supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31171497);the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme(NUE-CROPS 222645);the Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 12th Five-Year Plan period(2013BAD07B06-2);the Modern Agro-Industry Technology Research System(CARS-02);the Shandong Province Agricultural (Maize) Breeding Project, China(lnlzz2013-1);the Special Fund for Agro-Scientific Research in the Public Interest,China(201203096, 201203100)
Proper application of nitrogen(N) fertilizers and irrigation management are important production practices that can reduce nitrate leaching into groundwater and improve the N use efficiency(NUE). A lysimeter/rain ...