Global Maize Project in China: Liufangzi, Gongzhuling, Jilin Province

This long-term field experiment was initiated in 2009 in Liufangzi, Gongzhuling City, Jilin Province, where mono-cropping of spring maize is common. The aim of the experiment was to compare the performance of ecological intensification (EI) practices with common farmers’ practice (FP) for yield and N use efficiency. The main plots have two treatments: EI treatment with applications of 180 kg N, 75 kg P₂O₅ and 90 kg K₂O/ha, and FP treatment with applications of 251 kg N, 145 kg P₂O₅ and 100 kg K₂O/ha. Three subplots included: N applied in all years (N all yr); N applied in two out of three years (N 2/3 yr); and no N applied in any year (N 0 yr).

The EI treatment produced grain yields (11.4 t/ha) very similar to those produced in the FP treatment (11.0 t/ha), but with higher N, P and K applications in FP. As a result, the agronomic N efficiency (kg grain yield increase per kg N applied) was much higher (50.9 kg/kg) in EI treatment than in the FP treatment (36.0 kg/kg). Similarly, partial factor productivity of N (kg grain yield per kg N applied) was higher (63.4 kg/kg) in the EI treatment than in the FP treatment (43.7 kg/kg). Grain yield under N 2/3 yr treatment was similarly equal to the N all yr treatment, which resulted from the equal amounts of fertilizer N applied in 2013.