Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol.16, No.5, 220-229 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/tgg 224 6.2 Economic analysis of input-output trade-offs If fertilization is done properly, not only can it save money, but it can also make more money. Applying less chemical fertilizers, using precision fertilization or a combination of organic and inorganic methods can reduce costs without affecting wheat yields, and can even increase yields, which naturally increases net returns (Romano et al., 2024). For example, properly managed fertilization can increase wheat yields by up to 8%, increase net economic benefits by 11%, and reduce environmental pressure (Jiang et al., 2023). In addition, if part of the fertilizer is replaced with manure, it can also increase profits by more than 10%, and can also reduce the use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers without reducing yields (Li et al., 2024). Precision agricultural technologies such as variable fertilization can also bring higher yields and better economic returns by making fertilizer supply more closely match the actual needs of wheat. 6.3 Aligning fertilization with sustainable agriculture goals To make wheat farming sustainable and profitable, yield, profitability, and environmental protection must be considered simultaneously. Integrated nutrient management, precision fertilization, and advanced fertilization technologies can help. These methods can reduce environmental pollution, improve nutrient utilization, and protect soil health so that the soil can continue to be cultivated (Amirahmadi et al., 2024; De Santis et al., 2024). These practices also fit in with the goals of sustainable agriculture because they reduce pollution, save resources, and ensure that farmers can make money. This ensures food security while protecting the natural environment. 7 Case Study: Fertilization Strategy in High-Yield Wheat Production Region 7.1 Background: climatic and soil characteristics of the study area In high-yield wheat-producing areas such as the North China Plain and the semi-arid northwest, agriculture is well developed and planting activities are frequent. Precipitation in these places is not stable, sometimes more, sometimes less. The soil is generally fertile, but there are often problems with nutrient imbalance or water shortage. The climate in these areas varies from dry to humid. Special care must be taken to manage nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil to ensure high wheat yields and reduce environmental impacts (Yan et al., 2022b; Jiang et al., 2023). 7.2 Experimental fertilization scheme and implementation timeline In these areas, researchers have conducted a lot of field trials. They have tried many ways of fertilizing, often using a random group design, with different treatment schemes, and each scheme has been tested several times for comparison. The fertilizers used in the experiment mainly include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and sometimes some organic fertilizers or slow-release fertilizers are added. The amount of fertilizer applied is determined according to the local soil conditions and crop needs, and the time is also arranged according to the growth stage of wheat (Figure 2). For example, in the North China Plain, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied is generally between 180 and 240 kilograms per hectare, usually applied in several times; and whether phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be used and how much to use depends on the results of soil testing. Fertilization will be arranged throughout the wheat growing season, and the conditions of the soil and crops will also be tracked and recorded (Wu et al., 2023). 7.3 Key outcomes: yield improvement, input efficiency, and farmer feedback With the optimized fertilization method, wheat yields in these high-yield areas have increased significantly, 2% to 8% more than the previous traditional method. This is mainly because the number of ears and the number of grains per ear have increased. The utilization rate of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers is also much higher than before, which not only reduces the waste of chemical fertilizers, but also reduces nitrate loss and greenhouse gas emissions by about 35% and 60%, respectively (Hu et al., 2023). From an economic perspective, the input is reduced, but the yield is more stable or higher, so the net income of farmers has increased by 7% to 11% (Gao et al., 2023). Many farmers have reported that these new solutions are very practical and more profitable. Many people have begun to use these recommended methods, not only to pursue high yields, but also to better protect the environment (Hou et al., 2023).
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