Unlocking maize yield potential through exploring canopy-root interactions with nature-based nutrient management

IF 5.6 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRONOMY

Field Crops Research Pub Date : 2024-10-19 DOI:10.1016/j.fcr.2024.109618

Yupeng Zhu , Junhao Wang , Yongjun Zhu , Han Lai , Ziren Qu , Jian Zhao , Dan Wei , Pu Wang , Qingfeng Meng

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Context

Understanding the canopy-root interactions is the key to further improving maize yield with dense planting. However, the effects of nature-based nutrient management on these interactions in dense maize production are not yet well understood.

Objective

In this study, we attempted to unravel the interplay between above-ground canopy and below-ground root morphology and their correlation with grain yield and quality within a high-yielding maize system (HYMS) and under nature-based nutrient management.

Methods

A 2-yr field experiment at the Wuqiao Experimental Station of China Agricultural University was conducted to compare the HYMS with nature-based nutrient management, with current farmers' practices (CP) in 2021 and 2022. The variety, planting density, and fertilization for CP were based on the practices commonly used by local farmers. The HYMS included four treatments: crop-soil management (CSM), rhizosphere management with CSM (CSM+RM), microbial addition with CSM (CSM+MA), and integrated crop-soil system management (ICSM).

Results

Above-ground dry matter (AGDM) contributed 74–82 % to grain yield, with the remainder from the harvest index. At physiological maturity, the average AGDM in HYMS was 19.5 t ha⁻¹ in 2021 and 24.3 t ha⁻¹ in 2022, 14.9 % and 22.3 % higher than CP. For the canopy, HYMS exhibited a maximum leaf area index of 4.8 in 2021 and 4.9 in 2022, higher than that of CP by 0.40 and 0.39. At silking, the leaf nitrogen content in HYMS surpassed that in CP by 15.0 % with stronger ear leaf in length and thickness. The index of the leaf stay green degree in HYMS was 4.3 % higher than CP. As a result, the source supply/sink demand ratio in HYMS treatments was 0.17, exceeding that of CP by 11.2 %. For visible roots within the 0–60 cm soil depth, HYMS treatments generally had 2.9–13.1 % lower values per plant for root dry matter root nitrogen root length root average diameter root surface area, and root volume compared to CP due to higher plant density. However, the root system in HYMS showed a lower senescence rate than CP.

Conclusions

Nature-based nutrient management alleviates the reduction in individual root growth caused by high-density planting, thereby supporting the canopy and resulting in increased AGDM and grain yield.

Implications

These findings provide valuable insights for developing effective management strategies to achieve high maize yields under dense planting conditions.

查看原文本刊更多论文

通过自然养分管理探索冠层与根系的相互作用，挖掘玉米产量潜力

背景了解冠层与根系之间的相互作用是进一步提高玉米密植产量的关键。本研究试图揭示在玉米高产系统（HYMS）和自然养分管理条件下，地上部冠层和地下根系形态之间的相互作用及其与籽粒产量和品质的相关性。方法在中国农业大学吴桥试验站进行了一项为期 2 年的田间试验，比较了 2021 年和 2022 年自然养分管理下的 HYMS 与当前的农民耕作方式（CP）。自然养分管理的品种、种植密度和施肥量均基于当地农民的常用做法。HYMS 包括四个处理：作物-土壤管理（CSM）、作物-土壤管理与根瘤菌层管理（CSM+RM）、作物-土壤管理与微生物添加（CSM+MA）以及作物-土壤系统综合管理（ICSM）。在生理成熟期，2021 年 HYMS 的平均 AGDM 为 19.5 吨/公顷-1，2022 年为 24.3 吨/公顷-1，分别比 CP 高 14.9% 和 22.3%。在冠层方面，2021 年 HYMS 的最大叶面积指数为 4.8，2022 年为 4.9，分别比 CP 高 0.40 和 0.39。在吐丝期，HYMS 的叶片含氮量比 CP 高 15.0%，穗叶的长度和厚度也更强。HYMS 的叶片留绿指数比 CP 高 4.3%。因此，HYMS 处理的源供/汇求比为 0.17，比 CP 处理高 11.2%。对于 0-60 厘米土壤深度内的可见根系，由于植株密度较高，HYMS 处理的每株根系干物质根系氮根系长度根系平均直径根系表面积和根系体积的数值一般比 CP 低 2.9-13.1 %。结论以自然为基础的养分管理减轻了高密度种植造成的单个根系生长的减少，从而支撑了冠层，提高了 AGDM 和谷物产量。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Field Crops Research 农林科学-农艺学

CiteScore

9.60

自引率

12.10%

发文量

307

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Field Crops Research is an international journal publishing scientific articles on: √ experimental and modelling research at field, farm and landscape levels on temperate and tropical crops and cropping systems, with a focus on crop ecology and physiology, agronomy, and plant genetics and breeding.