Effects of plastic-film mulching and nitrogen application on forage-oriented maize in the agriculture-animal husbandry ecotone in North China

Abstract

To counter the actual problems of forage shortage and low quality existing in the agriculture–animal husbandry ecotone in North China, a research was conducted to study the effects of plastic-film mulching and nitrogen application on the production of forage-oriented maize with the aim of producing water-saving forage with high-yield and good quality. Field experiments combined with laboratory experimental estimation and analysis was adopted. Plastic-film mulching increased the dry biomass of forage-oriented maize by 23.8% with effectively improving the maize’s nitrogen absorption so that the apparent utilization ratio and output-input ratio of nitrogen were enhanced. The content of crude protein in maize plant was increased and thus, forage nutritive quality was improved. Plastic-film mulching remodeled the maize field water consumption scheduling pattern and increased the water use efficiency by over 10%. Nitrogen application to forage-oriented maize co-improved the biomass and the nutritive quality with the nutritive matter (percentage and yield) several times of the biomass. Nitrogen application increased maize biomass production by 36.1%–39.5% and it increased the contents of crude protein and crude fat in maize plant by 109% and 145%, respectively. The yields of the two nutritive matters increased by 160% and 210%. Nitrogen application at the rate of about 200 kg·hm^-2 to the uncovered field and the rate less than 300 kg·hm^-2 to the field with film mulching were considered as the most proper rates to guarantee high yield and good quality of forage-oriented maize and were the rates to keep the available nitrogen balanced in the soil. Plastic-film mulching and nitrogen fertilizer application to forage-oriented maize was an effective way of producing forage with high yield and good quality, relieving the shortage of animal forage and accelerating ecological recovery and economic development in this ecotone in North China.

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