Controlled-Release Urea Coordinates Maize Physiology with Soil Nitrogen Retention: Balancing High Yield and Environmental Sustainability

Wei Yan, Meng Huang, Huiqing Yang, Zhonghua Wang, Shujuan Sun, Yinshan Xie, Jinbian Sun, Qiong Li, Bo Liu, Chengcheng Gao, Yanfang Xue () and Kaichang Liu ()
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Wei Yan: State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
Meng Huang: State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
Huiqing Yang: Binzhou Agricultural Technology Promotion Center, Binzhou 256600, China
Zhonghua Wang: State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
Shujuan Sun: Binzhou Agricultural Technology Promotion Center, Binzhou 256600, China
Yinshan Xie: State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
Jinbian Sun: State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
Qiong Li: National Engineering Research Center of Wheat and Maize, Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
Bo Liu: State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
Chengcheng Gao: National Engineering Research Center of Wheat and Maize, Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
Yanfang Xue: National Engineering Research Center of Wheat and Maize, Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
Kaichang Liu: State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: Controlled-release urea (CRU) can improve nitrogen (N) use efficiency and yield, but comprehensive evaluations of its agronomic, physiological, and environmental impacts remain limited. Through a two-year field experiment comparing three CRU types with conventional urea at five N rates (0-280 kg N ha −1 ), we demonstrate that CRU at 180 kg N ha −1 maintained high maize yields (13.9 Mg ha −1 ) while improving N use efficiency, with thermosetting polymer-coated samples (TCU) showing superior performance. There was a significant increase in the net photosynthetic rate by 7.9–32.7% and intercellular CO 2 concentration by 20.6–40.0% under CRU treatments during the silking and milking stages. The CRU treatments also sustained optimal levels of hormones, N metabolism enzymes, and sucrase and urease activities. Compared to common urea, life cycle assessment indicates that CRU has achieved a 47.5% reduction in reactive N losses and an 18.7% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Economically, CRU outperformed common urea, with TCU providing the highest net benefit through yield stability and labor savings. These findings establish TCU at 180 kg N ha −1 as an optimal strategy of maize production in the North China Plain, balancing productivity, profitability, and environmental protection.

Keywords: controlled-release urea; physiology; soil nitrogen retention; environmental sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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