Nutrient Management and Optimized Fertilization on Wheat and Maize in Henan Province

In 2007, research activities focused on soil nutrient management and balanced fertilization studies on maize, wheat, and peanut. Three winter wheat field trials were established under an “optimum” (OPT) of 225-120-180 kg N-P₂O₅-K₂O/ha, which was compared to a -N, -P, -K and zero fertilizer check (CK). Four summer corn field trial included an OPT using 225-90-180 kg/ha, plus a -N, -P, -K, farmer practice (FP), and CK. A K omission study on peanut compared an OPT of 120-90-120 kg/ha and the FP of applying 120-0-0 kg/ha.

In winter wheat, the highest yields were achieved with the OPT treatment which produced 8.0, 8.4, 7.6, and 8.7 t/ha in Suiping, Mengjin, Yicheng, and Yanjin, respectively. In comparison, omission of N, P, and K resulted in up to 42%, 34%, and 25% less yield, respectively. Yields under the FP were 15 to 23% lower and CK yields were 57 to 64% lower than the OPT. For summer corn, the OPT treatment also produced highest yields of 6.4, 8.5, 7.4, and 8.7 t/ha in Suiping, Mengjin, Yicheng, and Yanjin, respectively. Yields under the nutrient omission treatments were significantly lower as were the FP and CK yields. In peanut, the highest average yield across five sites was 4.6 t/ha which was also produced under the OPT. The K omission plots averaged 4.3 t/ha, 7% lower than the OPT, while the FP produced the lowest yield average of 3.8 t/ha. Henan-NMBF