Studies on recommended fertilization methods of summer maize in different fluvo-aquic soil texture

Maize is the most cultivated grain crop in China. Realizing high yields of summer maize is important in ensuring food security in the country. There are, however, several known problems with summer maize production (e.g., excessive dosage and unreasonable periods of nitrogen application) that hinder high-yield realization. To increase fertilizer use efficiency and grain yield of summer maize, field experiments were conducted to determine the differences in summer maize yield, economic benefits, N, P and K use efficiency between Nutrient Expert (NE) and Agro-Services International Inc (ASI) recommended fertilizations in sand-loam, medium-loam and sticky-loam fluvo-aquic soils in Henan Province. The results showed that NE recommended fertilization treatment significantly increased maize yields in the three different soil textures. Summer maize yield, economic benefits and protein contents were all significantly different (P < 0.05) for the three soil textures and were in the order of clay-loam > medium-loam > sandy-loam soils. The output/input ratio of NE recommended fertilization treatment was higher than that of ASI recommended fertilization. Recommended fertilization treatments significant increased plant nutrient accumulation, which benefited grain protein and yield. Compared with farmer conventional fertilization (CK), maize yield increased by 7.22%, 3.84% and 11.32% for NE recommended fertilization treatment and by 13.44%, 10.60% and 11.20% for ASI recommended fertilization treatment in sandy-loam, medium-loam and clay-loam soils, respectively. N fertilizer increased yield the most under NE recommended fertilization treatment. N agronomic efficiency, use efficiencies of N, P and K fertilizers were in the order of clay-loam > medium-loam > sandy-loam. However, P and K fertilizers agronomic efficiencies were in the order of sandy-loam > clay-loam > medium-loam. Fertilizer agronomic efficiency was in the order of P fertilizer > K fertilizer > N fertilizer in all the three soil textures. NE recommended fertilization was most suitable for clay-loam fluvo-aquic soil, while ASI recommended fertilization performed best in sandy-loam and medium-loam fluvo-aquic soils.