biostudies-literatureLuo XScience-Technology Foundation for Outstanding Young Scientists of Henan Academy of Agricultural SciencesIndependent innovation ProjectNational Key Research and Development Program of China1963https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9370566biostudies-literatureUnknown11(15)Agricultural nitrogen (N) non-point source pollution in the North China Plain is a major factor that affects water quality and human health. The characteristics of N leaching under different N application conditions should be further quantified accurately in winter wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) and summer maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) rotation farmland in North China, and a basis for reducing the risk and evaluation of N leaching in this area. A three-year field experiment was conducted using an in situ leakage pond method at a typical farmland in Henan in 2017-2020. Crop yield, soil nitrate N residues, and N utilization were also studied during the study period. Five N fertilizer rates were established with 0 (CK), 285 (LN), 465 (MN), 510 (MNO), and 645 (HN) kg N ha^-1 for onPlants (Basel, Switzerland)Optimal Fertilizer Application Reduced Nitrogen Leaching and Maintained High Yield in Wheat-Maize Cropping System in North China.PMC9370566ZHS2021042020YQ222016YFD08001012021YFD1700904Kou CWang QLuo XfalseOptimal Fertilizer Application Reduced Nitrogen Leaching and Maintained High Yield in Wheat-Maize Cropping System in North China.Agricultural nitrogen (N) non-point source pollution in the North China Plain is a major factor that affects water quality and human health. The characteristics of N leaching under different N application conditions should be further quantified accurately in winter wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) and summer maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) rotation farmland in North China, and a basis for reducing the risk and evaluation of N leaching in this area. A three-year field experiment was conducted using an in situ leakage pond method at a typical farmland in Henan in 2017-2020. Crop yield, soil nitrate N residues, and N utilization were also studied during the study period. Five N fertilizer rates were established with 0 (CK), 285 (LN), 465 (MN), 510 (MNO), and 645 (HN) kg N ha^-1 for on2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jul2025-08-30T03:19:32.571Z2025-04-04T03:40:07.235ZS-EPMC93705663595644210.3390/plants11151963