The unreasonable application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers not only leads to resource waste and environmental problems, but also affects the normal growth, development, and yield formation of wheat. The study investigated the effects of N, P and K fertilizer application on the yield, quality, growth, nutrient utilization, and absorption dynamics of winter wheat under straw-returning conditions, aiming to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for efficient winter wheat fertilization. Field experiments were conducted with varying rates of N (0, 75, 150, 225, 300 kg N ha−1), P (0, 60, 120, 180, 240 kg P2O5 ha−1) and K (0, 45, 90, 135, 180 kg K2O ha−1) fertilizers over two consecutive seasons from 2020 to 2022 in Wen County, Henan Province. The growth and physiological indicators were measured at the overwintering (OS), jointing (JS), flowering (FS), and maturity stages of winter wheat. Results showed that the appropriate N, P and K rates were 145 kg N ha−1, 105 kg P2O5 ha−1 and 97 kg K2O ha−1 in 2021, and in 2022 were 175 kg N ha−1, 116 kg P2O5 ha−1 and 90 kg K2O ha−1, respectively. Compared to the control, N, P and K fertilizers application increased yields by an average of 23.05%, 9.47% and 12.95% over the 2 years, respectively, and the 2-year average increases in protein (PRO) and wet gluten (WG) of grains were 17.42% and 10.68% (N application), 10.93% and 5.83% (P application), 2.42% and 8.50% (K application), respectively. The unit weight (UW) significantly increased with P and K fertilizers but tended to decrease after N application. As N, P and K application rates increased, the PH and NT of winter wheat significantly increased at each fertility stage, and SPAD was significantly elevated after the OS. Logistic equations revealed that N, P and K fertilizers all increased final accumulation by increasing the maximum accumulation rate (Vm) and the mean accumulation rate (Vmean) of DM, NA, PA and KA. N, P and K fertilizer recovery efficiency (NRE, PRE, KRE) and partial factor productivity (NPFP, PPFP, KPFP) gradually decreased with increasing N, P and K application rates, while agronomic efficiency (NAE, PAE, KAE) showed a tendency to increase and then decrease. The Path model results indicated that the key factors with direct and indirect effects on winter wheat yield were SPAD and number of effective spikes (N application), P rate and UW (P application), and K rate and PH (K application). In conclusion, in order to get higher productivity and fertilizer use efficiency of winter wheat, application of 145–175 kg N ha−1, 105–116 kg P2O5 ha−1 and 90–97 kg K2O ha−1 under straw return should be followed in North China Plain.

Optimized Application of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Enhances Yield and Quality by Improving Nutrient Uptake Dynamics in Winter Wheat with Straw Return

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年5月25日

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Qirui Yang,
Lulu Zhang,
Yinjie Zhang,
Lantao Li,
Yilun Wang

摘要

The unreasonable application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers not only leads to resource waste and environmental problems, but also affects the normal growth, development, and yield formation of wheat. The study investigated the effects of N, P and K fertilizer application on the yield, quality, growth, nutrient utilization, and absorption dynamics of winter wheat under straw-returning conditions, aiming to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for efficient winter wheat fertilization. Field experiments were conducted with varying rates of N (0, 75, 150, 225, 300 kg N ha⁻¹), P (0, 60, 120, 180, 240 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) and K (0, 45, 90, 135, 180 kg K₂O ha⁻¹) fertilizers over two consecutive seasons from 2020 to 2022 in Wen County, Henan Province. The growth and physiological indicators were measured at the overwintering (OS), jointing (JS), flowering (FS), and maturity stages of winter wheat. Results showed that the appropriate N, P and K rates were 145 kg N ha⁻¹, 105 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ and 97 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ in 2021, and in 2022 were 175 kg N ha⁻¹, 116 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ and 90 kg K₂O ha⁻¹, respectively. Compared to the control, N, P and K fertilizers application increased yields by an average of 23.05%, 9.47% and 12.95% over the 2 years, respectively, and the 2-year average increases in protein (PRO) and wet gluten (WG) of grains were 17.42% and 10.68% (N application), 10.93% and 5.83% (P application), 2.42% and 8.50% (K application), respectively. The unit weight (UW) significantly increased with P and K fertilizers but tended to decrease after N application. As N, P and K application rates increased, the PH and NT of winter wheat significantly increased at each fertility stage, and SPAD was significantly elevated after the OS. Logistic equations revealed that N, P and K fertilizers all increased final accumulation by increasing the maximum accumulation rate (V_m) and the mean accumulation rate (V_mean) of DM, NA, PA and KA. N, P and K fertilizer recovery efficiency (N_RE, P_RE, K_RE) and partial factor productivity (N_PFP, P_PFP, K_PFP) gradually decreased with increasing N, P and K application rates, while agronomic efficiency (N_AE, P_AE, K_AE) showed a tendency to increase and then decrease. The Path model results indicated that the key factors with direct and indirect effects on winter wheat yield were SPAD and number of effective spikes (N application), P rate and UW (P application), and K rate and PH (K application). In conclusion, in order to get higher productivity and fertilizer use efficiency of winter wheat, application of 145–175 kg N ha⁻¹, 105–116 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ and 90–97 kg K₂O ha⁻¹ under straw return should be followed in North China Plain.