ABSTRACT In this study, the efficiency of fertilizers was improved by coating the fertilizers with a hydrogel formed by the polymerization of itaconic acid (IA), maleic acid (MA), acrylic acid (AA), and potassium persulfate (KPS) to form a synergistic fertilizer and improve its slow-release performance. The effect of synergistic fertilizers on the changes in soil nutrients in wheat fields was studied through field and soil column experiments using ordinary and commercial synergistic fertilizers as controls and different application rates of `synergistic fertilizers as treatments. The results revealed that the alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen (N) and total N contents were significantly higher in T1 than that in CK, and the treatments were ranked as T3 > T2 > T5 > T1 > CK > T4. The difference in the alkali-hydrolyzed N and total N contents between CK and T3 was significant. In terms of available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents, the treatments were ranked as T1 > T4 > T2 > CK > T3 in all soil layers and T3 > T2 > T5 > T1 > CK > T4 in the soil column. The treatments were ranked as T4>CK>T3>T1>T2 in terms of soil organic matter (SOM) content. Compared with ordinary fertilizers, synergistic fertilizers could significantly increase the soil total N, alkali-hydrolyzed N, available P, and available K contents. Compared with ordinary slow-release fertilizers in the market, the effect of synergistic fertilizers is better in improving the use efficiency of fertilizers. By slowly releasing nutrients, synergistic fertilizers can continuously provide nutrients for the growth and development of wheat and improve the use efficiency of fertilizer.
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