Paper · 2025 · Journal of Integrative Agriculture

Organic fertilizer substitution enhances maize yield and quality under reduced irrigation

Feier Wang; Yao Guo; Pan Li; et al.

18
claims
45
verbatim quotes
3
citations
2
research areas
✓
Open access · cc-by-nc-nd

Abstract

Reduction of 20% irrigation combined with organic fertilizer substitution at 25% of chemical nitrogen (I1F2) enhanced maize yield and quality I1F2 improved maize yield and quality by regulating the photo-physiological traits and nitrogen transportation I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize. Ensuring an adequate and nutritious food supply for the global population is a significant challenge in agricultural production practice. Water and fertilizer are the main limiting factors in improving crop yield and quality. However, organic fertilizer substitution with partial chemical nitrogen combined with irrigation reduction can increase maize yield and quality, through improvements in photo-physiological traits and nitrogen transportation, remains unclear. A split plot field experiment of maize was established in an arid area of northwestern China from 2021 to 2023. Two irrigation levels formed the main plot, local conventional irrigation (I2, 4,050 m 3 ha −1 ) and reduced by 20% (I1, 3,240 m 3 ha −1 ). Five equivalent nitrogen substitution ratios of chemical nitrogen with organic fertilizers formed split plot, including sole chemical nitrogen fertilizer (F1), organic fertilizer substituting at 25% (F2), 50% (F3), 75% (F4), and 100% (F5) of chemical nitrogen fertilizer. Discussing the effect of maize yield, quality, photo-physiological traits, and nitrogen transportation with combining organic and chemical nitrogen fertilizers under reduced irrigation. The results showed that reduced irrigation decreased maize yield and quality. However, organic fertilizer substitution at 25% of chemical nitrogen increased maize yield and quality, with this effect greater than other equivalent nitrogen substitution ratios of chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer. Reduced by 20% irrigation combined with organic fertilizer substitution at 25% of chemical nitrogen (I1F2) increased maize grain yield and biomass by 13.0 and 8.9% compared to local conventional irrigation and sole chemical nitrogen fertilizer (I2F1). Meanwhile, I1F2 improved grain protein by 10.0%, enhanced amino acid and vitamin B contents by 60.4 and 30.6%, and raised straw crude fat and crude protein contents by 23.1 and 5.6% compared to I2F1 in maize, respectively. The reason for improving maize yield and quality with I1F2 was attributed to (1) improving leaf area index and leaf area duration at the R2−R4 stage by 6.2 and 4.1%, increasing net photosynthetic rate by 43.8%, and enhancing the activities of pyruvate phosphate dikinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and Rubisco activities by 9.8, 9.7, and 10.5%, respectively; (2) promoting nitrogen uptake and nitrogen accumulation after the R1 stage by 5.6 and 5.4% while maintaining nitrogen transportation quantity before the R1 stage. Therefore, reduced irrigation by 20% combined with organic fertilizer substitution at 25% of chemical nitrogen can improve maize yield and quality via improving photo-physiological traits and nitrogen transportation in arid irrigation areas.

Abstract from the paper’s OpenAlex record; open copy licensed cc-by-nc-nd. Read at the source ↗

The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.

Claims 18

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultnegativemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Reduced irrigation decreased maize yield and quality.

Taxon
maizeZea mayse0
Treatment
reduced irrigatione0
Outcome
maize yield and qualitye0
Direction
decreasede0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“reduced irrigation decreased maize yield and quality”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1517–1569 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

At 25% substitution, organic fertilizer increased maize yield and quality more than other ratios.

Taxon
maizeZea mayst0
Treatment
organic fertilizer substitution at 25% of chemical nitrogene0
Outcome
maize yield and qualitye0
Direction
increasede0
Comparator
other equivalent nitrogen substitution ratios of chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizere0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“organic fertilizer substitution at 25% of chemical nitrogen increased maize yield and quality, with this effect greater than other equivalent nitrogen substitution ratios of chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1580–1797 · show in text ↑
t0

“maize yield”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 41–52 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 increased grain yield by 13.0% versus I2F1.

Taxon
maizeZea mayse0
Treatment
Reduced by 20% irrigation combined with organic fertilizer substitution at 25% of chemical nitrogen (I1F2)e0
Outcome
maize grain yielde0
Direction
increasede0
Value
13.0e0
Comparator
local conventional irrigation and sole chemical nitrogen fertilizer (I2F1)e0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Reduced by 20% irrigation combined with organic fertilizer substitution at 25% of chemical nitrogen (I1F2) increased maize grain yield and biomass by 13.0 and 8.9% compared to local conventional irrigation and sole chemical nitrogen fertilizer (I2F1)”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1799–2049 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 increased biomass by 8.9% versus I2F1.

Taxon
maizeZea mayse0
Treatment
Reduced by 20% irrigation combined with organic fertilizer substitution at 25% of chemical nitrogen (I1F2)e0
Outcome
biomasse0
Direction
increasede0
Value
8.9%e0
Comparator
local conventional irrigation and sole chemical nitrogen fertilizer (I2F1)e0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Reduced by 20% irrigation combined with organic fertilizer substitution at 25% of chemical nitrogen (I1F2) increased maize grain yield and biomass by 13.0 and 8.9% compared to local conventional irrigation and sole chemical nitrogen fertilizer (I2F1)”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1799–2049 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 improved grain protein by 10.0%.

Taxon
maizeZea mayst0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
grain proteine0
Direction
improvede0
Value
10.0%e0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“I1F2 improved grain protein by 10.0%”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2062–2098 · show in text ↑
t0

“maize yield”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 41–52 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 enhanced amino acid content by 60.4%.

Taxon
maizeZea mayst0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
amino acide0
Direction
enhancede0
Value
60.4e0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“enhanced amino acid and vitamin B contents by 60.4 and 30.6%”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2100–2160 · show in text ↑
t0

“maize yield”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 41–52 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 enhanced vitamin B content by 30.6%.

Taxon
maizeZea mayst0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
vitamin B contentse0
Direction
enhancede0
Value
30.6%e0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“enhanced amino acid and vitamin B contents by 60.4 and 30.6%”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2100–2160 · show in text ↑
t0

“maize yield”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 41–52 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 raised straw crude fat by 23.1%.

Taxon
maizeZea mayse0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
straw crude fate0
Direction
raisede0
Value
23.1e0
Comparator
I2F1e0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“raised straw crude fat and crude protein contents by 23.1 and 5.6% compared to I2F1 in maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2166–2258 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 raised straw crude protein by 5.6%.

Taxon
maizeZea mayse0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
crude protein contentse0
Direction
raisede0
Value
5.6%e0
Comparator
I2F1e0

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“raised straw crude fat and crude protein contents by 23.1 and 5.6% compared to I2F1 in maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2166–2258 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 improved leaf area index by 6.2% at R2−R4.

Taxon
maizeZea mayst0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
leaf area indexe0
Direction
improvinge0
Value
6.2e0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“improving leaf area index and leaf area duration at the R2−R4 stage by 6.2 and 4.1%”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2355–2438 · show in text ↑
t0

“maize yield”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 41–52 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 improved leaf area duration by 4.1% at R2−R4.

Taxon
maizeZea mayst0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
leaf area duratione0
Direction
improvinge0
Value
4.1%e0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“improving leaf area index and leaf area duration at the R2−R4 stage by 6.2 and 4.1%”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2355–2438 · show in text ↑
t0

“maize yield”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 41–52 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 increased net photosynthesis by 43.8%.

Taxon
maizeZea mayst0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
net photosynthetic ratee0
Direction
increasinge0
Value
43.8%e0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“increasing net photosynthetic rate by 43.8%”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2440–2483 · show in text ↑
t0

“maize yield”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 41–52 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 enhanced pyruvate phosphate dikinase activity by 9.8%.

Taxon
maizeZea mayst0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
activities of pyruvate phosphate dikinasee0
Direction
enhancinge0
Value
9.8e0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“enhancing the activities of pyruvate phosphate dikinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and Rubisco activities by 9.8, 9.7, and 10.5%, respectively”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2489–2640 · show in text ↑
t0

“maize yield”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 41–52 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 enhanced phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity by 9.7%.

Taxon
maizeZea mayst0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinasee0
Direction
enhancinge0
Value
9.7e0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“enhancing the activities of pyruvate phosphate dikinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and Rubisco activities by 9.8, 9.7, and 10.5%, respectively”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2489–2640 · show in text ↑
t0

“maize yield”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 41–52 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 enhanced Rubisco activity by 10.5%.

Taxon
maizeZea mayst0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
Rubisco activitiese0
Direction
enhancinge0
Value
10.5%e0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“enhancing the activities of pyruvate phosphate dikinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and Rubisco activities by 9.8, 9.7, and 10.5%, respectively”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2489–2640 · show in text ↑
t0

“maize yield”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 41–52 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 promoted nitrogen uptake by 5.6%.

Taxon
maizeZea mayst0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
nitrogen uptakee0
Direction
promotinge0
Value
5.6e0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“promoting nitrogen uptake and nitrogen accumulation after the R1 stage by 5.6 and 5.4%”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2646–2732 · show in text ↑
t0

“maize yield”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 41–52 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 promoted nitrogen accumulation after R1 by 5.4%.

Taxon
maizeZea mayst0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
nitrogen accumulatione0
Direction
promotinge0
Value
5.4%e0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“promoting nitrogen uptake and nitrogen accumulation after the R1 stage by 5.6 and 5.4%”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2646–2732 · show in text ↑
t0

“maize yield”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 41–52 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

I1F2 maintained nitrogen transport before R1.

Taxon
maizeZea mayst0
Treatment
I1F2e1
Outcome
nitrogen transportation quantitye0
Direction
maintaininge0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Zea mays
Zea mays · TaxonAkwugo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons ↗

Verbatim

e0

“maintaining nitrogen transportation quantity before the R1 stage”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 2739–2803 · show in text ↑
t0

“maize yield”

✓ located verbatim in the source · title, characters 41–52 · show in text ↑
e1

“I1F2 had the highest comprehensive evaluation index of maize”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 253–313 · show in text ↑

irrigation · quality: general · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

17 papers: 13 positive, 4 negative or no effect

3 papers in the same direction as this paper · 13 in the opposite direction

  1. positive
  2. positive
  3. positive

13 papers more in this group

See all 17 papers →

nitrogen · quality: general · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

44 papers: 33 positive, 11 negative or no effect

32 papers in the same direction as this paper · 10 in the opposite direction · 1 reporting no difference from an alternative

  1. no effect
  2. no effect
  3. no effect

40 papers more in this group

See all 44 papers →

fertilization · quality: general · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

103 papers: 86 positive, 17 negative or no effect

85 papers in the same direction as this paper · 11 in the opposite direction · 6 reporting no difference from an alternative

  1. no effect
  2. no effect
  3. no effect

99 papers more in this group

See all 103 papers →

irrigation · growth · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

289 papers: 208 positive, 81 negative or no effect

207 papers in the same direction as this paper · 80 in the opposite direction · 1 reporting no difference from an alternative

  1. negative
  2. no effect
  3. negative

285 papers more in this group

See all 289 papers →

nitrogen · growth · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

748 papers: 619 positive, 129 negative or no effect

618 papers in the same direction as this paper · 115 in the opposite direction · 14 reporting no difference from an alternative

  1. negative
  2. no effect
  3. negative

744 papers more in this group

See all 748 papers →

irrigation · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

1,016 papers: 791 positive, 225 negative or no effect

790 papers in the same direction as this paper · 209 in the opposite direction · 16 reporting no difference from an alternative

  1. negative
  2. no effect
  3. negative

1,012 papers more in this group

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fertilization · growth · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

1,365 papers: 1,196 positive, 169 negative or no effect

1,195 papers in the same direction as this paper · 149 in the opposite direction · 20 reporting no difference from an alternative

  1. positive
  2. no effect
  3. no effect

1,361 papers more in this group

See all 1,365 papers →

nitrogen · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results

2,185 papers: 1,906 positive, 279 negative or no effect

1,905 papers in the same direction as this paper · 234 in the opposite direction · 45 reporting no difference from an alternative

  1. negative
  2. negative
  3. no effect

2,181 papers more in this group

See all 2,185 papers →

8 of 9 groups shown: named compounds and organisms first, then groups whose results differ (checked claim by claim), then those with positive and negative results, then the smaller groups.

Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.