Field Crops Research最新文献

{"title":"Genotype selection for high performance and stability of sugar yield and lodging resistance across multiple environments in sugarcane","authors":"Qiansi Liao ,&nbsp;Jianmei Geng ,&nbsp;Wenwei Cai ,&nbsp;Farooq Shah ,&nbsp;Zhaojie Li ,&nbsp;Li Xiong ,&nbsp;Peng Wang ,&nbsp;Yang Tao ,&nbsp;Qianhua Yuan ,&nbsp;Wei Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110352","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110352","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context or problem</h3><div>Breeding sugarcane genotypes for maximum sugar yield potential while exhibiting strong lodging resistance is crucial for the sustainability of sugarcane cropping systems. However, identifying and recommending with excellent and stable performance across multiple targeted traits and diverse environments remains a significant challenge.</div></div><div><h3>Objective and methods</h3><div>This study applied two methodologies–Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) and Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) –to analyze the genotype × environment interaction (GEI), based on a three–year field experiment. The study involved 11 genotypes, assessed for 28 parameters. For integrating the mean performance and stability of a single trait, a superiority index (WAASBY) was used. A Multi–trait Stability Index (MTSI) was employed to consider multiple targeted parameters simultaneously, enabling more comprehensive genotype recommendation across different environments.</div></div><div><h3>Results and conclusions</h3><div>Our findings confirmed that the BLUP model is highly effective for a single–trait selection, such as for sugar yield and lodging resistance; achieving excellent genotype selection accuracy ranging from 0.78 to 0.91. When focusing solely on sugar yield via the BLUP model, the genotypes G01 (Zhongtang 1) and G02 (SO5) exhibited both high mean performance and stability. However, other two genotypes were selected when the target trait shifted to lodging resistance, highlighting that genotype recommendations based on one trait can be somewhat biased. To overcome this limitation, we demonstrated the effectiveness of MTSI in recommending a variety with multiple desirable parameters, as validated through several analytical and statistical methods. Two ideal genotypes (G03: Zhongtang 3; G04: Guitang 58) were selected based on minimum MTSI (1.15–1.82). The MTSI always illustrated a strong relationship with WAASBY for sugar yield and lodging resistance (R² = 0.56^**). Notably, some key traits, such as root anchorage strength and related root parameters were major contributors to the overall lodging resistance and MTSI indicators.</div></div><div><h3>Implications or significance</h3><div>These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing a rigid root system as a key criterion in future breeding efforts to enhance lodging resistance and overall sugarcane performance. Furthermore, the MTSI is a promising and user–friendly tool for breeders to identify and recommend superior genotypes based on multiple targeted traits, thereby supporting more informed and efficient breeding decisions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110352"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146014837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antagonistic, additive and synergistic relationships between soil moisture and nitrogen for yield of maize in dryland systems","authors":"Mosenda Enock ,&nbsp;Onesmus Kitonyo ,&nbsp;James Mutegi ,&nbsp;Victor Sadras ,&nbsp;George Chemining’wa","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110342","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110342","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interactions between water and nitrogen affect the yield of maize in dryland systems. The magnitude and type of these interactions depend on the environment and management practice. In these systems, nitrogen fertilization is often risky due to moisture constraints which impact the synchrony between crop demand and nutrient availability. However, combining soil moisture conservation practices with better fertilizer nitrogen formulations, particularly slow-release forms could improve crop nitrogen economy and yield. An experiment combining soil moisture conservation practices and fertilizer nitrogen sources was replicated in two locations, in Embu and Siakago for three seasons with contrasting rainfall in short rains of 2022 and long and short rains of 2023. Moisture conservation treatments comprised plastic film mulch, crop residue mulch, and superabsorbent polymers (hydrogels), with a bare ground control. Fertilizer nitrogen sources were slow-release urea, conventional urea, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), and unfertilized control. In Embu, cumulative grain yield increase ranged from 10 % to 111 % compared with control, while up to 120 % yield increase was recorded in Siakago. Plastic film mulch with CAN, conventional urea or slow-release urea and hydrogels with CAN out-yielded controls, which averaged 1.5 t ha⁻¹. Plastic film mulch with CAN or slow-release urea, and crop residue with CAN increased biomass compared with controls, which averaged 4 t ha⁻¹. Of the 54 combinations of moisture and nitrogen treatments, 94 % were additive and 6 % antagonistic for yield. Lack of treatment synergies justify the stepwise adoption of technologies, starting with those with lower upfront costs to build capital before progressing to more expensive options. Claims of synergies between water and nitrogen might be over-estimated and need to be tested rigorously.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110342"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Calcium amendment strategies for alfalfa with biomass yield responses across contrasting soils and stand types","authors":"Nour Ismail ,&nbsp;Lotfi Khiari ,&nbsp;Rachid Daoud","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110347","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110347","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alfalfa (<em>Medicago sativa L</em>.) is a high-value forage crop with substantial ecological benefits, but it is particularly sensitive to soil acidity and nutrient deficiencies. While current fertilization guidelines in regions like Québec, Canada, favor raw limestone (CaCO₃) exclusively, other calcium amendments, including burned limes (CaO, Ca(OH)₂) and sulfate-based materials, are commonly used elsewhere and may offer agronomic advantages. However, their effectiveness may vary with soil texture, stand age, and application method. This study evaluated the impact of nine calcium-based amendments: raw lime, burned lime, and sulfate-based non-liming materials, applied at a uniform spring rate (3 Mg ha⁻¹ CaCO₃-equivalent or 1.2 Mg ha⁻¹ Ca for anhydrite) on two alfalfa stands (newly seeded: establishment vs. long-established: maintenance) and two contrasting soil textures in Québec, Canada. Agronomic performance was monitored over four consecutive growing seasons. Results revealed contrasting responses: The establishment of an alfalfa stand on clay loam soil showed no biomass yield response to amendments. In contrast, the long-established stand on sandy loam soil exhibited strong and lasting responses. Sulfate-based treatments (CHAC, anhydrite, and lime-anhydrite) increased biomass yields by up to 2000 kg DM ha⁻¹ compared with the control, with gains persisting for 4 seasons after a single application. Mixed lime treatments (CaCO₃+CaO and/or Ca(OH)₂) also outperformed raw lime without causing phytotoxicity. These findings highlight the need for stand age-specific calcium amendment strategies. Sulfate-based and blended formulations may sustainably enhance productivity in mature alfalfa systems on coarse soils. Exclusive reliance on raw lime may overlook the agronomic potential of alternative materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110347"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial to the special issue “Xinjiang – how to get super-high yield in a water- and heat-limited area”","authors":"Hezhong Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110368","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110368","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110368"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Yield benefit and ecophysiological processes behind the introgression of HaHB4 in a modern wheat in the Argentine Pampas","authors":"Francisco Ayala ,&nbsp;Facundo Curin ,&nbsp;Martín Diaz-Zorita ,&nbsp;José Murguía ,&nbsp;Enrique Montero Bulacio ,&nbsp;Margarita Portapila ,&nbsp;María Elena Otegui ,&nbsp;Raquel Lía Chan ,&nbsp;Fernanda Gabriela González","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110319","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110319","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context or problem</h3><div>Breeding for improved tolerance to water deficit is critical to mitigate the climate change impact on wheat yield. In 2020, Argentina approved the first wheat transformed with the sunflower <em>HaHB4</em> gene (INDØØ412–7), which increased yield by 16 % compared to the non-transformed Cadenza under drought conditions. This benefit may have been overestimated, as Cadenza is a long cycle for the Pampas region. Additionally, the underlying physiological mechanisms of yield benefit, particularly those related to water use and water use efficiency, remain to be fully elucidated.</div></div><div><h3>Objective or research question</h3><div>The aims of the study are (i) to quantify the yield advantage of <em>HaHB4</em> in a modern, well-adapted cultivar and (ii) to elucidate the physiological processes involved in yield benefit, which is crucial for identifying optimal environments for this technology.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An <em>HaHB4</em>-introgressed line of Algarrobo was compared with the conventional cultivar in a broad network of experiments comprising one greenhouse, with two irrigation levels, and 29 field environments within the Pampas region combining different locations (10), years (5) and treatments (sowing dates, irrigation).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Under water deficit during the reproductive phase, the yield advantage of <em>HaHB4</em> was 15 % in the greenhouse and 13 % in the field. <em>HaHB4</em> improved the relative yield by 0.06–0.08 % per mm of water deficit, also responding positively to moderate heat stress (∑Tmax &gt; 30 °C ∼40–60 °Cd). The enhanced water use and water use efficiency conferred by <em>HaHB4</em>, allowed for maintaining biomass and yield under water deficit.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The hypothesis of an initial overestimation of <em>HaHB4</em> benefits can be rejected because in the modern Algarrobo cultivar it showed a similar benefit as in Cadenza. In areas prone to drought combined with heat stress, the introgression of <em>HaHB4</em> in modern cultivars would enhance yield stability by improving water-limited yield. This may have a great impact on productivity in rainfed cropping systems, like most of the wheat-producing areas around the world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110319"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of upland rice variety mixtures in the Madagascar highlands","authors":"Koloina Rahajaharilaza ,&nbsp;Kirsten vom Brocke ,&nbsp;Philippe Letourmy ,&nbsp;Bertrand Muller ,&nbsp;Ramavovololona ,&nbsp;Perraud Rebecca ,&nbsp;Tuong-Vi Cao ,&nbsp;Joël Rakotomalala ,&nbsp;Louis-Marie Raboin","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110338","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110338","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context or problem</h3><div>Madagascar heavily depends on rice for caloric intake, especially through irrigated farming. In the Vakinankaratra region, rainfed upland rice farming is an important complement but faces challenges such as poor soil fertility and vulnerability to pathogens like <em>Pyricularia oryzae</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Objective or research question</h3><div>To address these challenges, we evaluated extended elite lines upland rice varietal mixtures adapted to local conditions, focusing on yield performance, stability, and food security.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Four upland rice varieties: Chhomrong Dhan, FOFIFA 172, FOFIFA 173, and FOFIFA 180, well-suited to Madagascar's high-altitude climatic conditions and resistant to <em>Pyricularia oryzae</em>, were evaluated in three experiments conducted in the highlands of Madagascar between 2013 and 2017. The experimental design assessed all variety combinations, considering two treatment factors: 'mixture type' (ranging from pure stands to mixtures of all four varieties) and 'varietal composition' (15 modalities representing different varietal combinations). The analysis included the identification of the best-performing varietal compositions using a mixed-effects linear regression model and land equivalent ratio calculations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The analysis revealed that grain yield did not significantly differ among various mixture types, while varietal composition within mixtures had a highly significant effect. No mixture combination yielded more than the best varieties in pure stand although some matched their performance. Three combinations showed a significantly improved land equivalent ratio. Varieties differed in competitive abilities and trait plasticity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Contrary to literature suggesting that increased diversity through varietal mixtures enhances production, the study found that the number of varieties in mixtures (mixture type) did not have significant effects. However, it appears possible to identify specific mixture combinations with strong mixing abilities.</div></div><div><h3>Implications</h3><div>This study evaluated mixtures of elite rice varieties that are currently available to farmers, under optimal fertility management. In these conditions, varietal mixtures did not demonstrate clear advantages over pure stands. However, results may differ under low-fertility conditions more representative of farmers’ fields, or when using a broader genetic diversity. These scenarios warrant further investigation. In such contexts, varietal mixtures could complement other diversification strategies aimed at enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems, particularly in vulnerable regions such as the Madagascar Highlands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110338"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Defining the critical period for yield determination in mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek]","authors":"Natalia da Silva Volpato ,&nbsp;Víctor D. Giménez ,&nbsp;Gustavo A. Maddonni ,&nbsp;P.V. Vara Prasad ,&nbsp;Timothy Durrett ,&nbsp;Ignacio A. Ciampitti","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110341","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110341","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Mungbean (<em>Vigna radiata</em> (L.) R. Wilczek) is a legume valued due to its high nutritional quality, rich in protein, essential amino acids and micronutrients. Mungbean also plays a key role in sustainable agriculture via nitrogen fixation and adaptability to diverse cropping systems. However, there is a noticeable gap in knowledge about the critical period of mungbean for seed yield determination.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aimed to (i) identify the critical period for seed yield determination in mungbean and (ii) determine the main important seed yield components influencing yield variation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Successive 14-day shading treatments were applied throughout the crop cycle at different points, from emergence to maturity, in field experiments conducted during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons in Manhattan, Kansas, United States (US), with treatment timing expressed as thermal time (sum of degree-days above a base temperature of 7.5 °C) relative to flowering.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The critical period for yield determination was identified between 139 °C days before flowering (∼7 days before flowering) and 427 °C days after flowering (∼25 days after flowering), ranging from V8 to R5 crop growth stages (seventh trifoliate leaf to one pod on the main stem turning dark brown). Shade treatments reduced seed yield, with penalties ranging from 41 % to 68 %, and were mainly due to reductions in seed number per unit area, with limited compensation from increased seed weight. Pod number per unit area was the strongest determinant of final yield, while seeds per pod had a lesser effect.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Defining the critical period for seed yield determination is essential for optimizing mungbean productivity through breeding and management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110341"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145923518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Slow-release fertilizers applied in conjunction with manure enhanced soil quality and rice grain yield by regulating labile nutrient pools, soil enzyme activities, and soil structure","authors":"Qing Shan Xu,&nbsp;Yu Lian Yan,&nbsp;Hang Feng Wang,&nbsp;Shang Pan Li,&nbsp;Chun Xin Chi,&nbsp;Ya Li Kong,&nbsp;Wen Hao Tian,&nbsp;Xiao Chuang Cao,&nbsp;Lian Feng Zhu,&nbsp;Qiao Ling Li,&nbsp;Jing Wang Li,&nbsp;Jun Hua Zhang,&nbsp;Chun Quan Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110343","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110343","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Combining slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) with organic amendments holds significant promise to increase rice yield and improve soil quality. However, there are key knowledge gaps regarding the synergistic effects of combining SRFs with different types of amendments on rice yield and soil quality.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A two-year field experiment was conducted to examine the effects of combining SRFs with manure or woody peat on carbon and nitrogen composition, enzyme activity, aggregate distribution, soil quality index (SQI), and rice grain yield.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Relative to the conventional urea treatment, the use of SRFs under 15 % nitrogen reduction sustained rice grain yield and increased Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency (NUE) by 7.78–12.22 %. SRFs combined with manure significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC) by 9.14 %, and total nitrogen (TN) by 11.82 %. It also enhanced labile carbons pools by 11.68 %–22.41 %, labile nutrients pools by 10.16 %–52.95 %, C- and N-acquiring enzyme activities by 8.21 %–38.02 %, and the proportion of aggregates &gt; 0.25 mm (R_0.25) by 6.36 %–8.44 %, ultimately resulting in highest soil quality index (SQI). The rice yield increased by 7.95–13.77 %. Across all treatments, SRFs combined with woody peat exhibited the highest SOC, ROC, and DOC contents, demonstrating superior carbon sequestration efficiency. It also reduced bulk density (BD) by 8.91 %–10.69 %, and increased the proportion of aggregates &gt; 0.25 mm (R_0.25) by 5.66 %–6.13 %. Random forest and Mantel’s test analyses identified labile nutrient pools (AP, AN, AHN, and DON) and enzyme activities as primary predictors of both SQI and rice yield.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>SRFs can maintain rice yields and improve NUE. The combination of SRFs and manure can significantly increase soil quality and rice yield by improving nutrient supply, biological activity, and soil structure, whereas woody peat mainly contributes to soil carbon accumulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110343"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The higher kernel number in bread wheat compared with durum wheat is independent of nitrogen nutritional status","authors":"Rosella Motzo,&nbsp;Simona Bassu,&nbsp;Francesca Mureddu,&nbsp;Francesco Giunta","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110344","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110344","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context and objective</h3><div>Considering the constitutively higher number of spikes and grains per square meter in bread wheat compared with durum wheat, this study investigates whether nitrogen fertilization affects grain yield and yield components differently in bread wheat and durum wheat.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A three-year field experiment was conducted using two bread wheat and two durum wheat cultivars under three nitrogen application rates (0, 80, and 160 kg N ha⁻¹) in a Mediterranean environment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Across the three years, bread wheat produced a higher kernel number per square meter (15,903 on average) but a lower kernel weight (41.5 mg), whereas durum wheat exhibited the opposite pattern (11,463 kernels m⁻² and 51.7 mg per kernel on average). Both species showed similar nitrogen accumulation capacities; however, bread wheat allocated more nitrogen to the stems, while durum wheat allocated more to the grains, resulting in a higher Nitrogen Harvest Index for durum wheat (0.75 vs. 0.68 in bread wheat). Species differences in Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) emerged only under high N supply: bread wheat approached optimal N status (&gt;0.95) at N160 in favorable seasons, whereas durum wheat plateaued at lower values (≈0.86), suggesting structural limitations in achieving full N sufficiency. Significant relationships were found between NNI, yield and yield components, with the exception of kernel weight. At any given NNI level, bread wheat consistently produced more kernels per spike, as well as more spikes and kernels per square meter, than durum wheat; however, these differences were independent of NNI.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions and significance</h3><div>Because nitrogen fertilization rate did not directly correspond to nitrogen nutritional status, accurate assessment of species or cultivar sensitivity to nitrogen should rely on NNI rather than fertilization rate, and different nitrogen application strategies should be adopted for bread and durum wheat cultivars when high nitrogen inputs are required.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110344"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling the impact of hill-placed manure and inorganic fertilizer on maize productivity, soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics in the Sudan Savanna of West Africa","authors":"Pierre G. Tovihoudji ,&nbsp;Mouiz W.I.A. Yessoufou ,&nbsp;Sissou Zakari ,&nbsp;G. Esaie Kpadonou ,&nbsp;Ali Ibrahim ,&nbsp;Robert Zougmoré ,&nbsp;P.B. Irénikatché Akponikpè","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110353","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2026.110353","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of crop modeling has advanced the understanding of maize cropping systems, but promising management practices require validation under sub-Saharan Africa's climate conditions. This study evaluates the effects of optimal combination rates of hill-placed farmyard manure (FYM) and chemical fertilizer on maize yield. A long-term (32 years) crop simulation was conducted to investigate variations in maize yields, soil organic carbon (SOC), water use efficiency (WUE), nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and nitrate leaching, using the sequential analysis in the DSSAT-CERES-Maize model. Data from a four-year maize trial combining hill-placed FYM and mineral fertilizer under different rainfall patterns was used for model evaluation. The model accurately simulated grain yield, nutrient uptake, SOC and soil nitrogen with nRMSE ranging from 13 % to 27 %. Generally, the continuous application of hill-placed FYM was beneficial for maize cropping: yields (+59 %), SOC (+10 %), total nitrogen (+248 %) and WUE (+43 %). During dry years, the combination of 3 t ha⁻¹ FYM and 50 kg ha^⁻1 NPK was optimal for simultaneous improvement of grain yield, WUE, and NUE; while reducing nitrate leaching and maintaining sustainable soil carbon stock. Furthermore, 6 t ha⁻¹ FYM and 100 kg ha^⁻1 NPK seemed suitable during normal and wet years, with higher yield, WUE, and NUE, and moderate nitrate leaching. These findings provide insights for improving nutrient management to reduce climate change effects in SSA and ensure sustainable maize production. An application of 6 t ha⁻¹ of farmyard manure without NPK is advised in areas with abundant manure availability for sustainable maize cropping.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"339 ","pages":"Article 110353"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146014593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}