ABSTRACT
Effect of frequency of nitrogen fertilization on the rhizosphere soil bacterial community and yield of forage maize in arid areas

Fengchi Ge1, Mengyang Zhao1, Ziyi Bai1, and Fating Yin1*
 
Precise N fertilization is crucial to increasing crop yields and maintaining soil ecological balance. However, under drip irrigation conditions, the specific topdressing frequency and its impact on soil bacterial communities and forage maize (Zea mays L.) yields are still unknown. In this field experiment, the effects of different N application frequencies (four applications of N fertilizer at 37.5%:12.5%:12.5%:37.5% (NF1), three applications at 33.75%:32.5%:33.75% (NF2), and two applications at 62.5%:37.5% (NF3)) on the rhizosphere soil bacterial community diversity and yield of forage maize were analyzed, with no N fertilization as the control (CK). The results showed that NF3 treatment had the largest number of unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) among the treatments (211). The Shannon index of NF3 treatment was significantly higher than that of NF1 and CK treatments. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria of NF3 treatment was 4.49, 5.33, and 3.94 percentage points higher than that of CK, NF1, and NF2 treatments, respectively, and the copiotroph Actinobacteria was significantly enriched in NF3 treatment. In addition, the abundance of N cycle functional genes (chemoheterotrophy, aerobic chemoheterotrophy, and aromatic compound degradation) of NF3 treatment was significantly higher than that of other treatments (p < 0.05). The yield of forage maize of NF3 treatment was as high as 73925.83 kg ha-1, which was 176% and 103% higher than that of CK and NF1 treatments (p < 0.05), respectively. These results provide a scientific basis for increasing forage maize yield and optimizing N fertilization, promoting soil microecological balance and sustainable production.
Key words: Crop yield, forage maize, nitrogen fertilizer, soil microorganisms, topdressing times, Zea mays.
1Zaozhuang University, College of Tourism and Resources Environment, Zaozhuang, China.
*Corresponding author (yingfating@126.com).
Received: 8 May 2026; Accepted: 26 August 2026, Available online: 29 October 2026.