@article{Guo2026, 
author = {Xu Guo and Zaiju He and Hao Ren and Baizhao Ren and Jiwang Zhang and Peng Liu and Zhenqiao Song and Bin Zhao},
title = {Impacts of controlled-release fertilizer application on maize yield stability, soil quality and carbon footprint in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain},
year = {2026},
journal = {The Crop Journal},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {1091-1095},
keywords = {Controlled-release urea, Yield stability, Soil quality index, Carbon footprint, Sustainable agriculture},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1016/j.cj.2026.01.013},
doi = {10.1016/j.cj.2026.01.013},
abstract = {Although controlled-release urea (CRU) has demonstrated higher nitrogen use efficiency compared to conventional urea, comprehensive evaluations of its multi-year continuous application on yield stability and environmental sustainability remain limited. A field experiment initiated in 2013 in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain compared the effects of two coated ureas and conventional urea on sustainable yield, soil quality, and carbon footprint. Sulfur-coated urea achieved optimal balance among productivity, economic benefits, and environmental performance, while polymer-coated urea excelled in soil quality. The findings emphasize the importance of multi-criteria evaluation in fertilizer selection and provide scientific evidence for sustainable fertilizer management in intensive maize production systems.}
}