Synergy nitrification inhibitor with best management practices can coherent the higher yield and higher nitrogen use efficiency under semi-arid saline-alkali soil

Synergy nitrification inhibitor with best management practices can coherent the higher yield and higher nitrogen use efficiency under semi-arid saline-alkali soil | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Synergy nitrification inhibitor with best management practices can coherent the higher yield and higher nitrogen use efficiency under semi-arid saline-alkali soil Zixin Zeng, Linmei Wu, Jiahuan Liu, Zengyuan Li, Bei Li, Zhiping Duan, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7597908/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 15 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract High yield and high nutrient use efficiency are blocked by various abiotic stress, especially in arid, salinity and irrigation deficiency agricultural production system. Systematic solution is key strategy, but the progress in problem solving to bring about changes at the ground level is rare. This study aimed at designing a high yield and high efficiency production system by combined enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) and best agronomic practices. The effects were examined through a 3-years (from 2020 to 2022) maize field experiment in a typical region, Hanghou, inner Mongolia, China. The results show that 15–18 Mg ha − 1 yield (80% of yield potential) can be realized under various stress conditions by adopted the new designed system. In this system, nitrogen (N) fertilizer input can be reduced from 380 kg ha − 1 (higher yield practice) to 250 kg ha − 1 (balance above-ground uptake), fertilization times can be reduced from 3 to 1, and the nutrient use efficiency (NUE) can be increased to over 57.9%. The key is to reduce nutrient losses, prolong nutrient supply and control nutrient concentration by using enhanced efficiency fertilizer (DMPP) and increase crop yields from 13.5 to 15 Mg ha − 1 . Biological sciences/Ecology Earth and environmental sciences/Ecology Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences Biological sciences/Plant sciences Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) DMPP One-time application Drought stress Nutrient use efficiency N surplus Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 1. Introduction Arid and semi-arid regions, comprising over 30% of Earth's terrestrial surface area, 42.9% of the world's arable land, contributing 60% to world food production, and supporting more than 1.2 billion people, or 20% of the world’s population 1 – 3 . Nevertheless, irrigated agriculture in arid and semi-arid environment often faces major challenges. Among them, water shortage and soil salinization are the main limiting factors for irrigated agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions 4 . With the growing population and the increasing demand for food, the application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers has been also increasing 5 . However, increased input of fertilizer did not bring higher yield, but aggravated the soil degradation, and brought ground water pollution, further lower the sustainability 6 , 7 . This issue has become more serious as global climate change has significant impacts on agricultural systems, i.e., frequent occurrence of drought. Located in arid and semi-arid western Inner Mongolia, the Hetao Irrigation District (HID) is a typical semi-arid saline-alkali soil region. As a major grain and oil seed production region in China in thousands of years, this region is facing ground challenges. There are 18 million ha of farmland, and 7.1 million ha are relying on irrigation from the Yellow River, but the saline land area increased to 2 million ha due to flood irrigation. The annual precipitation is around 160 mm 4 , water shortages and increasing drought brought great uncertainty for crop yield 8 . The average maize yield has reached 8,706 kg ha − 1 in 2010s, which is higher than that in other production areas, such as in Northeast and North China 9 . However, the yield is stagnant in recent 10 years, and only realized 40% of yield potential. There is some evidence to show that the local yield potential as high as 18–22 Mg ha − 1 . For example, Li et al. found that the grain yield potential in the HID reached 18 Mg by Hybrid-Maize model simulation 10 . The best farmers yield record exceeding 22 Mg ha − 1 . How to close the yield gap is a ground challenge. However, the input is already high, i.e. the N fertilizer input is as high as 300–450 kg N ha − 1 , exceeding most of the main maize producing areas in China, and the NUE is low at only 16–40% 11 . The saline-alkali land with higher pH (usually pH ≥ 8) and strong wind which generate great amount of ammonia volatilization, especially when farmer applied fertilizer by broadcasting. And the soil high pH also has high nitrification rate, which means most applied urea or ammonium base nitrogen will convert to nitrite, and then easily runoff with flood irrigation. Existing research show that nutrient loss, such as ammonia volatilization, denitrification, and N leaching losses reach 6.0%, 1.0%, and 22.8%, respectively 12 . Another statistic data show that in the HID, the amount of N entering ditches with farmland withdrawal water during autumn irrigation reaches 840 t per year, and N loss from farmland has become an important source of pollution in Wuliangsu Lake 13 . Increasing nitrogen use efficiency and reduce losses is not only key for environment protection, but also the key for low crop yield. Yield and nutrient use efficiency need to be improved urgently in HID as well as similar regions. Some studies have explored the potential to improve nutrient use efficiency through the optimization of N fertilizer application rates, application periods, and N fertilizer products 14 – 16 . those technologies can control N fertilizer inputs to above 300 kg ha − 1 thus increasing NUE to 30%-40% 17–19 . However, this NUE is still far from the green development target, i.e. 54–63% based on the planetary boundaries’ framework 20 – 22 . To realize NUE target, it is need to reduce the N fertilizer input by 20–30% 23 . However, the grain yield of these efficient treatments was only 11–14 t, i.e. 50–60% of local yield potential. To meet green development target, i.e. realizing yield potential reaches 80% 24,25 , which need to be increased from 10 Mg to more than 15 Mg. Unfortunately, no report to show how to realize the due higher yield target (80% yield potential) and higher NUE (54–63%) in this region. Synergistic high grain yields and higher nitrogen use efficiency rely on integrated technologies, such as right variety, rational planting density, and rational water and fertilization 22 , 26 . More importantly, the introduction of innovative technologies, while controlling ammonia volatilization, leaching, runoff, and multiple losses of N, is particularly important in this kind of high pH soils and high-water flooding conditions to mitigate the constraints from salt and alkali content 7 . Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers (EEFs), including controlled-release fertilizers, nitrification inhibitors, and urease inhibitors, can regulate nutrient loss and nutrient transformation, which are extremally important for higher NUE. Ammonium N may be beneficial for seedling emergence and the formation of strong plants under low-temperature and salt-stress conditions 27 , 28 . Mousavi Shalmani et al. even found that the 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) application promoted ammonium N assimilation and transfer to the shoots, which has created relative resistance to drought stress conditions 29 . However, The EEFs application method in the arid and semi-arid regions is still lacking, and only few studies have explored the role of single measures. For example, Sanz-Cobena et al. studied the ammonia volatilization reduction effect of urease inhibitors but did not achieve yields and NUE target 30 . To establish EEFs application techniques according to soil and climate conditions in arid and semi-arid regions, and to meet green development objectives, are important research topics. In this study, focus on a high-yield, higher NUE and low-environmental impact target of maize in the HID (80% yield potential and 54–63% NUE), we designed a best nutrient management practices box by in cooperating with DMPP application mode basing on the unique soil, climatic, and production conditions in the HID. And tested the technologies efficiency through multi-year experiments. 2. Materials and methods 2.1. Study site In this study, the fourth community of Lianzeng Village, Hangjinhou Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (40°42′28″N, 107°2′8″E) was selected as the experimental site, which is located in the HID with a temperate continental arid climate. The annual precipitation in Hangjinhou Banner in 2020, 2021, and 2022 were 219.3, 125.6, and 68.3 mm, respectively. There was extremely low precipitation occurred in 2022, and seasonal drought occurred in June during the corn jointing period. The meteorological conditions from April to September during the 2020–2022 maize planting season are shown in Fig. 1 . The local soil is mainly cumulated irrigated soils with severe salinization, which are irrigated with water from the Yellow River, with three irrigations coinciding with fertilizer application during the maize-growing season. With the following basic characteristics: soil total nitrogen 1.12 g kg − 1 , Soil organic matter 15.3 g kg − 1 , Available phosphorus 10.06 mg kg − 1 , Available potassium 172 mg kg − 1 , pH 8.27. 2.2. Experimental design and treatments The experimental treatments are shown in Table 1 , control (CK, no N fertilization), high-yield practice (HP), high-yield and high-efficiency practice (HE, HP with 34% N reduction), high-yield and stress-tolerant practice (HS, HE with nitrification inhibitors). The plots were 11 m × 6 m, with 40 cm wide and 30 cm high ridges between the plots to prevent water and fertilizer from escaping. Each treatment had three replications arranged in randomized blocks, and the experiment was conducted over three years from 2020 to 2022, with a total of four treatments. Two optimized treatments (HE and HS) were used to make the N input consistent with the aboveground uptake of the crop at the target yield 31 . Based on the N uptake of maize at 1.55 kg in 100 kg of kernels 32 and the target yield, the optimized N application rate for maize in the HID was calculated to be 250 kg ha − 1 . This means that the nitrogen input is in balance with the amount taken away by the aboveground biomass. Table 1 Optimization treatment of maize enhanced efficiency fertilizers in Hetao Irrigation District in 2020–2022 Year Fertilizer application CK HP HE HS 2020–2022 Total nitrogen inputs (kg ha − 1 ) 0 380 250 250 base fertilizer Type of fertilizer - Diammonium phosphate + Urea Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate + Urea Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate + Urea + DMPP (kg ha − 1 ) 0 110 100 250 Topdressing(V10) Type of fertilizer - Urea Urea - (kg ha − 1 ) 0 150 75 0 Topdressing(R1) Type of fertilizer - Urea Urea - (kg ha − 1 ) 0 120 75 0 Note: V10, ten-leaf stage; R1, silking stage. Phosphorus and potassium applications were consistent across all treatments, with a phosphorus input of 130 kg P 2 O 5 ha − 1 and a potash input of 65 kg K 2 O ha − 1 . 2.3. Experimental material The corn variety used was M751. which was bred by Monsanto Technology LLC and purchased from China Seed International Seed Co., Ltd. Nitrification inhibitor - DMPP (3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate), produced by Wuwei Jincang Bioscience Co., Ltd., were added to the urea and compound fertilizer before applied in to soil. The amount of DMPP added was 7‰ of total N (in-kind). During 2020–2022, the base fertilizer consisted of N fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer, and potash fertilizer. Phosphorus fertilizer was used as triple superphosphate (containing 42% P 2 O 5 ) in the CK, diammonium phosphate (18-46-0) in the HP treatment, and monoammonium phosphate (12-61-0) in the remaining treatments. The potassium fertilizer used was uniform potassium chloride (59% K 2 O). Based on the hybrid maize model, the density required to reach the target yield of 15–18 Mg ha − 1 is more than 80,000 plants ha − 1 33 . In this study, to further explore the biological potential of variety, a newly introduced local high-yielding variety of maize (M751) was sown at a density of 90,000 plants ha − 1 from 2020–2022. Tillage and plant protection measures were implemented according to the local high-yield and high-efficiency technical regulations. 2.4. Measurement and methods Grain yield was measured at harvest, and yield components were determined. Aboveground plants of maize at maturity were taken during the growing season and divided into stem sheaths, leaves, spike stalk, and grains, and dry matter mass. For each part, total N content was measured. The total phosphorus content of aboveground plants was measured in 2022. N use efficiency and other indexes were calculated as recommend by Zhang et al. 34 : N recovery efficiency (RE N , %) = 100 × (N uptake by plants in the N application plot–N uptake by plants in the N-free plot) / N application rate (Eq. 1) Partial factor productivity of N (PFP N , kg/kg) = Grain yield/ N application rate (Eq. 2) Agronomic efficiency of N (AE N , kg/kg) = (grain yield in the N application plot – grain yield in the N-free plot) / N application rate (Eq. 3) Physiological efficiency of N (PE N , kg/kg) = (Grain yield in the N application plot – grain yield in the N-free plot) / (N uptake by plants in the N application plot − N uptake by plants in the N-free plot) (Eq. 4) The N surplus from fertilizer N application was calculated for each crop as the difference between applied fertilizer N (NF) and N removed from the field in the harvested grain (NG), using a simple balance calculation, the gaseous loss as well as the atmospheric deposition of N were not included in these calculations in order to reduce the degree of error 35 : N Surplus = NF − NG (Eq. 5) The N balance for each crop was calculated as the difference between N inputs (In) and N outputs (Out): N balance = In − Out = (NF + NR IN) − (NG + NR OUT) (Eq. 6) where NR IN is N contained in the residues of previous crop and NR OUT is N contained in the harvested crop’s residues. 2.5. Statistical analysis The comparisons among different treatments were based on Duncan’s test at the 0.05 probability level (p < 0.05). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed for grain yield, yields components, dry matter weight, N and P uptake, mineral N contents and N efficiency using SPSS 25.0 (SPSS Institute Inc.). 3. Results 3.1. Dry matter accumulation and N uptake Although the soil accumulated great amount of nitrogen (1.12 g kg − 1 ), stop nitrogen input significantly decreased yield. The biomass of CK was only 10–17 Mg ha − 1 during 2020–2022. However, N input significantly increased biomass, the HP and two optimized treatments reached 22.7–29.4 Mg ha − 1 . Meanwhile, the difference was relatively significant between 3 years. In particular, biomass is lower under extreme drought conditions in 2022 than in both 2020 and 2021. Relative to higher yield practice (HP 380kg ha − 1 ), high-yield and stress-tolerant practice (HS) that reduced the rate N fertilizer to 250 kg ha − 1 could achieve biomass consistent with HP. Whereas the high-yield and high-efficiency practice (HE) was able to maintain biomass in normal rainfall years 2020 and 2021, but under drought conditions in 2022 (with precipitation reduced 48.3–68.8%), the biomass was significantly lower than HP and HS (Fig. 2 d), the losses of biomass was mainly in the grains (Fig. 2 c). With the depletion of soil fertility, aboveground N uptake decreased annually, and the overall performance of N uptake of CK during 2020–2022 was significantly lower than that of all the N treatments (Fig. 3 ). However, the two optimized treatments (HE and HS) appeared to be significantly lower, primarily in grain nitrogen uptake, even though the EEFs did not exhibit a significant promoting effect in 2021 (Fig. 3 b). In 2022, N uptake in the grain and aboveground part of HE was significantly lower than that of the HP treatment (Fig. 3 c, d), whereas the application of EEFs (HS) did not differ from the HP. Overall, reducing N application from 380 to 250 kg ha − 1 had no significant effect on nitrogen allocation. 3.2. Grain yields and yield components During 2020 to 2022, the yield of the CK rarely exceeded 10 Mg ha − 1 , and with the continuous depletion of land productivity, the yield showed a continuous decline (Fig. 4 a). The yield in 2022 was 5,384 kg ha − 1 , which was only 1/3 of that from the HP treatment, indicating that the N supply capacity of the local soil was very low. The optimal yields in the N application treatments reached the high-yield target of 15–18 Mg ha − 1 , which shows that N fertilizer application is an important guarantee for high yield in the HID. On reducing the amount of N fertilizer used by higher yield practice (380 kg ha − 1 ) to aboveground uptake (250 kg) and by not applying any EEFs (HE), the yield level during 2020–2021 was in line with that of the HP treatment. However, the yield level in 2022 significantly decreased by 12.82% owing to seasonal drought at the maize jointing stage, high-yield and stress-tolerant practice (HS) insignificantly reduced yield. Conversely, one-time nitrification inhibitors basal application significantly increased yield by 15.06% compared with the HE. In the three years, reducing the N application to 250 kg ha − 1 had no significant effect on the number of spikes and kernel per ear, and the differences were mainly in the 100-kernel weight (Fig. 4 ). In terms of 100-kernel weight (Fig. 4 d), N reduction (HE) was significantly reduced by 2.26% compared with that of the HP treatment in 2020, and there was no difference between the HS or HP treatments. However, the 100-kernel weight of nitrification inhibitors (HS) was 2.32% significantly higher than that of HP and 2.03% higher than that of HE in 2022. 3.3. Side effect on phosphorus uptake Figure 5 shows the phosphorus absorption of maize at different growth stages under different treatments in 2022. Before the jointing stage, there were no significant differences among the nitrogen treatments, but in the maturity period, adding nitrification inhibitors (HS) increased phosphorus absorption by 22.3% compared with HE, and there was no significant difference from the HP. 3.4. Nutrient use efficiency The N use efficiency of the different treatments for three years 2020–2022 are shown in Table 2 . There was a significant on PFP N , AE N and RE N , but not on PE N in three years. The PFP N and AE N did not differ among the optimized treatments (HE and HS) in 2020–2021, all of which were significantly higher than that in the HP treatment. However, the treatment of nitrification inhibitors (HS) was significantly higher than that of the HE treatment in 2022. In terms of RE N , HE and HS were significantly higher than HP during 2020 to 2021, of which the EEFs treatments had achieve the green development goal (60%). In 2022, The RE N had made variation under the extreme drought climate, was lower than 60% for all treatments. However, under the high-yield and stress-tolerant practice (HS), the use of nitrification inhibitors significantly enhanced RE N . Table 2 N use efficiency for each treatment from 2020 to 2022 Year Treatment PFP N (kg kg − 1 ) AE N (kg kg − 1 ) RE N (%) PE N (kg kg − 1 ) 2020 HP 48.0b 23.7b 46.0b 51.5a HE 69.6a 32.7a 58.0a 57.2a HS 70.9a 34.0a 61.4a 55.3a 2021 HP 44.4b 29.8b 52.0b 57.7a HE 65.5a 43.3a 69.6a 62.3a HS 64.3a 42.2a 67.7a 62.2a 2022 HP 40.9c 26.7c 41.5c 64.5a HE 54.2b 32.7b 52.1b 63.2a HS 62.4a 40.8a 57.9a 70.5a Note: Partial factor productivity of N (PFP N ), Agronomic efficiency of N (AE N ), N recovery efficiency (RE N ),Physiological efficiency of N (PE N ), different letters represent significant differences in statistical tests, p < 0.05. 3.5. N surplus and balance The highest total nitrogen input (NF + NR) was observed in 2021, with up to 453 kg N ha − 1 (HP) applied to the field (Fig. 6 ). Nitrogen inputs for HE and HS treatments peaked in 2021 at 313 and 320 kg N ha − 1 , respectively. N content in harvested grain was similar across all fertilization treatments, reflecting grain yields obtained throughout the experiment (Fig. 4 ). The maximum yield of 284 kg N ha − 1 was achieved under HP in 2020. The minimum yield of 229 kg N ha − 1 occurred in 2022 due to extreme drought conditions. Optimizing nitrogen fertilizer management can significantly reduce N surplus and N balance. From 2020 to 2022, the HP treatment exhibited the highest positive nitrogen surplus (NF-NG) and nitrogen balance (Input-Output), showing significant differences compared to HE and HS. The maximum nitrogen surplus of 203 kg N ha − 1 and maximum nitrogen balance of 217 kg N ha − 1 were observed in 2022. Throughout the trial period, nitrogen surplus and nitrogen balance were comparable between HE and HS treatments, with HS yielding lower calculated values than HE. No significant differences were observed between treatments. In 2022, HE exhibited the highest post-harvest nitrogen surplus (93 kg N ha − 1 ) and nitrogen balance (102 kg N ha − 1 ). In 2020, the HS treatment exhibited the lowest nitrogen surplus at 51 kg N ha − 1 , with the lowest calculated nitrogen balance value of -19 kg N ha − 1 . For the control treatment, both nitrogen surplus and nitrogen balance calculations yielded negative values. 4. Discussion How the application of EEFs can ensure high crop yield and efficiency in the HID has been underreported. This study shows that it is a significant challenge to achieve high yield and high efficiency of maize under the unique soil and climate conditions of high pH, high salinity, flood irrigation, and drought in the HID. Reducing N fertilizer input can achieve high yields, but there is a risk of yield reduction under extreme arid climate conditions. Nevertheless, the combined application of EEFs can alleviate this risk. The dry matter accumulation of the maize is a prerequisite for high yields, and improving the distribution of dry matter to the spike is key to high yields 36 . Only reducing N fertilizer application tends to reduce biomass. Srivastava et al. found that reducing N fertilizer significantly reduced the aboveground biomass, which is consistent with the results of our study 37 . It is of substantial importance to reduce N while securing the supply at the later stage through EEFs, and we found the importance of EEFs for securing the biomass in extreme climates, with a 34% reduction in N under the dry climate of 2022. The mechanism of securing the biomass in basal fertilizer applied with nitrification inhibitors may be that both the N form and the total amount of N at the earlier stage promote the development of the root system, which increases the root system's water and nutrient uptake capacity in the later stage of the drought 38 , 39 . Ultimately, the 100-kernel weights increased. In 2020, the results showed that the reduction in N treatment was significantly lower than the HP treatment, while the aboveground N uptake could be maintained using the EEFs. Reasonable N fertilizer management can increase N uptake, promote N transfer to seeds, and improve NUE 40 , 41 . In the present study, we found that nitrification inhibitors and controlled-release fertilizers had desirable effects on N uptake and distribution, improved N uptake in the early stages, and promoted N transfer from nutrient organs to seeds in the late stages. N reduction resulted in a significant reduction in the number of grains in 2022, and multiple years of research showed that 38% N reduction had no significant effect on the ear grain number of maize 17 . However, the results of our study differed from this because of the drought climate that led to a reduction in the number of grains per spike, and the use of nitrification inhibitors could alleviate the effects of the arid climate. A one-time application of nitrification inhibitors in 2022 significantly increased the 100-kernel weight, because the nitrification rate is fast in the local high pH soil. Nitrification inhibitors inhibit the conversion of ammonium N to nitrate N in the soil 42 , increasing the content of ammonium N, which then enhances N supply capacity at the late stage of maize growth, promotes the uptake of ammonium N in the maize and N accumulation in the kernels, and simultaneously improves 100-kernel weight. In 2020–2021, the yield of the N reduction treatment was not significantly different from that of higher yield practice, and 34% N reduction could reach the high-yield target of 15–18 Mg (80% of the yield potential) in normal years, which fully demonstrated that the current constraints to high yields for farmers were not N fertilizer rate but the cooperation of other agronomic measures. However, the yield was significantly reduced by 12.82% compared with the HP in 2022 because of an extreme drought, as water deficit affects crop growth and kernel formation leading to yield reduction 43 – 45 . In contrast, the adoption of EEFs significantly increased grain yield in 2022. Numerous studies have shown that the use of EEFs can increase yield 46 – 48 . The results suggest that the optimized N application rate (250 kg ha − 1 ) based on crop demand without changing irrigation and fertilizer products can support high yield in normal years but there is still a risk of yield reduction under abnormal climatic conditions. whereas the use of EEFs applications can reduce the risk of yield reduction due to arid climates, especially nitrification inhibitors. NH 4 + -N application can reduce the effects of drought stress on plant growth 49 , while NO 3 − -N has the opposite effect 50 . Therefore, the application of nitrification inhibitors inhibits soil nitrification, increases soil ammonium N content, and improves crop resistance under drought conditions. In the 2022, it was found that the application of nitrification inhibitors could enhance the crop's absorption of phosphorus, mainly due to inhibition of nitrification, which led to higher content of ammonium nitrogen in the soil 51 .Therefore, these results reaffirm that the decrease of the pH due to release of H by plants during ammonium uptake can have a strong influence on the solubilization of insoluble phosphates in soil 52 , improving the crop's absorption of phosphorus and increasing crop yield 53 , 54 . Achieving both high yield and nutrient use efficiency has become a major challenge. The multi-year yields showed that the yields of the HP treatment could reach up to 15–18 Mg, but the RE N was less than 50%. However, decreased N input can have higher RE N , The RE N of N reduction treatments were higher to the green development goal (60%). This suggested that technical and management measures to reduce N fertilizer application while maintaining crop yields could improve NUE 21 , 55 . Additionally, the application of nitrification inhibitors can significantly increase RE N in the 2022. Three published meta-analysis showed that combination with EEFs can improve crop yields and NUE 43 , 48 , 56 . The research presented here shows that the adaptation of N application rates to crop demand, as described Ladha et al. can reduce both N surplus and balance without affecting the yield level of the cropping system 57 . The N surplus of the optimized treatments was reduced to less than 93 kg N ha − 1 , while N application according to higher yield practice (HP) resulted in N surpluses of above 169 kg N ha − 1 for each of the three years observed in this experiment. As documented in several pieces of research 58 , 59 , nitrogen applied in quantities exceeding crop demand is susceptible to loss via multiple pathways without influencing the yield of crops. In this experiment, we could not determine a clear advantage of nitrification inhibitors (HS) in comparison to 34% N reduction (HE) with regards to N balance and surplus calculations. In this study, to further utilize the potential of density and varieties in the HID, the newly introduced high-yielding local varieties were used to increase the planting density to 90,000 plants ha − 1 and further increase the yield to 18 Mg, which has already reached the local high-yield level. Therefore, it is difficult to improve yield by considering only varieties and planting densities. From the perspective of water and fertilizer management, precise water and fertilizer management can improve NUE and reduce environmental damage 60 , 61 . In addition, 34% N reduction can guarantee 80% of the local yield potential, while under an extreme drought climate, yield will be reduced. Combined with EEFs, which can alleviate the risk of yield reduction, the use of nitrification inhibitors in the HID has a better effect. 5. Conclusion This study reveals that in saline and semi-arid regions, a combination of measures can achieve high yields and efficiency, with nitrification inhibitors mitigating the negative effects of arid climates on maize. Overall, an N fertilizer input of 250 kg ha − 1 can support the N demand of spring maize with a yield of 15–18 Mg ha − 1 . N reduction in a normal year can guarantee high yields. However, seasonal droughts lead to lower yields. The combination of enhanced-efficiency fertilizers can mitigate the risk of yield reduction, especially the application of nitrification inhibitors in 2022 to improve dry matter allocation, N uptake, and 100-kernel weight, thus achieving higher yields. In the saline and arid regions of Northwest China, the N reduction alone may have a risk, and a combination of new products must be considered. The application of nitrification inhibitors in the HID can achieve one-time fertilization and ensures the supply of ammonium N under arid climate, which probably helps the root system of seedlings to grow and improves resilience. Therefore, the nitrification inhibitors can mitigate the risk of yield reduction under extreme drought conditions in the semi-arid and saline-alkali area. Declarations Funding declaration This work was financially supported by Research Project on Synergist Formulations Based on Different Application Scenarios. Author Contribution Z. Zeng wrote the main manuscript text, collected and analyzed the data and built the figures and tables; L. Wu involved in the experiment design and collected the data; J. Liu, Z. Li, B. Li and Z. Duan wrote the manuscript; W. 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12:06:01","extension":"html","order_by":16,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":154667,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7597908/v1/eae05543a27bb2f0bd1e68b3.html"},{"id":92714628,"identity":"3a6fe8a5-e42e-4631-b742-7722a825fd30","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 12:06:00","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":198616,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMonthly meteorological data during maize season in 2020-2022\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7597908/v1/c44d09bff25ab487740b4ca2.png"},{"id":92715148,"identity":"b714b1d2-67f2-4fef-ae5f-6409487b38bf","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 12:14:00","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":974362,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffects of different treatments on dry matter accumulation during maturation stage. CK (no N fertilization), HP (high-yield practice), HE (high-yield and high-efficiency practice), HS (high-yield and stress-tolerant practice).\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003eThe vertical bars indicate standard deviations, and the different letters indicate significant differences at \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt; 0.05.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7597908/v1/029babe8cd6bda92281def1f.png"},{"id":92714631,"identity":"70d59b53-edd9-4576-8a1f-6c2c76811e5c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 12:06:01","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1036133,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffects of different treatments on N uptake during maturation stage. CK (no N fertilization), HP (high-yield practice), HE (high-yield and high-efficiency practice), HS (high-yield and stress-tolerant practice).\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003eThe vertical bars indicate standard deviations, and the different letters indicate significant differences at \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt; 0.05.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7597908/v1/07d0e04d2e1db07b45d467a4.png"},{"id":92714629,"identity":"f88d5178-5995-4541-886a-2f078616b3b0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 12:06:00","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":786333,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffects of different treatments on grain yield and yield components. CK (no N fertilization), HP (high-yield practice), HE (high-yield and high-efficiency practice), HS (high-yield and stress-tolerant practice).\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u0026nbsp;The vertical bars indicate standard deviations, and the different letters indicate significant differences at \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt; 0.05.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7597908/v1/35cee9d3380790bf74e9bf88.png"},{"id":92715508,"identity":"fc41d524-10f5-4a87-aca3-6bdb6ed4edaf","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 12:22:01","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":231235,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEffects of different treatments on P uptake. CK (no N fertilization), HP (high-yield practice), HE (high-yield and high-efficiency practice), HS (high-yield and stress-tolerant practice). JS (Jointing stage), TS (Tasselling stage), FS (Filling stage), MS (Maturity stage). The vertical bars indicate standard deviations, and the different letters indicate significant differences at \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt; 0.05.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7597908/v1/e275ef373145cf5705638c33.png"},{"id":92714646,"identity":"445066e3-8c55-42ea-abd0-df39ee77ec1f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-03 12:06:01","extension":"png","order_by":6,"title":"Figure 6","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":335879,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eAnalysis of N balance under different N treatments. CK (no N fertilization), HP (high-yield practice), HE (high-yield and high-efficiency practice), HS (high-yield and stress-tolerant practice).\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u0026nbsp;NR (N contained in plant residues), NG (N contained in grain), NF (fertilized N in kg ha\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e). The vertical bars indicate standard deviations, and the different letters indicate significant differences at \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt; 0.05.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage6.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7597908/v1/ba229dcc5477aa1d6693de20.png"},{"id":100619245,"identity":"88afad1f-a005-4c6c-a5c4-fc377e1384af","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-19 18:08:25","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":4487339,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7597908/v1/f469e7d6-dab5-409e-b6f4-b66898d0af61.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Synergy nitrification inhibitor with best management practices can coherent the higher yield and higher nitrogen use efficiency under semi-arid saline-alkali soil","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eArid and semi-arid regions, comprising over 30% of Earth's terrestrial surface area, 42.9% of the world's arable land, contributing 60% to world food production, and supporting more than 1.2\u0026nbsp;billion people, or 20% of the world\u0026rsquo;s population\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR2\" citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Nevertheless, irrigated agriculture in arid and semi-arid environment often faces major challenges. Among them, water shortage and soil salinization are the main limiting factors for irrigated agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. With the growing population and the increasing demand for food, the application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers has been also increasing\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. However, increased input of fertilizer did not bring higher yield, but aggravated the soil degradation, and brought ground water pollution, further lower the sustainability\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This issue has become more serious as global climate change has significant impacts on agricultural systems, i.e., frequent occurrence of drought.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLocated in arid and semi-arid western Inner Mongolia, the Hetao Irrigation District (HID) is a typical semi-arid saline-alkali soil region. As a major grain and oil seed production region in China in thousands of years, this region is facing ground challenges. There are 18\u0026nbsp;million ha of farmland, and 7.1\u0026nbsp;million ha are relying on irrigation from the Yellow River, but the saline land area increased to 2\u0026nbsp;million ha due to flood irrigation. The annual precipitation is around 160 mm\u003csup\u003e4\u003c/sup\u003e, water shortages and increasing drought brought great uncertainty for crop yield\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. The average maize yield has reached 8,706 kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e in 2010s, which is higher than that in other production areas, such as in Northeast and North China\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. However, the yield is stagnant in recent 10 years, and only realized 40% of yield potential. There is some evidence to show that the local yield potential as high as 18\u0026ndash;22 Mg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e. For example, Li et al. found that the grain yield potential in the HID reached 18 Mg by Hybrid-Maize model simulation\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. The best farmers yield record exceeding 22 Mg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e. How to close the yield gap is a ground challenge.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHowever, the input is already high, i.e. the N fertilizer input is as high as 300\u0026ndash;450 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, exceeding most of the main maize producing areas in China, and the NUE is low at only 16\u0026ndash;40%\u003csup\u003e11\u003c/sup\u003e. The saline-alkali land with higher pH (usually pH\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;8) and strong wind which generate great amount of ammonia volatilization, especially when farmer applied fertilizer by broadcasting. And the soil high pH also has high nitrification rate, which means most applied urea or ammonium base nitrogen will convert to nitrite, and then easily runoff with flood irrigation. Existing research show that nutrient loss, such as ammonia volatilization, denitrification, and N leaching losses reach 6.0%, 1.0%, and 22.8%, respectively\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Another statistic data show that in the HID, the amount of N entering ditches with farmland withdrawal water during autumn irrigation reaches 840 t per year, and N loss from farmland has become an important source of pollution in Wuliangsu Lake\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Increasing nitrogen use efficiency and reduce losses is not only key for environment protection, but also the key for low crop yield.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYield and nutrient use efficiency need to be improved urgently in HID as well as similar regions. Some studies have explored the potential to improve nutrient use efficiency through the optimization of N fertilizer application rates, application periods, and N fertilizer products\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR15\" citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. those technologies can control N fertilizer inputs to above 300 kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e thus increasing NUE to 30%-40% \u003csup\u003e17\u0026ndash;19\u003c/sup\u003e. However, this NUE is still far from the green development target, i.e. 54\u0026ndash;63% based on the planetary boundaries\u0026rsquo; framework\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR21\" citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. To realize NUE target, it is need to reduce the N fertilizer input by 20\u0026ndash;30%\u003csup\u003e23\u003c/sup\u003e. However, the grain yield of these efficient treatments was only 11\u0026ndash;14 t, i.e. 50\u0026ndash;60% of local yield potential. To meet green development target, i.e. realizing yield potential reaches 80%\u003csup\u003e24,25\u003c/sup\u003e, which need to be increased from 10 Mg to more than 15 Mg. Unfortunately, no report to show how to realize the due higher yield target (80% yield potential) and higher NUE (54\u0026ndash;63%) in this region.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSynergistic high grain yields and higher nitrogen use efficiency rely on integrated technologies, such as right variety, rational planting density, and rational water and fertilization\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. More importantly, the introduction of innovative technologies, while controlling ammonia volatilization, leaching, runoff, and multiple losses of N, is particularly important in this kind of high pH soils and high-water flooding conditions to mitigate the constraints from salt and alkali content\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers (EEFs), including controlled-release fertilizers, nitrification inhibitors, and urease inhibitors, can regulate nutrient loss and nutrient transformation, which are extremally important for higher NUE. Ammonium N may be beneficial for seedling emergence and the formation of strong plants under low-temperature and salt-stress conditions\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Mousavi Shalmani et al. even found that the 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) application promoted ammonium N assimilation and transfer to the shoots, which has created relative resistance to drought stress conditions\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. However, The EEFs application method in the arid and semi-arid regions is still lacking, and only few studies have explored the role of single measures. For example, Sanz-Cobena et al. studied the ammonia volatilization reduction effect of urease inhibitors but did not achieve yields and NUE target\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. To establish EEFs application techniques according to soil and climate conditions in arid and semi-arid regions, and to meet green development objectives, are important research topics.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this study, focus on a high-yield, higher NUE and low-environmental impact target of maize in the HID (80% yield potential and 54\u0026ndash;63% NUE), we designed a best nutrient management practices box by in cooperating with DMPP application mode basing on the unique soil, climatic, and production conditions in the HID. And tested the technologies efficiency through multi-year experiments.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Materials and methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.1. Study site\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this study, the fourth community of Lianzeng Village, Hangjinhou Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (40\u0026deg;42\u0026prime;28\u0026Prime;N, 107\u0026deg;2\u0026prime;8\u0026Prime;E) was selected as the experimental site, which is located in the HID with a temperate continental arid climate. The annual precipitation in Hangjinhou Banner in 2020, 2021, and 2022 were 219.3, 125.6, and 68.3 mm, respectively. There was extremely low precipitation occurred in 2022, and seasonal drought occurred in June during the corn jointing period. The meteorological conditions from April to September during the 2020\u0026ndash;2022 maize planting season are shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe local soil is mainly cumulated irrigated soils with severe salinization, which are irrigated with water from the Yellow River, with three irrigations coinciding with fertilizer application during the maize-growing season. With the following basic characteristics: soil total nitrogen 1.12 g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, Soil organic matter 15.3 g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, Available phosphorus 10.06 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, Available potassium 172 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, pH 8.27.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e\u003cem\u003e2.2. Experimental design and treatments\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe experimental treatments are shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, control (CK, no N fertilization), high-yield practice (HP), high-yield and high-efficiency practice (HE, HP with 34% N reduction), high-yield and stress-tolerant practice (HS, HE with nitrification inhibitors). The plots were 11 m \u0026times; 6 m, with 40 cm wide and 30 cm high ridges between the plots to prevent water and fertilizer from escaping. Each treatment had three replications arranged in randomized blocks, and the experiment was conducted over three years from 2020 to 2022, with a total of four treatments.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo optimized treatments (HE and HS) were used to make the N input consistent with the aboveground uptake of the crop at the target yield\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Based on the N uptake of maize at 1.55 kg in 100 kg of kernels\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e and the target yield, the optimized N application rate for maize in the HID was calculated to be 250 kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e. This means that the nitrogen input is in balance with the amount taken away by the aboveground biomass.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOptimization treatment of maize enhanced efficiency fertilizers in Hetao Irrigation District in 2020\u0026ndash;2022\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYear\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFertilizer application\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCK\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHP\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHE\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"6\" rowspan=\"7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2020\u0026ndash;2022\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal nitrogen inputs\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e380\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e250\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e250\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ebase fertilizer\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eType of fertilizer\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiammonium phosphate\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Urea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmmonium dihydrogen phosphate\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Urea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmmonium dihydrogen phosphate\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Urea\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;DMPP\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e110\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e250\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTopdressing(V10)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eType of fertilizer\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUrea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUrea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e150\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e75\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTopdressing(R1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eType of fertilizer\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUrea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUrea\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e(kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e120\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e75\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"7\"\u003eNote: V10, ten-leaf stage; R1, silking stage. Phosphorus and potassium applications were consistent across all treatments, with a phosphorus input of 130 kg P\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e5\u003c/sub\u003e ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e and a potash input of 65 kg K\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e\u003cem\u003e2.3. Experimental material\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe corn variety used was M751. which was bred by Monsanto Technology LLC and purchased from China Seed International Seed Co., Ltd. Nitrification inhibitor - DMPP (3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate), produced by Wuwei Jincang Bioscience Co., Ltd., were added to the urea and compound fertilizer before applied in to soil. The amount of DMPP added was 7\u0026permil; of total N (in-kind). During 2020\u0026ndash;2022, the base fertilizer consisted of N fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer, and potash fertilizer. Phosphorus fertilizer was used as triple superphosphate (containing 42% P\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e5\u003c/sub\u003e) in the CK, diammonium phosphate (18-46-0) in the HP treatment, and monoammonium phosphate (12-61-0) in the remaining treatments. The potassium fertilizer used was uniform potassium chloride (59% K\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBased on the hybrid maize model, the density required to reach the target yield of 15\u0026ndash;18 Mg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e is more than 80,000 plants ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1 33\u003c/sup\u003e. In this study, to further explore the biological potential of variety, a newly introduced local high-yielding variety of maize (M751) was sown at a density of 90,000 plants ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e from 2020\u0026ndash;2022. Tillage and plant protection measures were implemented according to the local high-yield and high-efficiency technical regulations.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.4. Measurement and methods\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrain yield was measured at harvest, and yield components were determined. Aboveground plants of maize at maturity were taken during the growing season and divided into stem sheaths, leaves, spike stalk, and grains, and dry matter mass. For each part, total N content was measured. The total phosphorus content of aboveground plants was measured in 2022.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eN use efficiency and other indexes were calculated as recommend by Zhang et al. \u003csup\u003e34\u003c/sup\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eN recovery efficiency (RE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e, %)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;100 \u0026times; (N uptake by plants in the N application plot\u0026ndash;N uptake by plants in the N-free plot) / N application rate (Eq.\u0026nbsp;1)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePartial factor productivity of N (PFP\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e, kg/kg)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Grain yield/ N application rate (Eq.\u0026nbsp;2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAgronomic efficiency of N (AE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e, kg/kg) = (grain yield in the N application plot \u0026ndash; grain yield in the N-free plot) / N application rate (Eq.\u0026nbsp;3)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhysiological efficiency of N (PE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e, kg/kg) = (Grain yield in the N application plot \u0026ndash; grain yield in the N-free plot) / (N uptake by plants in the N application plot\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;N uptake by plants in the N-free plot) (Eq.\u0026nbsp;4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe N surplus from fertilizer N application was calculated for each crop as the difference between applied fertilizer N (NF) and N removed from the field in the harvested grain (NG), using a simple balance calculation, the gaseous loss as well as the atmospheric deposition of N were not included in these calculations in order to reduce the degree of error\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eN Surplus\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;NF\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;NG (Eq.\u0026nbsp;5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe N balance for each crop was calculated as the difference between N inputs (In) and N outputs (Out):\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eN balance\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;In \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;Out = (NF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;NR IN) \u0026minus; (NG\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;NR OUT) (Eq.\u0026nbsp;6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ewhere NR IN is N contained in the residues of previous crop and NR OUT is N contained in the harvested crop\u0026rsquo;s residues.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.5. Statistical analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe comparisons among different treatments were based on Duncan\u0026rsquo;s test at the 0.05 probability level (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed for grain yield, yields components, dry matter weight, N and P uptake, mineral N contents and N efficiency using SPSS 25.0 (SPSS Institute Inc.).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.1. Dry matter accumulation and N uptake\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough the soil accumulated great amount of nitrogen (1.12 g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), stop nitrogen input significantly decreased yield. The biomass of CK was only 10\u0026ndash;17 Mg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003eduring 2020\u0026ndash;2022. However, N input significantly increased biomass, the HP and two optimized treatments reached 22.7\u0026ndash;29.4 Mg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e. Meanwhile, the difference was relatively significant between 3 years. In particular, biomass is lower under extreme drought conditions in 2022 than in both 2020 and 2021. Relative to higher yield practice (HP 380kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), high-yield and stress-tolerant practice (HS) that reduced the rate N fertilizer to 250 kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e could achieve biomass consistent with HP. Whereas the high-yield and high-efficiency practice (HE) was able to maintain biomass in normal rainfall years 2020 and 2021, but under drought conditions in 2022 (with precipitation reduced 48.3\u0026ndash;68.8%), the biomass was significantly lower than HP and HS (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003ed), the losses of biomass was mainly in the grains (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003ec).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith the depletion of soil fertility, aboveground N uptake decreased annually, and the overall performance of N uptake of CK during 2020\u0026ndash;2022 was significantly lower than that of all the N treatments (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). However, the two optimized treatments (HE and HS) appeared to be significantly lower, primarily in grain nitrogen uptake, even though the EEFs did not exhibit a significant promoting effect in 2021 (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003eb). In 2022, N uptake in the grain and aboveground part of HE was significantly lower than that of the HP treatment (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003ec, d), whereas the application of EEFs (HS) did not differ from the HP. Overall, reducing N application from 380 to 250 kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e had no significant effect on nitrogen allocation.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.2. Grain yields and yield components\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuring 2020 to 2022, the yield of the CK rarely exceeded 10 Mg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, and with the continuous depletion of land productivity, the yield showed a continuous decline (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003ea). The yield in 2022 was 5,384 kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, which was only 1/3 of that from the HP treatment, indicating that the N supply capacity of the local soil was very low. The optimal yields in the N application treatments reached the high-yield target of 15\u0026ndash;18 Mg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, which shows that N fertilizer application is an important guarantee for high yield in the HID. On reducing the amount of N fertilizer used by higher yield practice (380 kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) to aboveground uptake (250 kg) and by not applying any EEFs (HE), the yield level during 2020\u0026ndash;2021 was in line with that of the HP treatment. However, the yield level in 2022 significantly decreased by 12.82% owing to seasonal drought at the maize jointing stage, high-yield and stress-tolerant practice (HS) insignificantly reduced yield. Conversely, one-time nitrification inhibitors basal application significantly increased yield by 15.06% compared with the HE.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the three years, reducing the N application to 250 kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e had no significant effect on the number of spikes and kernel per ear, and the differences were mainly in the 100-kernel weight (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). In terms of 100-kernel weight (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003ed), N reduction (HE) was significantly reduced by 2.26% compared with that of the HP treatment in 2020, and there was no difference between the HS or HP treatments. However, the 100-kernel weight of nitrification inhibitors (HS) was 2.32% significantly higher than that of HP and 2.03% higher than that of HE in 2022.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.3. Side effect on phosphorus uptake\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFigure \u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e shows the phosphorus absorption of maize at different growth stages under different treatments in 2022. Before the jointing stage, there were no significant differences among the nitrogen treatments, but in the maturity period, adding nitrification inhibitors (HS) increased phosphorus absorption by 22.3% compared with HE, and there was no significant difference from the HP.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.4. Nutrient use efficiency\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe N use efficiency of the different treatments for three years 2020\u0026ndash;2022 are shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e. There was a significant on PFP\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e, AE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e and RE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e, but not on PE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e in three years. The PFP\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e and AE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e did not differ among the optimized treatments (HE and HS) in 2020\u0026ndash;2021, all of which were significantly higher than that in the HP treatment. However, the treatment of nitrification inhibitors (HS) was significantly higher than that of the HE treatment in 2022. In terms of RE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e, HE and HS were significantly higher than HP during 2020 to 2021, of which the EEFs treatments had achieve the green development goal (60%). In 2022, The RE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e had made variation under the extreme drought climate, was lower than 60% for all treatments. However, under the high-yield and stress-tolerant practice (HS), the use of nitrification inhibitors significantly enhanced RE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN use efficiency for each treatment from 2020 to 2022\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eYear\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePFP\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e (kg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e (kg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e (kg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2020\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHP\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e48.0b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23.7b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e46.0b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e51.5a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHE\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e69.6a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e32.7a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e58.0a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57.2a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e70.9a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e34.0a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e61.4a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e55.3a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2021\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHP\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e44.4b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29.8b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52.0b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57.7a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHE\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e65.5a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e43.3a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e69.6a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e62.3a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e64.3a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e42.2a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e67.7a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e62.2a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2022\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHP\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40.9c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e26.7c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41.5c\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e64.5a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHE\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e54.2b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e32.7b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52.1b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e63.2a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e62.4a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40.8a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57.9a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e70.5a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"6\"\u003eNote: Partial factor productivity of N (PFP\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e), Agronomic efficiency of N (AE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e), N recovery efficiency (RE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e),Physiological efficiency of N (PE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e), different letters represent significant differences in statistical tests, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026lt; 0.05.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.5. N surplus and balance\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe highest total nitrogen input (NF\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;NR) was observed in 2021, with up to 453 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e (HP) applied to the field (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e). Nitrogen inputs for HE and HS treatments peaked in 2021 at 313 and 320 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, respectively. N content in harvested grain was similar across all fertilization treatments, reflecting grain yields obtained throughout the experiment (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). The maximum yield of 284 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e was achieved under HP in 2020. The minimum yield of 229 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e occurred in 2022 due to extreme drought conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOptimizing nitrogen fertilizer management can significantly reduce N surplus and N balance. From 2020 to 2022, the HP treatment exhibited the highest positive nitrogen surplus (NF-NG) and nitrogen balance (Input-Output), showing significant differences compared to HE and HS. The maximum nitrogen surplus of 203 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e and maximum nitrogen balance of 217 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e were observed in 2022. Throughout the trial period, nitrogen surplus and nitrogen balance were comparable between HE and HS treatments, with HS yielding lower calculated values than HE. No significant differences were observed between treatments. In 2022, HE exhibited the highest post-harvest nitrogen surplus (93 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) and nitrogen balance (102 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e). In 2020, the HS treatment exhibited the lowest nitrogen surplus at 51 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, with the lowest calculated nitrogen balance value of -19 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e. For the control treatment, both nitrogen surplus and nitrogen balance calculations yielded negative values.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"4. Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eHow the application of EEFs can ensure high crop yield and efficiency in the HID has been underreported. This study shows that it is a significant challenge to achieve high yield and high efficiency of maize under the unique soil and climate conditions of high pH, high salinity, flood irrigation, and drought in the HID. Reducing N fertilizer input can achieve high yields, but there is a risk of yield reduction under extreme arid climate conditions. Nevertheless, the combined application of EEFs can alleviate this risk.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe dry matter accumulation of the maize is a prerequisite for high yields, and improving the distribution of dry matter to the spike is key to high yields\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Only reducing N fertilizer application tends to reduce biomass. Srivastava et al. found that reducing N fertilizer significantly reduced the aboveground biomass, which is consistent with the results of our study\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. It is of substantial importance to reduce N while securing the supply at the later stage through EEFs, and we found the importance of EEFs for securing the biomass in extreme climates, with a 34% reduction in N under the dry climate of 2022. The mechanism of securing the biomass in basal fertilizer applied with nitrification inhibitors may be that both the N form and the total amount of N at the earlier stage promote the development of the root system, which increases the root system's water and nutrient uptake capacity in the later stage of the drought\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Ultimately, the 100-kernel weights increased. In 2020, the results showed that the reduction in N treatment was significantly lower than the HP treatment, while the aboveground N uptake could be maintained using the EEFs. Reasonable N fertilizer management can increase N uptake, promote N transfer to seeds, and improve NUE\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In the present study, we found that nitrification inhibitors and controlled-release fertilizers had desirable effects on N uptake and distribution, improved N uptake in the early stages, and promoted N transfer from nutrient organs to seeds in the late stages.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eN reduction resulted in a significant reduction in the number of grains in 2022, and multiple years of research showed that 38% N reduction had no significant effect on the ear grain number of maize\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. However, the results of our study differed from this because of the drought climate that led to a reduction in the number of grains per spike, and the use of nitrification inhibitors could alleviate the effects of the arid climate. A one-time application of nitrification inhibitors in 2022 significantly increased the 100-kernel weight, because the nitrification rate is fast in the local high pH soil. Nitrification inhibitors inhibit the conversion of ammonium N to nitrate N in the soil\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e42\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, increasing the content of ammonium N, which then enhances N supply capacity at the late stage of maize growth, promotes the uptake of ammonium N in the maize and N accumulation in the kernels, and simultaneously improves 100-kernel weight.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 2020\u0026ndash;2021, the yield of the N reduction treatment was not significantly different from that of higher yield practice, and 34% N reduction could reach the high-yield target of 15\u0026ndash;18 Mg (80% of the yield potential) in normal years, which fully demonstrated that the current constraints to high yields for farmers were not N fertilizer rate but the cooperation of other agronomic measures. However, the yield was significantly reduced by 12.82% compared with the HP in 2022 because of an extreme drought, as water deficit affects crop growth and kernel formation leading to yield reduction\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR44\" citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e45\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In contrast, the adoption of EEFs significantly increased grain yield in 2022. Numerous studies have shown that the use of EEFs can increase yield \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR47\" citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e46\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. The results suggest that the optimized N application rate (250 kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) based on crop demand without changing irrigation and fertilizer products can support high yield in normal years but there is still a risk of yield reduction under abnormal climatic conditions. whereas the use of EEFs applications can reduce the risk of yield reduction due to arid climates, especially nitrification inhibitors. NH\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003e+\u003c/sup\u003e-N application can reduce the effects of drought stress on plant growth\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e49\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, while NO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u003c/sup\u003e-N has the opposite effect\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e50\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Therefore, the application of nitrification inhibitors inhibits soil nitrification, increases soil ammonium N content, and improves crop resistance under drought conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the 2022, it was found that the application of nitrification inhibitors could enhance the crop's absorption of phosphorus, mainly due to inhibition of nitrification, which led to higher content of ammonium nitrogen in the soil\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.Therefore, these results reaffirm that the decrease of the pH due to release of H by plants during ammonium uptake can have a strong influence on the solubilization of insoluble phosphates in soil\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e52\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, improving the crop's absorption of phosphorus and increasing crop yield\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e53\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e54\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAchieving both high yield and nutrient use efficiency has become a major challenge. The multi-year yields showed that the yields of the HP treatment could reach up to 15\u0026ndash;18 Mg, but the RE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e was less than 50%. However, decreased N input can have higher RE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e, The RE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e of N reduction treatments were higher to the green development goal (60%). This suggested that technical and management measures to reduce N fertilizer application while maintaining crop yields could improve NUE\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR55\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e55\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Additionally, the application of nitrification inhibitors can significantly increase RE\u003csub\u003eN\u003c/sub\u003e in the 2022. Three published meta-analysis showed that combination with EEFs can improve crop yields and NUE\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR56\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e56\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe research presented here shows that the adaptation of N application rates to crop demand, as described Ladha et al. can reduce both N surplus and balance without affecting the yield level of the cropping system\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR57\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e57\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. The N surplus of the optimized treatments was reduced to less than 93 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, while N application according to higher yield practice (HP) resulted in N surpluses of above 169 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e for each of the three years observed in this experiment. As documented in several pieces of research\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e58\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e59\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, nitrogen applied in quantities exceeding crop demand is susceptible to loss via multiple pathways without influencing the yield of crops. In this experiment, we could not determine a clear advantage of nitrification inhibitors (HS) in comparison to 34% N reduction (HE) with regards to N balance and surplus calculations.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this study, to further utilize the potential of density and varieties in the HID, the newly introduced high-yielding local varieties were used to increase the planting density to 90,000 plants ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e and further increase the yield to 18 Mg, which has already reached the local high-yield level. Therefore, it is difficult to improve yield by considering only varieties and planting densities. From the perspective of water and fertilizer management, precise water and fertilizer management can improve NUE and reduce environmental damage\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR60\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e60\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR61\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e61\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In addition, 34% N reduction can guarantee 80% of the local yield potential, while under an extreme drought climate, yield will be reduced. Combined with EEFs, which can alleviate the risk of yield reduction, the use of nitrification inhibitors in the HID has a better effect.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5. Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study reveals that in saline and semi-arid regions, a combination of measures can achieve high yields and efficiency, with nitrification inhibitors mitigating the negative effects of arid climates on maize. Overall, an N fertilizer input of 250 kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e can support the N demand of spring maize with a yield of 15\u0026ndash;18 Mg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e. N reduction in a normal year can guarantee high yields. However, seasonal droughts lead to lower yields. The combination of enhanced-efficiency fertilizers can mitigate the risk of yield reduction, especially the application of nitrification inhibitors in 2022 to improve dry matter allocation, N uptake, and 100-kernel weight, thus achieving higher yields. In the saline and arid regions of Northwest China, the N reduction alone may have a risk, and a combination of new products must be considered. The application of nitrification inhibitors in the HID can achieve one-time fertilization and ensures the supply of ammonium N under arid climate, which probably helps the root system of seedlings to grow and improves resilience. Therefore, the nitrification inhibitors can mitigate the risk of yield reduction under extreme drought conditions in the semi-arid and saline-alkali area.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003eFunding declaration\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis work was financially supported by Research Project on Synergist Formulations Based on Different Application Scenarios.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eZ. Zeng wrote the main manuscript text, collected and analyzed the data and built the figures and tables; L. Wu involved in the experiment design and collected the data; J. Liu, Z. Li, B. Li and Z. Duan wrote the manuscript; W. Zhang: Writing \u0026ndash; wrote the manuscript and his project has funded the publication fee of the manuscript. All authors reviewed the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis work was financially supported by Research Project on Synergist Formulations Based on Different Application Scenarios.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe datasets used and analyzed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWickens, G. E. in \u003cem\u003eEcophysiology of Economic Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands\u003c/em\u003e (ed Gerald E. Wickens) 5-15 (Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 1998).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrăvălie, R. Drylands extent and environmental issues. A global approach. \u003cem\u003eEarth Sci. Rev.\u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e161\u003c/strong\u003e, 259-278, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2016.08.003 (2016).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLiu W.D. \u0026amp; Chen Y.C. 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Water Manage.\u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e243\u003c/strong\u003e, 106497, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106497 (2021).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Enhanced-efficiency fertilizers (EEFs), DMPP, One-time application, Drought stress, Nutrient use efficiency, N surplus","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7597908/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7597908/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eHigh yield and high nutrient use efficiency are blocked by various abiotic stress, especially in arid, salinity and irrigation deficiency agricultural production system. Systematic solution is key strategy, but the progress in problem solving to bring about changes at the ground level is rare. This study aimed at designing a high yield and high efficiency production system by combined enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) and best agronomic practices. The effects were examined through a 3-years (from 2020 to 2022) maize field experiment in a typical region, Hanghou, inner Mongolia, China. The results show that 15\u0026ndash;18 Mg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003eyield (80% of yield potential) can be realized under various stress conditions by adopted the new designed system. In this system, nitrogen (N) fertilizer input can be reduced from 380 kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e (higher yield practice) to 250 kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e (balance above-ground uptake), fertilization times can be reduced from 3 to 1, and the nutrient use efficiency (NUE) can be increased to over 57.9%. The key is to reduce nutrient losses, prolong nutrient supply and control nutrient concentration by using enhanced efficiency fertilizer (DMPP) and increase crop yields from 13.5 to 15 Mg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Synergy nitrification inhibitor with best management practices can coherent the higher yield and higher nitrogen use efficiency under semi-arid saline-alkali soil","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-10-03 12:05:56","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7597908/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-12-18T06:18:35+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-12-10T03:32:56+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"170431838553926613255349962471432124111","date":"2025-12-10T00:46:51+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"81025773881398963296946779978568541067","date":"2025-12-08T06:23:21+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"119635254624271595813185302119890962793","date":"2025-12-06T14:10:01+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-26T03:39:10+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"155002623166165364031914979822198402359","date":"2025-09-24T02:25:18+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-09-22T09:40:08+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-09-22T09:08:05+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2025-09-18T11:27:31+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-09-17T15:38:17+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2025-09-17T15:34:28+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"b4d45668-125e-43f6-9201-7b468b0fd384","owner":[],"postedDate":"October 3rd, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[{"id":55666837,"name":"Biological sciences/Ecology"},{"id":55666838,"name":"Earth and environmental sciences/Ecology"},{"id":55666839,"name":"Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences"},{"id":55666840,"name":"Biological sciences/Plant sciences"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-19T17:40:39+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7597908","link":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-36007-1","journal":{"identity":"scientific-reports","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Scientific Reports"},"publishedOn":"2026-01-15 16:29:18","publishedOnDateReadable":"January 15th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-10-03 12:05:56","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1038/s41598-026-36007-1","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-36007-1","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7597908","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7597908","identity":"rs-7597908","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}