determinant of yield and P uptake. PLS-PM further revealed that the AS treatment enhanced yield chiefly via its effects on soil available P, enzyme activity, and root traits. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that a tailored, low-input P management strategy, involving a 42 % reduction in P fertilization combined with banded application of superphosphate and ammonium sulfate enhances yield, improves P use efficiency, and optimizes soil conditions under maize dryland farming.
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
Reducing P fertilization to 30.6 kg ha -1 maintained maize yield, grain P content and aboveground P uptake compared with the farmer practice.
- Treatment
- reducing P fertilizatione1
- Outcome
- yield, grain P content, and aboveground P uptakee1
- Direction
- maintainede1
- Comparator
- farmer’s practice (FP)e1
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“In Exp. 1, reducing P fertilization to 30.6 kg ha −1 (RF) maintained yield, grain P content, and aboveground P uptake compared to the farmer’s practice (FP)”
t0“maize productivity”
Claim · model-written summary
Banded application of single superphosphate (BP) significantly increased maize yield compared with broadcast single superphosphate (RF) over two years.
- Treatment
- banded application of single superphosphate (BP)e2
- Outcome
- yielde2
- Direction
- significantly increasede2
- Comparator
- broadcasted application of single superphosphate (RF)e2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“In Exp. 2, compared to broadcasted application of single superphosphate (RF), yield was significantly increased by banded application of single superphosphate (BP) and banded application of superphosphate plus ammonium sulfate (AS), with AS showing a 13 % increase over two years”
t0“maize productivity”
Claim · model-written summary
Banded superphosphate plus ammonium sulfate (AS) increased maize yield by 13 % compared with broadcast single superphosphate (RF) over two years.
- Treatment
- banded application of superphosphate plus ammonium sulfate (AS)e2
- Outcome
- yielde2
- Direction
- increasee2
- Value
- 13 %e2
- Qualifier
- over two yearse2
- Comparator
- broadcasted application of single superphosphate (RF)e2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“In Exp. 2, compared to broadcasted application of single superphosphate (RF), yield was significantly increased by banded application of single superphosphate (BP) and banded application of superphosphate plus ammonium sulfate (AS), with AS showing a 13 % increase over two years”
t0“maize productivity”
Claim · model-written summary
The AS treatment lowered rhizosphere pH in maize.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“The AS treatment also lowered rhizosphere pH, enhanced labile P pool, and improved root morphology, promoting P uptake”
t0“maize productivity”
Claim · model-written summary
The AS treatment enhanced the labile P pool in maize rhizosphere soil.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“The AS treatment also lowered rhizosphere pH, enhanced labile P pool, and improved root morphology, promoting P uptake”
t0“maize productivity”
Claim · model-written summary
The AS treatment improved root morphology in maize.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“The AS treatment also lowered rhizosphere pH, enhanced labile P pool, and improved root morphology, promoting P uptake”
t0“maize productivity”
Claim · model-written summary
The AS treatment promoted P uptake in maize.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“The AS treatment also lowered rhizosphere pH, enhanced labile P pool, and improved root morphology, promoting P uptake”
t0“maize productivity”
Claim · model-written summary
Root traits at the V3, V10 and R1 stages were positively correlated with β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity, phosphatase activity and NH 4 + -N availability in maize.
- Organ / stage
- V3, V10, and R1 stagese4
- Outcome
- Root traitse4
- Direction
- positively correlatede4
- Qualifier
- β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity, phosphatase activity, and NH 4 + -N availabilitye4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“Root traits (total root length, volume, surface area, and average root diameter) at the V3, V10, and R1 stages were positively correlated with the β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity, phosphatase activity, and NH 4 + -N availability”
t0“maize productivity”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil available P was identified as the primary determinant of maize yield and P uptake by random forest and Mantel analyses.
- Outcome
- soil available P as the primary determinant of yield and P uptakee5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“Both random forest and Mantel analyses identified soil available P as the primary determinant of yield and P uptake”
t0“maize productivity”
Claim · model-written summary
The AS treatment enhanced maize yield chiefly via its effects on soil available P, enzyme activity and root traits, according to PLS-PM.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e6“PLS-PM further revealed that the AS treatment enhanced yield chiefly via its effects on soil available P, enzyme activity, and root traits”
t0“maize productivity”
Claim · model-written summary
A 42 % reduction in P fertilization combined with banded superphosphate and ammonium sulfate enhanced maize yield.
- Treatment
- 42 % reduction in P fertilization combined with banded application of superphosphate and ammonium sulfatee7
- Outcome
- yielde7
- Direction
- enhancese7
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e7“Our results demonstrate that a tailored, low-input P management strategy, involving a 42 % reduction in P fertilization combined with banded application of superphosphate and ammonium sulfate enhances yield, improves P use efficiency, and optimizes soil conditions under maize dryland farming”
t0“maize productivity”
Claim · model-written summary
The combined low-input P strategy improved P use efficiency in maize.
- Treatment
- 42 % reduction in P fertilization combined with banded application of superphosphate and ammonium sulfatee7
- Outcome
- P use efficiencye7
- Direction
- improvese7
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e7“Our results demonstrate that a tailored, low-input P management strategy, involving a 42 % reduction in P fertilization combined with banded application of superphosphate and ammonium sulfate enhances yield, improves P use efficiency, and optimizes soil conditions under maize dryland farming”
t0“maize productivity”
Claim · model-written summary
The combined low-input P strategy optimized soil conditions under maize dryland farming.
- Treatment
- 42 % reduction in P fertilization combined with banded application of superphosphate and ammonium sulfatee7
- Outcome
- soil conditionse7
- Direction
- optimizese7
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e7“Our results demonstrate that a tailored, low-input P management strategy, involving a 42 % reduction in P fertilization combined with banded application of superphosphate and ammonium sulfate enhances yield, improves P use efficiency, and optimizes soil conditions under maize dryland farming”
t0“maize productivity”
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