Slow-release nitrogen fertilizer enhances wheat yield in saline-alkali soil by improving soil properties and plant stress tolerance

Abstract

Slow-release nitrogen fertilizer (SNF) has potential for enhancing wheat yields in saline-alkali soils, but its mechanisms in salt tolerance remains unclear. This study utilized an enhancer-coated nitrogen fertilizer to prepare SNF and aimed to investigate its effectiveness in improving wheat resistance and increasing wheat yield in saline-alkali soil, compared to conventional nitrogen fertilizer (CNF). The two years experiment was conducted during 2020‒2022, split by four treatments: CK (299.86 kg ha^‒1 CNF), T1 (299.86 kg ha^‒1 SNF), T2 (239.89 kg ha^‒1 SNF), and T3 (179.92 kg ha^‒1 SNF), using Taimai 198 wheat. SNF significantly reduced soil conductivity and increased alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen (AHN), urease, andprotease activities. It also enhanced soil microbial diversity, such asProteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Gemmatimonas, etc. SNF treatments boosted osmoregulatory substances (proline, soluble sugars, K⁺/Na⁺) in wheat flag leaves under saline-alkali soil, and improved antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) content. In terms of wheat yield, compared to CK, T1 and T2 increased by 12.03%‒13.16% and 8.05%‒8.63%, respectively. SNF enhances wheat resistance in saline-alkali soils by improving soil properties, increasing osmoregulatory substances, and boosting antioxidant enzyme activity, leading to increased wheat yield.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

abiotic stress tolerance / agricultural sustainability / nitrogen synergy / salinity mitigation / soil amelioration / wheat productivity

Highlight

	● SNF reduced soil conductivity and improved saline-alkali soil properties.
	● SNF had a nutrient slow-release effect and increased soil AHN content.
	● SNF promoted the accumulation of osmoregulatory substances in wheat.
	● SNF improved antioxidant capacity of wheat plants.
	● SNF reduced yield loss due to saline-alkali stress in wheat.

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