Returning straw and applying appropriate nitrogen fertilizer could increase acid-hydrolysable ammonium nitrogen and amino sugar nitrogen in the soil, thereby promoting effective panicle number and ultimately boosting rice yield
摘要
The combination of straw returning and nitrogen (N) fertilizer application exerts a crucial role in influencing changes in soil organic N (SON) components and crop yield. However, the mechanism by which the characteristics of SON components affect crop yield remains unclear. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study investigated SON components and explored the driving factors of rice yield in karst areas.
MethodsWe conducted a split-plot field experiment during 2023–2024, with two straw management regimes: SR (total straw returning) and CK (total straw removal) crossed with four N application rates (N1: 0, N2: 75, N3: 150, N4: 225 kg·ha⁻1).
ResultsTotal organic N and total N in the 0–10 cm soil layer increased significantly under SR (by 6.11% and 5.99%, respectively). SR combined with N application (excluding N4) significantly elevated ammonium N (AN) and amino sugar N (ASN) by 17.54% and 42.15% in the 0–10 cm soil layer, and by 18.63% and 28.02% in the 10–20 cm soil layer, respectively. Compared with without N fertilizer application, rice yield of straw returning with N fertilizer application (excluding N4) increased significantly by 7.96%. ASN, AN, and effective spike number (EPN) all show a significant positive correlation, and EPN is also significantly positively correlated with yield. The PLS-PM analysis indicates that ASN and AN may affect yield through soil fertility and EPN.
ConclusionsIn rice–oil rape rotation, straw returning coupled with appropriate N fertilization enhances AN and ASN accumulation, thereby may cause enhancing EPN and consequently improving rice yield.