Characteristics of soil fertility under super high yield in central black soil area of Northeast China

In this paper, the effects of different nutrient management on spring maize yield, soil physico-chemical properties, and soil microbial characteristics were studied through a five-year field experiment, so as to provide a reference for soil fertility to maize cultivation with super-high yield. The research was conducted in Nong'an, Jilin Province from 2011 to 2015. Two nutrient managements were set as follows: conventional high-yield nitrogen management and super high nutrient management. Maize hybrid XY335 and LM33 were used as test varieties, and population yield components, soil aggregates, soil physico-chemical properties and biological indicators were systematically examined. The results showed that the yield of super high nutrient management was 42.9% higher than that of conventional high-yield nitrogen management. The 0 - 20 cm soil layer in super high nutrient management had lower bulk density, higher water content and gas ratio, rich distribution of large aggregates and stable aggregate stability. The contents of soil organic matter, total phosphorus, total potassium, available nutrient and soil microbial biomass nitrogen in super high nutrient management were also significantly higher than those in conventional high-yield nitrogen management. Considering soil fertility and climate conditions, the super high-yield nutrient management in the central black soil region of Northeast China should pay more attention to nutrient regulation in the 0 - 40 cm subsurface layer, which improved synergistically the spring maize yield and soil fertility in the region.