| The mutual relationship among the main factors influencing maize production was analyzed using the method of path analysis, and the relative significance of each factor to improve maize production was considered. The results showed that nitrogen (N) was the most important factor to influence maize production. N fertilizer and available N in soil had mainly direct effects on maize production, their direct path coefficients being 0.535 and 0.332, respectively. The direct effects of phosphorous (P) fertilizer and available P were very weak, their direct path coefficients being 0.142 and -0.043, respectively. The effect of P fertilizer on improving production was performed through the interaction with N fertilizer, its indirect path coefficient being 0.280, while the effect of available P was mainly performed through available N. The direct effect of available potassium (K) was little and was performed by available N and N fertilizer. The sequence of total decision coefficient of various factors was: N fertilizer >available N > P fertilizer > available P > available K. |