Short-Term Co-Application of Organic and Chemical Fertilizer Benefits Topsoil Properties and Maize Productivity in a Medium-Productivity Meadow-Cinnamon Soil

Co-application of organic-chemical fertilizer (CAOFCF) has attracted wide attention in China recent years. However, its short-term effect on topsoil quality and maize yield a medium-productivity meadow-cinnamon soil is not clear. In order to address this problem, 3-year (2019–2021) field trial was established by arranging the following five treatments: (1) CF, applying chemical alone; (2) OFCF1, 15% organic + 85% fertilizer; (3) OFCF2, 30% 70% (4) OFCF3, 45% 55% (5) OFCF4, 60% 40% fertilizer. The results showed that CAOFCF treatments were beneficial aggregate stability increasing percentage mean weight diameter macro-aggregate topsoil. addition, lower bulk density higher carbon sequestration observed under treatments. There no difference rhizosphere microbial diversity among all Compared OFCF1 OFCF2 improved activities some key enzymes, including sucrase, urease, acid phosphatase. Moreover, relative abundance Actinobacteria Chloroflexi root-shoot dry matter grain obviously than CF; however, significant found OFCF3 OFCF4 compared CF. analysis correlation suggested there direct correlations between various indexes measured. Nevertheless, root ratio positively correlated with urease sucrase. Meanwhile, relationships weight, ratio, shoot significant. conclusion, co-application (i.e., replacing 15–30% an equal N rate) properties soil. associated strong system, which driven sucrase activities.