Effects of biochar, dual inhibitor, and straw return on maize yield, soil physicochemical properties, and microbial system under fertilization conditions.

Introduction: Although fertilizers play an important role in achieving high crop yields, improper nitrogen management and application measures have led to a series of ecological and environmental problems. Optimizing fertilization practices in agriculture is crucial for enhancing crop productivity while ensuring sustainable food production. Methods: This study aims to explore the effects of different fertilization regimes on crop yield, soil physicochemical properties, and microbial ecosystems. During the maize planting process, five fertilization treatments were applied: no fertilizer (CK); conventional fertilization (U), conventional fertilization with composite biochar (UB), conventional fertilization with urease/nitrification inhibitors (UI/NI), and conventional fertilization with straw return (UST). Results: The results indicate that maize yield under UI/NI treatment was higher than that under U treatment. The microbial community composition among the fertilization treatments had the same dominant species, but the relative abundance of species varied depending on the fertilization treatment; UB and UI/NI enhanced the role of dominant bacterial populations in the soil, while the UST treatment led to the formation of larger and more complex networks of soil bacterial communities. Discussion: This study provides scientific and theoretical support for the development and promotion of rational fertilizer application.