CRU–Urea Mixtures Improve Maize Protein Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in the Black Soil Region of Northeast China

Excessive nitrogen fertilizer application in the black soil region of Northeast China leads to nitrate leaching and gaseous nitrogen loss, posing environmental risks. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of controlled-release urea (CRU) mixed with conventional urea in synchronizing nitrogen fertilizer supply with maize nitrogen requirements, improving nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency (NUE), and increasing economic benefits. A two-year field trial (2023-2024) tested six nitrogen fertilizer application strategies, all with a total nitrogen application rate of 168 kg N ha^-1, including no nitrogen fertilizer application (CK), conventional fractionated urea application (C0), and four controlled-release urea-urea mixed application schemes, where CRU supplied 100%, 70%, 50%, and 30% of the total nitrogen (C100, C70, C50, and C30). The results showed that the C70 treatment had the highest maize grain yield and protein yield, at 12,502.92 kg ha^-1 and 1567.65 kg ha^-1, respectively, and NUE increased by 10.07% in 2024 compared to the C0 treatment. The C70 strategy also reduced nitrate concentrations in deeper soil layers, decreasing nitrogen loss by 29.04-31.21% compared to the C0 treatment. Furthermore, the C70 strategy yielded the highest net benefit, reaching $2817 ha^-1. These results indicate that in black soil systems, a single basal application of C70 mixed fertilizer is an effective strategy for increasing maize yield, improving nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency, and reducing environmental risks.