Analysis of the beneficial effects of prior soybean cultivation to the field on corn yield and soil nitrogen content

Corn-soybean rotation is a cropping pattern to optimize crop structure and improve resource use efficiency, and nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is an indispensable tool to increase corn yields. However, the effects of N fertilizer application levels on corn yield and soil N storage under corn-soybean rotation have not been systematically studied. The experimental located in the central part of the Songnen Plain, a split-zone experimental design was used with two planting patterns of continuous corn (CC) and corn-soybean rotations (RC) in the main zone and three N application rates of 0, 180, and 360 kg hm of urea in the secondary zone. The research has shown that RC treatments can enhance plant growth and increase corn yield by 4.76% to 79.92% compared to CC treatments. The amount of N fertilizer applied has a negative correlation with yield increase range, and N application above 180 kg hm has a significantly lower effect on corn yield increase. Therefore, a reduction in N fertilizer application may be appropriate. RC increased soil N storage by improving soil N-transforming enzyme activity, improving soil N content and the proportion of soil organic N fractions. Additionally, it can improve plant N use efficiency by 1.4%-5.6%. Soybeans grown in corn-soybean rotations systems have the potential to replace more than 180 kg hm of urea application. Corn-soybean rotation with low N inputs is an efficient and sustainable agricultural strategy.