Blending urea and slow-release nitrogen fertilizer increases dryland maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency while mitigating ammonia volatilization

Agricultural non-point source pollution has become the main pollution source in China. Ammonia (NH3) volatilization is one of the main factors of agricultural non-point source pollution. Slow-release nitrogen fertilizer (S) has been widely recognized as an efficient management measure to increase crop yields and mitigate NH3 volatilization. However, few studies have reported the effects of urea (U) blended with slow-release nitrogen fertilizer (UNS) on maize yield and NH3 volatilization under dryland farming conditions. A two-season field experiment with U, S and various blending ratios of U and S (UNS) under two N application rates (N1: 180 kg N ha−1, N2: 240 kg N ha−1) was conducted to determine their effects on maize yield, NH3 volatilization and residual soil NO3−-N. The results showed that UNS substantially reduced NH3 volatilization compared with U, primarily because of the relatively low soil pH and electrical conductivity, and the relatively high soil organic matter. UNS significantly increased dry matter, grain yield, N uptake and N use efficiency (NUE), but reduced residual soil NO3−-N compared with U and S. Among UNS treatments, the blending ratio of U and S at 3:7 (UNS2) was most effective in improving maize yield and NUE, while mitigating NH3 volatilization and soil NO3−-N leaching. N1 not only reduced N losses, but also increased NUE compared with N2. In conclusion, UNS2N1 is recommended as the best N fertilizer application strategy for the sustainable production of dryland maize in northwest China. [Display omitted] •UNS did not significantly reduce NH3 volatilization compared with S. UNS substantially reduced NH3 volatilization than U.•UNS reduced NH3 volatilization primarily because of the relatively low soil pH and EC, and relatively high SOM.•The blending ratio of U and S at 3:7 (UNS2) significantly increased dry matter, N uptake and NUE of maize.•UNS improved grain yields (4.3%–48.7%) while reducing NH3 volatilization (9%–40.7%) and residual soil NH3--N (8%–19.8%).