Volume 1 (2025) 

The regulatory effects of fertilization patterns on soybean root development and yield in maize-soybean rotation systems

Caiyun Zhang, Yuying Luo, Zhihao Wu, Chonggao Gao

Volume 1 (2025), Article ID: eip1v0131a  

Published: January 31, 2025-01-31 (Received: 2024-11-05; Revised: 2025-01-20; Accepted: 2025-01-28) 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15571762 

Citation

Zhang C, Luo Y, Wu Z, Gao C. The regulatory effects of fertilization patterns on soybean root development and yield in maize-soybean rotation systems. Engineering Innovation and Practice, 2025, 1, eip1v0131a.

Abstract

Fertilization patterns in maize-soybean rotation systems significantly influence crop growth and yield. Current fertilization strategies have not effectively balanced production costs with environmental protection. This study systematically investigated the effects of five different fertilization patterns on soybean root development and yield, aiming to evaluate their potential to promote agricultural sustainability and reduce chemical fertilizer use. The five fertilization treatments included: T1 (chemical fertilizer for maize, no fertilizer for soybean), T2 (chemical fertilizer for maize, organic fertilizer for soybean), T3 (chemical fertilizer for maize, half-dose chemical fertilizer for soybean), T4 (chemical fertilizer for maize, conventional chemical fertilizer for soybean, as a control), and T5 (one-time application of total chemical fertilizer for maize and soybean). The results showed that the T2 treatment significantly increased soybean yield, representing a 7.3% improvement compared to T4. Additionally, T2 demonstrated superior performance in root development, particularly in root weight density in the 0–10 cm soil layer during the R6 stage and root length density during the R1 stage. Further analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between root development and yield (correlation coefficient r = 0.655, p < 0.01), whereas T3 and T4 treatments showed weaker correlations between yield and certain root traits, with some layers even exhibiting negative correlations. Comprehensive analysis indicated that organic fertilizer enhanced soybean yield and root activity, improved soil health, and reduced chemical fertilizer input. This study provides a scientific basis for optimizing fertilization patterns in maize-soybean rotation systems in Northeast China, aiming to achieve a balance between economic and environmental benefits and to support sustainable agricultural development.

Keywords

maize-soybean rotation, fertilization patterns, soybean yield, root development, organic fertilizer

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