Strip–till farming: Combining controlled–release blended fertilizer to enhance rainfed maize N use efficiency while mitigate Nr footprint and carbon footprint in the hilly region of Northeast China

Agricultural intensification in Northeast China's hilly rainfed regions is hindered by low maize productivity and high environmental costs caused by unscientific farming and fertilization practices. Research explored of tillage methods and corresponding fertilization modes aimed at enhancing maize nitrogen use efficiency and economic benefits, while mitigating Nitrogen (Nr) Footprint and Carbon Footprint in this region. A field experiment (2021–2022) employed two principal factors: A) Tillage systems: The differences between strip–till (RST) and conventional ridge cropping (CP), straw off–field no–tillage (NT), and no–tillage with straw mulching (RNT) were comparatively investigated in the conventional fertilizer (Sd) mode. B) Fertilization regimes under RST: conventional fertilization (Sd), controlled–release urea blends (30 %Cr, 50 %Cr), and nitrogen–free control. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to evaluate Nr Footprint and Carbon Footprint of maize production. Z–score was employed to comprehensively analyze maize yield, environmental impacts, and economic benefits. RST significantly outperformed CP by 46.6 % in yield, 62.0 % in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and 8.2 % in net economic benefits. Concurrently, demonstrated 4.9 % and 4.7 % reductions in Carbon and Nr footprints respectively. Under strip–till, the 50 %Cr treatment increased yield, NUE, and net economic return by 48.9 %, 8.8 %, and 11.9 % compared to Sd; reduced nitrogen loss, NH 3 volatilization, and N 2 O emissions by 21.3 %, 52.0 %, and 8.6 %; and lowered Carbon and Nr footprints by 11.4 % and 38.9 %, respectively. This study shows that RST combined with 50 %Cr boosts yield and reduces environmental impacts in rainfed maize systems, offering practical solutions for ecological intensification and sustainable development in Northeast China's fragile agroecosystems. This study compared the effects of straw mulched strip-till and conventional ridge cropping. The results showed that strip-till significantly improved maize yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), economic benefits (Net return), and reduced both Carbon and Nitrogen footprints (C footprint and N footprint). The combination of straw mulching with strip tillage and controlled-release blended fertilizer further enhanced maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency while reducing the environmental cost of maize production in the region. The combination of strip–till with a 5:5 blend of controlled–release urea and conventional urea further enhanced maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency while reducing the environmental cost of maize production in the Hilly Region of Northeast China. • Strip–till significantly increased maize yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and net income in the Hilly Region of Northeast China. • Strip–till significantly reduced the Carbon and Nitrogen footprints of rainfed maize, mainly because this tillage measures improved maize yield. • NH 3 volatilization from farmland is the main contributor to the Nitrogen footprints, while N 2 O emissions from the production, transportation, and application of nitrogen fertilizers constitute the major component of the Carbon footprint. • The combination of strip–till with a 5:5 blend of controlled–release urea and conventional urea not only significantly enhances maize yield, nitrogen fertilizer uptake efficiency, and economic benefits but also markedly reduces apparent nitrogen loss, Carbon and Nr footprints in the farmland.