氮磷钾硼肥施用对长江流域油菜产量及经济效益的影响

2006—2007年在长江流域10个冬油菜主产省(市)布置32个田间试验, 研究氮、磷、钾及硼肥施用对油菜籽产量的影响, 并对施肥经济效益进行了分析。结果表明, 氮磷钾硼肥配合施用处理(NPKB)平均产量为2 590 kg hm^-2, 与PKB、NKB、NPB、NPK及FFP(农民习惯)处理相比, 平均每公顷分别增收油菜籽1 055、727、253、337和639 kg;施用磷、钾及硼肥的增产幅度随土壤有效磷、钾及硼含量的升高呈现下降趋势;按试验年份的物价计算, 扣除肥料成本后, 施用NPKB效益达到7 274元 hm^-2, 与PKB、NKB、NPB及NPK处理相比, 每公顷经济效益分别增加2 868、2 139、434和1 076元, 其中施用氮、磷、钾肥产投比>2.0的试验数分别占总数的87.5%、87.5%和50.0%。研究结果显示, 长江流域冬油菜施用氮磷钾硼肥增产、增收效果显著, 氮磷钾硼配合施用技术可以进行大面积推广应用。     

施肥及氮肥用量对杂交油菜氮磷钾吸收量及产量的影响

通过田间试验和分析测试,研究施肥和氮肥用量对杂交油菜氮磷钾吸收量和产量的影响。结果表明：施肥提高油菜秸秆、籽粒植株氮、磷钾养分吸收量,吸收量中油菜籽粒所占比例较大。氮、磷、钾、硼肥配合施用（NPKB处理）平均产量为1851.7 kg/hm2,与PKB、NKB、NPB处理及农民习惯相比,分别增收油菜籽34.81%、25.40%、17.91%和9.34%,分别提高净收益1797.39元/hm2、1550.00元/hm2、966.60元/hm2、1486.74元/hm2,各肥料增产顺序：氮＞磷＞钾。氮肥用量与油菜籽产量存在正相关关系,施用氮肥增产26.52%~68.10%。随着氮肥用量的增加,氮肥利用率和农学效益下降,氮肥的经济用量为N 180.0 kg/hm2,氮肥利用率可达29.19%,农学效益可达3.58 kg/kg。     

养分专家系统推荐施肥对潮土夏玉米产量及肥料效率的影响

为实现潮土区夏玉米科学施肥, 通过2年田间试验研究了玉米养分专家系统推荐施肥对夏玉米产量、收益、养分积累量及肥料利用效率的影响。结果表明, 沙壤质潮土夏玉米施肥两年增产6.55%~39.32%和5.53%~21.19%, 玉米养分专家系统和Agro Services International Inc推荐施肥较农户习惯施肥分别增产4.06%和5.04%, 增收21.90%和27.44%。基于玉米养分专家系统推荐施肥的氮、磷、钾肥农学效率分别为11.46、25.89和9.93 kg kg^-1, 氮、磷、钾肥料利用率分别为41.13%、31.48%和50.35%, 化肥偏生产力平均为36.62 kg kg^-1。玉米养分专家系统推荐施肥提高了沙壤质潮土区夏玉米叶片叶绿素含量, 促进了氮磷钾的吸收利用, 增加了干物质积累量, 具有增产增收效应, 肥料利用效率较高, 可作为该地区夏玉米推荐施肥方法推广应用。     

氮磷钾肥配施对潮土花生产量及养分吸收利用的影响

为实现花生科学施肥,采用田间试验研究了氮磷钾配施对花生产量、养分吸收、干物质积累及肥料利用率的影响。结果表明：氮磷钾配施显著增产46.82%,较农户施肥增产7.53%;施氮、磷、钾肥分别增产27.80%、13.56%、21.12%。氮磷钾配施养分积累量较农户施肥分别提高13.30%、36.48%、40.75%,氮、磷、钾肥当季利用率分别为33.39%、15.17%、39.02%。氮磷钾配施(N-90、P2O5-120、K2O-150 kg/hm2)促进了花生对氮、磷、钾养分的吸收利用,提高了花生产量,可作为潮土区花生高产施肥配方。     

小麦秸秆还田和施钾对棉花产量与养分吸收的效应

在长江流域麦棉两熟制条件下,以Bt转基因抗虫棉为材料,设置不同秸秆还田量(4500 kg hm^–2和9000 kg hm^–2,即半量还田和全量还田)与施钾量(K₂O,150 kg hm^-2和300 kg hm^-2)田间定位试验,研究小麦秸秆还田对棉花产量和主要养分吸收累积的影响及其与化肥钾的差异。结果表明,在施用氮磷肥的基础上,与对照相比,秸秆全量还田处理显著提高了铃数、铃重和皮棉产量,还田第2年和第3年产量增长率分别达143.5%和93.7%;显著提高了各生育时期尤其是吐絮期生物量和氮磷钾养分吸收量,延缓了棉花衰老。秸秆还田对钾吸收的促进效应大于氮磷,还田第3年棉株钾累积总量较对照增加335.1%,每生产100 kg皮棉钾吸收比例增大112.1%。秸秆全量还田处理(K₂O,约折合150 kg hm^–2)促进养分吸收、防止早衰及增产效应均显著大于秸秆半量还田处理,但显著低于施钾量300 kg K₂O hm^–2处理,与施钾量150 kg K₂O hm^–2处理的增产效果相当,但养分吸收量较150 kg K₂O hm^–2处理下降。     

氮磷钾配施对杂交玉米禾玉9566农艺性状、产量与养分吸收利用的影响

为优化玉米氮磷钾施用,提高玉米产量和肥料利用效率,开展了杂交玉米禾玉9566氮磷钾配施试验,探讨氮磷钾配施对玉米农艺性状、产量和养分吸收利用的影响。结果表明:氮磷钾配施能有效改善农艺性状,优化产量构成因子,主要是增加穗粒数,从而提高产量,对玉米产量的影响作用为氮磷钾。施氮、钾能提高玉米子粒和茎叶中氮、钾含量,施氮促进植株对氮磷钾的吸收利用,施钾可提高玉米子粒对氮、磷养分吸收量;氮磷钾三因子中促进养分吸收积累作用表现为氮钾磷。氮磷钾配合施用,可有效提高玉米植株对养分的吸收积累,子粒中氮、磷含量和子粒氮磷钾各养分吸收量均为最高,全株养分吸收总量也最高;每100kg经济产量N、P2O5、K2O养分吸收量分别为2.02、0.90、2.21kg,氮、磷、钾肥料利用率为33.28%、15.43%、48.79%,氮、磷、钾肥农学效率分别为13.07、5.59、3.34kg/kg。     

三明市辖区大白菜氮磷钾推荐施肥指标研究

通过田间试验研究大白菜氮磷钾肥料效应,建立福建省三明市辖区大白菜养分丰缺指标及其施肥指标体系。试验表明：试验地基础地力贡献率为39.22%~83.75%,大白菜施用氮、磷、钾肥料增产率分别为28.50%、5.33%和9.05%,其增产效果为N＞K＞P。当地大白菜土壤碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾养分含量高的临界指标分别为260、42、172 mg/kg;低的临界指标分别为188、12、66 mg/kg。当地大白菜最高产量施氮量为(287.71±77.50) kg/hm²,氮磷钾施肥配比为1:0.09:0.84;最佳经济产量施氮量为(274.52±75.92) kg/hm²,氮磷钾施肥配比为1:0.07:0.85。     

抚仙湖北部农田区不同施肥对水稻产量、氮素吸收及利用率的影响

针对抚仙湖北部农田区的蔬菜施肥过量导致土壤养分残余量大,会对后作水稻施肥造成影响的问题,采用田间小区开展不同施肥试验研究。结果表明,砂壤土和粘壤土在施氮量为150~360 kg/hm²范围内,水稻植株氮素积累量随着施氮量的增加而提高,而增加的氮素积累量主要表现在茎叶部位;穗肥施用氮肥可提高籽粒氮素积累量。水稻氮肥吸收利用率和产量,砂壤土以施氮255 kg/hm2时最高,分别为45.1%和10594 kg/hm²;而粘壤土施氮150~360 kg/hm²之间,氮肥吸收利用率为20.9%~22.4%之间,产量为10486~10596 kg/hm2之间;当对砂壤土和粘壤土的水稻穗肥施用氮肥时,水稻氮肥吸收利用率（分别为42.8%、23.5%）和产量（分别为10445 kg/hm²、10564 kg/hm²）最高。水稻的氮素收获指数、氮肥农学利用率、氮肥生理利用率及氮肥偏生产力,均以砂壤土明显高于粘壤土,且随着施氮量的增加而显著下降。蔬菜后作水稻施氮量以150~255 kg/hm²范围为宜,氮肥分基肥50%+分蘖肥30%+穗肥20%施用     

重庆市巫山县烟草施肥现状调查分析

了解烟草生产中肥料施用状况,对发现烟草施肥存在的不合理等问题,进而指导农户科学施肥具有重要意义。于2009年对重庆市巫山县典型植烟区124个农户进行问卷调查,分析其烟草施肥状况。结果表明：调查样本中烟草生产总养分施用量为592.3 kg/hm²,其中有机肥占21.9%;氮(N)、磷(P₂O₅)、钾(K₂O)肥平均施用量分别为132.6、130.9和328.8 kg/hm²,其中基肥分别占65.4%、80.9%和59.5%;氮磷钾施用比例为1:0.99:2.48;肥料偏生产力为3.7 kg/kg,其中氮、磷、钾肥偏生产力分别为16.4、16.6和6.6 kg/kg。综上所述,巫山县烟草生产中氮磷钾肥施用比例相对合理,但肥料用量偏高,氮肥用量可降低15%左右。     

云南旱地小麦养分丰缺指标建立及施肥推荐

为建立云南省旱地小麦的氮磷钾养分丰缺指标，推荐小麦种植合理的施肥量，根据近10年来在云南省开展的旱地小麦肥料试验，分析土壤有效氮磷钾养分含量与小麦相对产量之间的相关性，以缺素区与当地最佳施肥区小麦相对产量>90%，75%~90%，60%~75%和<60%为标准，将对应的土壤速效养分分别划分为高、中等、低和极低等级，建立小麦养分丰缺指标，并推荐施肥量。结果显示，云南旱地小麦种植土壤的碱解N、有效P和速效K平均值分别为145.3、26.6和143.0 mg/kg，三者变异均较大。当小麦种植土壤碱解N高(>175 mg/kg)、中等(155~175 mg/kg)、低(125~155 mg/kg)和极低(<125 mg/kg)时推荐施N量分别为：25~45、45~115、115~185、185~210 kg/hm²；种植土壤有效P高(>30 mg/kg)、中等(15~30 mg/kg)和低(<15 mg/kg)时推荐施P₂O₅量为：15~30、30~75、75~110 kg/hm²；种植土壤速效K高(>145 mg/kg)、中等(85~145 mg/kg)和低(<85 mg/kg)时推荐施K₂O量为：15~30、30~75 和75~110 kg/hm²。本研究结果可以作为云南省旱地小麦种植合理施肥量推广使用。     

大麦长期肥料效率和土壤养分平衡

基于19年田间定位试验, 通过测定氮、磷、钾肥不同配施处理下, 大麦地上部生物量、产量及籽粒和秸秆中各养分含量, 研究了大麦生长期土壤和环境养分供应状况、肥料效率和土壤养分表观平衡。结果表明, 不施肥条件下, 平均每年大麦可从土壤和环境中吸收氮、磷和钾素44.5、10.7和52.5 kghm^-2; 大麦籽粒中氮、磷、钾含量平均为17.3、3.48和4.18 gkg^-1, 秸秆中为4.85、0.64和17.5 gkg^-1。所吸收的氮素和磷素分别有75.7%和83.5%被转运至籽粒中, 但钾的转运率仅为18.8%。大麦生产单位籽粒所需的氮素和钾素相当, 约为吸磷量的5~6倍。每生产1000 kg籽粒, 需要吸收氮素22.3 kg、磷素4.0 kg和钾素20.5 kg。19年平均氮、磷和钾肥的表观利用率分别为29.0%、12.8%和71.8%, 累积回收率为75.3%、63.6%和203.2%。在氮磷钾平衡施肥条件下, 每年土壤氮素和磷素可盈余18.4 kg hm^-2和6.9 kghm^-2, 但是土壤钾素平均每年亏缺43.8 kg hm^-2; 这种基础养分供给处理可维持每年大麦产量2350 kghm^-2左右。     

Energy balance of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) cropping as related to nitrogen supply and preceding crop

Data from a field experiment (1995–2000) conducted on a fertile sandy loess in the Hercynian dry region of central Germany were used to determine the energy efficiency of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) as affected by previous crop and nitrogen (N) fertilization. Depending on the previous crop, winter oilseed rate was cultivated in two different crop rotations: (1) winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)–winter oilseed rape–winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and (2) pea (Pisum sativum L.)–winter oilseed rape–winter wheat. Fertilizer was applied to winter oilseed rape as either calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) or cattle manure slurry. The N rates applied to winter oilseed rape corresponded to 0, 80, 160 and 240 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹.Results revealed that different N management strategies influenced the energy balance of winter oilseed rape. Averaged across years, the input of energy to winter oilseed rape was highly variable ranging from 7.42 to 16.1 GJ ha⁻¹. Lowest energy input occurred when unfertilized winter oilseed rape followed winter barley, while the highest value was obtained when winter oilseed rape received 240 kg N ha⁻¹ organic fertilization and followed winter barley. The lowest energy output (174 GJ ha⁻¹), energy from seed and straw of winter oilseed rape, was observed when winter oilseed rape receiving 80 kg N ha⁻¹ as organic fertilizer followed winter barley. The energy output increased to 262 GJ ha⁻¹ for winter oilseed rape receiving 240 kg N ha⁻¹ as mineral fertilizer followed pea. The energy efficiency was determined using the parameters energy gain (net energy output), energy intensity (energy input per unit grain equivalent GE; term GE is used to express the contribution that crops make to the nutrition of monogastric beings), and output/input ratio. The most favourable N rate for maximizing energy gain (250 GJ ha⁻¹) was 240 kg N ha⁻¹, while that needed for minimum energy intensity (91.3 MJ GE⁻¹) was 80 kg N ha⁻¹ and for maximum output/input ratio (29.8) was 0 kg N ha⁻¹.     

Application of pig slurry—First year and residual effects on yield and N balance

Crops generally utilize nitrogen (N) from slurries less efficiently than from mineral fertilizers. In order to compare the effects of slurry and mineral N application on yield and residual fertilization effects, a long-term field trial was established in autumn 1994, where pig slurry was applied to oilseed rape (OSR), winter wheat and winter barley at the same application dates as mineral N fertilizer. N amounts ranged from 0 to 240 kg total N ha⁻¹. The same treatment regimes were applied to the same plots in each year. Starting in 2010 (2011), wheat (barley) received no N fertilization in order to allow for testing residual fertilizer effects. Every year seed yield and N offtake by the seeds were determined.Accounting only for ammonia N of pig slurry, similar seed yields in OSR and slightly higher grain yields in wheat and barley compared to mineral N fertilizer were achieved. This indicates that mineralization of organically bounded slurry N compensated gaseous ammonia losses. In plots without N fertilization, OSR showed no yield trends during the experimental period, whereas wheat (barley) yield started to decrease after 10 (13) years without N fertilization. In the highly fertilized treatments, no significant trend in seed yield or N amount required for maximum yield could be detected. In the subsequent unfertilized wheat crop, accumulated slurry effects increased grain yield more than those of mineral N fertilizer. Barley grown in the second year without N supply remained unaffected by the previous slurry N application.     

氮钾配施对油菜产量及氮素利用的影响

实际生产中氮钾肥投入不平衡严重限制了氮肥肥效及作物的产量潜力。为了探明不同施氮量下钾肥施用对油菜产量及氮素利用的影响,于2016—2017年及2017—2018年在湖北省武穴市开展连续2年的田间试验,采用氮钾两因素完全试验设计,设氮0、90、180、270 kg N hm-2和钾0、60、120、180 kg K2O hm-2各4个水平。在油菜成熟期取样测定产量、地上部氮钾积累量以及氮肥利用率。结果表明,在钾供应不足时(K0和K60),冬油菜施用氮肥的平均增产率为113.7%,而在钾供应充足的条件下(K120和K180),施用氮肥的平均增产率高达172.9%;与K0处理相比, K120处理冬油菜氮肥回收利用率平均提高了16.6%,继续增施钾肥对不同施氮量下冬油菜氮肥回收利用率的进一步提高无显著影响;达到区域平均产量时,钾供应充足较低钾(K60)投入平均降低33.9%的氮肥用量。综上所述,氮钾配施显著提高了冬油菜产量和氮肥利用率,在冬油菜实际生产中除了重视氮肥施用外,应增加钾肥投入,通过优化氮钾肥配施比例可进一步提高油菜产量,实现冬油菜高产和养分高效。     

渭北旱塬免耕/深松轮耕麦田产量和土壤水分对施肥的响应模拟

为探索不同肥力水平对渭北旱塬连作冬小麦田在长周期免耕/深松轮耕措施下土壤蓄水保墒和作物增产效应的影响,在模拟精度验证基础上,应用Win EPIC模型长周期定量模拟研究了1980–2009年渭北旱塬免耕/深松轮耕连作麦田5个不同施肥水平下(T1,N 75 kg hm–2+P2O5 60 kg hm–2;T2,N 120 kg hm–2+P2O5 90 kg hm–2;T3,N 150 kg hm–2+P2O5 120 kg hm–2;T4,N 180 kg hm–2+P2O5 150 kg hm–2;T5,N 255 kg hm–2+P2O5 90 kg hm–2)冬小麦产量和土壤水分效应。在30年模拟期间,各处理的冬小麦产量、年度耗水量和水分利用效率均呈波动下降趋势,下降幅度表现为T5T4T3T2T1。0~5 m土层土壤有效含水量呈季节性波动降低趋势,且随施肥水平的升高而降低,5个处理的麦田平均干燥化速率依次为每年13.5、17.1、17.4、20.1和23.9 mm。0~1.5 m土层土壤湿度随季节降水波动;各处理在不同深度形成稳定的土壤干层,其中T1在1.5~2.0 m,T2和T3在1.5~3.0 m,T4和T5在1.5~4.0 m。上述结果表明,随着肥力水平的增加,旱作冬小麦产量和耗水量也增加,土壤干层加厚。综合考虑认为,在渭北旱塬免耕/深松轮耕长期连作小麦田适宜的施肥量为纯氮150 kg hm–2+P2O5 120 kg hm–2。     

秸秆还田配施氮肥对东北春玉米光合性能和产量的影响

秸秆还田配施氮肥是解决旱作农田"耕层变浅"、"土壤紧实"、"有效耕层土壤减少"问题的重要措施之一,在旱作农业生产中具有重要意义。为探明秸秆深翻还田配施氮肥对东北春玉米光合性能和产量的影响,本研究于2014—2015年在辽宁铁岭设置S0F0(秸秆0 kg hm~(–2)+纯NPK 0 kg hm~(–2))、SN0(秸秆9000 kg hm~(–2)+纯N 0 kg hm~(–2)+纯P 112.5 kg hm~(–2)+纯K 90 kg hm~(–2))、SN1(秸秆9000 kg hm~(–2)+纯N 112.5 kg hm~(–2)+纯P 112.5 kg hm~(–2)+纯K 90 kg hm~(–2))、S0N2(秸秆0 kg hm~(–2)+纯N 225 kg hm~(–2)+纯P 112.5 kg hm~(–2)+纯K 90 kg hm~(–2),当地传统种植方式,CK)、SN2(秸秆9000kg hm~(–2)+纯N 225 kg hm~(–2)+纯P 112.5 kg hm~(–2)+纯K 90 kg hm~(–2))、SN3(秸秆9000 kg hm~(–2)+纯N 337.5 kg hm~(–2)+纯P 112.5kg hm~(–2)+纯K 90 kg hm~(–2))6个处理开展了研究。结果表明,秸秆还田配施氮肥对春玉米籽粒产量和生物产量影响显著,秸秆还田9000 kg hm~(–2)和配施氮肥225 kg hm~(–2)处理的籽粒产量最高,比秸秆不还田和施氮量225 kg hm~(–2)处理(CK)2年平均增产6.33%,增产的主要原因是百粒重和行粒数的显著提高和秃尖的显著降低;玉米籽粒产量并未随着施氮量的增加而持续增加;相同施氮量条件下,秸秆还田比秸秆不还田2年平均群体生物产量增加2.95%。秸秆还田配施氮肥能够增加春玉米株高、茎粗、叶面积,提高叶绿素含量和光合作用,相同施氮量条件下,秸秆还田比秸秆不还田处理2年平均灌浆期叶面积增加2.71%,光合速率提高4.80%。综合分析认为,秸秆还田9000 kg hm~(–2)和配施氮肥225kg hm~(–2)是辽北棕壤区春玉米生产比较理想的还田和施肥模式,在该区域农业发展中具有一定的应用价值。     

Influence of sulfur on apparent N-use efficiency,yield and quality of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) grown on a calcareous soil

In the Lorraine region, major soils used for winter oilseed rape are calcareous. Across two pot and two field experiments, we studied the influence of sulfur applied at different levels on apparent N-use efficiency (ANU), yield, glucosinolate (GLS) and oil content of seeds. The soil received a constant dose of 200 kg N ha⁻¹ as ammonium nitrate, urea or cow slurry and three levels of S: 0, 30 and 75 kg ha⁻¹ as ammonium thiosulfate (ATS), MgSO₄ or ATS plus MgSO₄. Apparently, oilseed rape is a N-inefficient crop as revealed by low ANU values which varied within 36 and 53% from field experiment versus 25 and 61% under controlled conditions. In both cases, S additions improved N-use efficiency only at the highest dose of 75 kg S ha⁻¹, which is not attained by ATS with 35 kg S ha⁻¹ (10% v/v). S fertilization increased the GLS contents that were found to be negatively correlated with plant N/S uptake ratios observed at maturity. The most important increase in GLS content by 52% was noted with cow slurry in the pot experiment. But, as a whole, the GLS levels remain below the European norm of 18 μmol g seed⁻¹. Moreover, the oil content (% DM) of seeds decreased (but the total production increased) when the soil was fertilized with N and with or without S. The results showed that N and S nutrition during the growth were tightly linked. Their interactions, as reflected by plant uptake, are synergistic at optimum rates and antagonistic at excessive levels of one of the both. Collectively, the results indicate that S fertilization is required to improve N-use efficiency and thereby maintaining a sufficient oil level and fatty acid quality.     

氮磷钾肥优化配施对冬小麦产量与养分吸收利用的影响

为探究氮磷钾肥优化配施对冬小麦产量、养分吸收和积累以及利用特性的关系,推动高产高效施肥,于2017—2018年在河南省的鹤壁市和焦作市同步开展冬小麦田间试验,分析不施肥(CK)、磷钾肥配施(CF-N)、氮钾肥配施(CF-P)、氮磷肥配施(CF-K)、氮磷钾肥优化配施(CF)、控释尿素与普通尿素1:1配施(CRU)和农民习惯施肥(FP)对冬小麦产量、地上部养分积累和吸收利用效率的影响。结果表明,CF能显著提高冬小麦产量,其两地产量平均值分别较CK和FP提高30.27%和6.50%;与FP相比,焦作市CF的氮、磷、钾素积累量分别提高20.69%、1.03%和23.16%,鹤壁市则分别提高9.99%、3.27%和13.88%;两地CF氮、磷、钾肥利用率较CRU分别平均提高9.57、7.17和9.83个百分点,农学效率分别平均提高0.85、2.20和2.25个百分点。综上,采用氮、磷、钾肥用量分别为240、105、90 kg/hm²,并按照基肥与拔节肥1:1配施的CF处理可显著提高冬小麦产量及养分吸收利用效率。     

Effect of Deep Placement of Slow-release Fertilizer (Lime Nitrogen) Applied at Different Rates on Growth, N2 Fixation and Yield of Soya Bean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.)

A new fertilization method with deep placement of slow‐release N fertilizers, such as coated urea and lime nitrogen (LN) (calcium cyanamide) at 20 cm depth was found to promote soy bean seed yield. In the present study, the effect of deep placement of LN was investigated on different parameters such as growth, N accumulation, N₂ fixation activity and yield of soy bean by applying LN at different rates in the rotated paddy field of Niigata, Japan. In addition to the basal fertilizer, ammonium sulphate (16 kg N ha^?1), deep placement of LN was conducted by applying various amounts such as 50 kg N ha^?1 (A50), 100 kg N ha^?1 (A100) and 200 kg N ha^?1 (A200) at 20 cm depth in separate plots. A ¹⁵N‐labelled LN fertilizer was also employed for each of the above treatments to calculate N utilization from LN in separate plots. Soya bean plant growth and N₂ fixation activity were periodically analysed. Both plant growth and N accumulation were found to increase with LN treatment compared with control plants. An increase in N₂ fixation activity was found in the A100 plots. The total seed yield was the highest in the deep placement of LN with A100 (73 g per plant) compared with other treatments. The visual quality of harvested seeds also showed that A100 enhanced the quality of seeds compared with other treatments. Thus, it is suggested that N fertilization management with particular reference to optimum amount of fertilizers is important for maximum growth, N₂ fixation and enhancement of seed yield of soy bean.