Yali Yang

The balanced application of organic and chemical fertilizers is essential for maintaining soil fertility and crop productivity. To optimize nitrogen (N) balance and maize yield through integrated pig slurry and straw mulching management, a split-plot field experiment was conducted in Northeast China. The study included two straw treatments (straw mulching, S; no straw, NS) and three substitution levels of pig slurry for chemical fertilizer (0%, 20%, and 40%; denoted as M0, M20, and M40). Parameters evaluated included N balance, maize biomass, soil available N, and the mineral N to TN ratio (mineral-N/TN), measured across 0–100 cm at key maize growth stages. Results showed that pig slurry substitution significantly increased soil DON, mineral N, and mineral-N/TN in the topsoil (0–20 cm) at the maize seeding stage and decreased mineral-N/TN at the maize milk (10–40 cm) and maturity (80–100 cm) stages. Meanwhile, straw mulching reduced NH₄⁺-N accumulation in the 0–10 cm of topsoil at the seeding stage, decreased NO₃⁻-N in the 0–40 cm soil layer from the jointing to maturity stages, and lowered the mineral-N/TN ratio in the topsoil, thereby mitigating the risk of N leaching. Notably, the combination of pig slurry substitution and straw mulching slightly increased DON and NO₃⁻-N in the topsoil while significantly reducing the mineral-N/TN in the deep soil layer at the seeding and milk stages. Pig slurry substitution significantly improved maize yield, N uptake, and N use efficiency (NUE). The highest maize yield (14,628 kg ha⁻¹) was observed in the S-M20 treatment, representing a 19% increase compared to NS-M0. N balance analysis indicated that pig slurry substitution alone increased maize yield and N uptake but depleted soil N, whereas straw mulching maintained N surplus. The findings highlight that combining pig slurry with straw mulching optimizes soil N availability and improves sustainable N management and crop productivity in agroecosystems.

As the main organic materials, straw and manure play a critical role in soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and crop yield in China. This meta-analysis evaluated the impact of straw and manure amendments, both individually and combined, on crop yield, SOC, and soil nutrients in China by collecting 173 studies. The findings of this study revealed that straw return and manure application increased crop yields by 14.4% and 70.4%, respectively, overall. Combined straw and manure application gained a better improvement effect than straw alone but was less effective than manure alone. Regarding the straw return results, rice straw and a 3000–6000 kg ha⁻¹ returning quantity improved crop yield, SOC, available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), and total nitrogen (TN) the most; regarding the straw return form, straw incorporated into soil and biochar increased crop yield and SOC more, respectively; and <5 years and ≥5 years of straw return treatment increased crop yield and TN more, respectively. Regarding manure application, pig and chicken manure increased crop yield and TN more, respectively; a 50–80% substitution ratio and 10–20 years of duration were best for improving crop yield, SOC, AP, AK, and TN. This study highlights the importance of optimal organic amendment through straw or manure applications to achieve a win–win between crop yield and soil fertility under the requirement of sustainable agriculture.