To increase crop productivity while reducing environmental costs, an integrated soil–crop system management (ISSM) strategy was developed and successfully adopted in China. However, little information is available on the long-term ISSM effects on maize agronomic and environmental performance. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of ISSM with combining inorganic and organic fertilizers on maize productivity, N use efficiency (NUE) and N balance and losses as compared with farmers’ practice (FP) and high-yielding practice (HY), based on an 11-year field experiment in Northeast China. Maize yield in ISSM (11.7–14.3 Mg ha⁻¹) achieved 97.7% of that in HY and was increased by 27% relative to FP. The excellent yield performance in ISSM was mainly attributed to optimum plant population structure and yield components. Annual N surplus in ISSM was only 7 kg ha⁻¹, which was considerably lower than that in FP (52 kg ha⁻¹) and HY (109 kg ha⁻¹). Consequently, ISSM obtained significantly lower N losses and greenhouse gases emissions and higher NUE. In contrast to FP, crop performance in ISSM showing better sustainability and inter-annual stability. In conclusion, ISSM is an effective strategy to achieve long-term sustainable high crop yields and NUE with less environmental costs in the intensive agricultural system.

Nitrification inhibitor (NI) and urease inhibitor (UI) with fertilizer have the potential to reduce nitrogen (N) loss as well as improve grain yields. Urea–ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution as liquid fertilizer is superior to conventional solid nitrogen (N) fertilizer in terms of fertilizer efficiency, energy savings, environmental pollution reduction and economic benefits. However, comprehensive assessments of UAN with inhibitors from an environmental and agronomy perspective, including insights into the mechanisms of UAN with inhibitors, are lacking. In a field trial, three single-inhibitor and two double-inhibitor (DI) treatments were set to quantify the grain yield, the N losses and the N recovery efficiency of maize treated with urea supplemented with dicyandiamide (DCD), 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and N-(n-buty_l) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT). Compared with the UAN treatment, the supply of urease inhibitors reduced NH₃ emission by 13.0% but increased N₂O emission by 13.0%. The supply of nitrification inhibitors delayed the conversion of ammonium N to nitrate N and improved NH₃ emission by 23.5–28.7%, but reduced N₂O emission by 31.4% and significantly increased the maize yield by 21.3%. The combined use of NBPT and DCD were not compatible in UAN and cannot achieve the maximum potential for optimizing yields and reducing nitrogen losses. Considering the grain yield, the N use efficiency and the N losses, the combined use of NBPT and DMPP in maize production system significantly improved the grain yield and N use efficiency, as well as reduced N losses.

Northeast China is a key grain production region yet achieving coordinated improvements in maize yield and quality across diverse environments remains challenging. This study conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate maize yield and quality responses to chemical fertilizer inputs under varying natural (climate, soil) and anthropogenic (fertilization, planting) conditions. The results indicated that fertilizer application increased yield by 20.0%, and protein, fat, and starch contents by 12.6, 1.4, and 1.2%, respectively, compared to no fertilization. Yield response was highest under precipitation 7 °C, while protein and fat gains were favored by >600 mm precipitation and 5–7 °C temperatures. Soils with pH <6.5 and saline–alkaline properties supported greater yield gains, while brown and black soils promoted protein and fat accumulation, respectively. Moderate nutrient inputs (N 180–240, P₂O₅ 75–120, K₂O 90–135 kg ha⁻¹) outperformed lower or higher levels in improving both traits, with planting density also affecting response magnitude. Yield gains were primarily driven by soil fertility, whereas quality improvements were influenced by climate and management. Moderate fertilization facilitated the simultaneous enhancement of yield and quality. Tailored nutrient strategies based on soil and climate conditions can support regional maize productivity and contribute to food security.