Moderate phosphorus reduction under split drip fertigation maintains maize yield and coincides with closer root–available phosphorus spatial correspondence
- 1College of Agronomy, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
- 2Maize Research Institute, Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural & Animal Husbandry Sciences
Abstract
Introduction: Phosphorus (P) has low mobility in soil, so crop P acquisition depends on both P availability and its spatial accessibility to roots. We hypothesized that moderate P reduction under split fertigation could maintain maize productivity by improving the coordination between available P and root distribution.
Methods: A two-year field experiment was conducted in irrigated spring maize in Inner Mongolia, China. Split monoammonium phosphate fertigation was applied at 105 (CP1), 127.5 (CP2), and 150 kg P ₂ O ₅ ha ⁻¹ (CP3), together with a no-P treatment (CP0) and conventional basal diammonium phosphate application at 150 kg P ₂ O ₅ ha ⁻¹ (CK). Root length density and Olsen P were measured in paired soil blocks within the 0–40 cm soil profile at silking, together with plant P accumulation, biomass, grain yield, and P-use efficiency.
Results: CP2 increased Olsen P availability and root proliferation in the middle and deeper soil layers and showed closer spatial correspondence between root length density and Olsen P at 20–40 cm. These changes were associated with greater post-silking P accumulation and biomass. Reducing P input by 15% maintained grain yield at the level of CP3 and increased yield by 4.07% relative to CK, while apparent P recovery efficiency and P agronomic efficiency increased by 77.36% and 54.62%, respectively. Further reducing P input to 105 kg P ₂ O ₅ ha⁻¹ decreased P accumulation, biomass, and yield, whereas 150 kg P ₂ O ₅ ha ⁻¹ provided no additional yield benefit.
Discussion: Under the conditions of this study, moderate P reduction under split fertigation maintained maize yield while reducing fertilizer input and enhancing P-use efficiency, and this response was associated with closer spatial correspondence between root distribution and soil available P.
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BibTeX
@article{liu2026moderate,
title = {{Moderate phosphorus reduction under split drip fertigation maintains maize yield and coincides with closer root–available phosphorus spatial correspondence}},
author = {Changle Liu and Shuping Hu and Daling Ma and Liqing Wang and Xiaofang Yu and Julin Gao},
journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2026.1999323},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1999323/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Moderate phosphorus reduction under split drip fertigation maintains maize yield and coincides with closer root–available phosphorus spatial correspondence
AU - Changle Liu
AU - Shuping Hu
AU - Daling Ma
AU - Liqing Wang
AU - Xiaofang Yu
AU - Julin Gao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - Frontiers in Plant Science
DO - 10.3389/fpls.2026.1999323
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1999323/full
AB - Introduction: Phosphorus (P) has low mobility in soil, so crop P acquisition depends on both P availability and its spatial accessibility to roots. We hypothesized that moderate P reduction under split fertigation could maintain maize productivity by improving the coordination between available P and root distribution. Methods: A two-year field experiment was conducted in irrigated spring maize in Inner Mongolia, China. Split monoammonium phosphate fertigation was applied at 105 (CP1), 127.5 (CP2), and 150 kg P ₂ O ₅ ha ⁻¹ (CP3), together with a no-P treatment (CP0) and conventional basal diammonium phosphate application at 150 kg P ₂ O ₅ ha ⁻¹ (CK). Root length density and Olsen P were measured in paired soil blocks within the 0–40 cm soil profile at silking, together with plant P accumulation, biomass, grain yield, and P-use efficiency. Results: CP2 increased Olsen P availability and root proliferation in the middle and deeper soil layers and showed closer spatial correspondence between root length density and Olsen P at 20–40 cm. These changes were associated with greater post-silking P accumulation and biomass. Reducing P input by 15% maintained grain yield at the level of CP3 and increased yield by 4.07% relative to CK, while apparent P recovery efficiency and P agronomic efficiency increased by 77.36% and 54.62%, respectively. Further reducing P input to 105 kg P ₂ O ₅ ha⁻¹ decreased P accumulation, biomass, and yield, whereas 150 kg P ₂ O ₅ ha ⁻¹ provided no additional yield benefit. Discussion: Under the conditions of this study, moderate P reduction under split fertigation maintained maize yield while reducing fertilizer input and enhancing P-use efficiency, and this response was associated with closer spatial correspondence between root distribution and soil available P.
SN - 1664-462X
ER -