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Abstract Nitrogen deficiency is a primary factor contributing to reduced crop production in arid and semiarid regions. Addressing this issue requires optimizing soil-plant nitrogen dynamics. In this field experiment, we investigated the impact of organic (farmyard manure) and inorganic (urea) nitrogen sources, both with and without biostimulant (Bioaab), on soil-plant nitrogen dynamics and sustainable maize (Zea mays L.) production in nitrogen-deficient soil. Five different combinations of farmyard manure (FYM) and urea—0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0—were developed and applied with and without Bioaab in a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement in triplicate. Organic (FYM) and inorganic (urea) nitrogen sources, whether combined with Bioaab or not, significantly (p ) improved soil-plant nitrogen content and maize yield. The addition of FYM, whether Bioaab was present or not, had no significant (p > 0.05) impact on yield parameters. In contrast, the application of Bioaab enhanced soil-plant nitrogen dynamics, as indicated by increased plant total nitrogen (1.37%) and total nitrogen uptake (95.7 kg ha− 1) by maize plants, resulting in significantly higher yield compared to non-Bioaab treated plots. However, non-Bioaab treated pots surprisingly recorded maximum soil total nitrogen content (0.057%). Moreover, the plot treated with Bioaab recorded the maximum biomass production (7.99 tons ha− 1), number of grains (2.873 tons ha− 1), and soil organic matter content (1.20%). In conclusion, the use of inorganic fertilizer with a biostimulant (Bioaab) is crucial for improving crop yield and nitrogen release.
Bibi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.