Field Crops Research最新文献

{"title":"Incorporating crop rotation into the winter wheat-summer maize system to enhance soil multifunctionality and sustainable grain production in the North China Plain","authors":"Jie Yang ,&nbsp;Sijia Zhang ,&nbsp;Jianheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Shuai Zhao ,&nbsp;Haitao Lu ,&nbsp;Liwei Li ,&nbsp;Liantao Liu ,&nbsp;Guiyan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109834","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109834","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>The winter wheat-summer maize double cropping system has long been a dominant practice in the North China Plain. However, its continuous use has led to soil fertility decline, biodiversity losses, and nutrient imbalances, thus threatening grain production sustainability. Crop rotations are of great essential to enhance soil health and resilience, but its benefits for the winter wheat-summer maize system in this region remain poorly understood.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study evaluates the effects of incorporating crop rotations into the winter wheat-summer maize system to mitigate soil degradation, enhance soil multifunctionality (SMF), and maintain high grain yield production.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A field experiment (2018–2022) compared three crop rotation systems, spring sweet potato → winter wheat-summer maize (Psw-WM), spring peanut → winter wheat-summer maize (Pns-WM), and spring sorghum → winter wheat-summer maize (Sor-WM), against continuous wheat-maize cropping (WM-WM). The winter wheat and summer maize yields were assessed annually, and soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and rhizosphere microbial communities were analyzed during the second crop cycle to assess SMF.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared to WM-WM, the Pns-WM and Psw-WM significantly increased annual winter wheat and summer maize yields by 8.12 %–11.39 % and 8.78 %–15.82 %, respectively. Compared to WM-WM, these rotations (Pns-WM and Psw-WM) enhanced SMF by 1- to 2-fold due to increased soil organic carbon (SOC), improved enzyme activities, and better nutrient cycling. The lower pH and higher bacterial and fungal richness (e.g. ACE indices) were found in Pns-WM and Psw-WM, as compared to WM-WM. Furthermore, Pns-WM increased beneficial genus such as <em>Penicillium</em> and <em>Fusarium</em> while reducing pathogenic taxa like <em>Alternaria</em>. Partial least squares structural equation modeling illustrated that improved SOC, enzyme activities, and microbial diversity drove the increases in SMF and grain yield in the Pns-WM and Psw-WM.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Integrating peanut or sweet potato into the winter wheat-summer maize system effectively enhances soil health, SMF, and grain yield. Thus, introducing annual crops as preceding crops to the current WM-WM rotation is beneficial for fostering microbial diversity and enzyme activities, improving soil properties, enhancing grain yield, and providing a sustainable pathway for resilient food production in the NCP and similar agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 109834"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143547100","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":"Water-nitrogen coupling promotes efficient resource utilization by optimizing cotton root morphology under salt stress","authors":"Ling Li ,&nbsp;En Lin ,&nbsp;Hongguang Liu ,&nbsp;Yanjie Li ,&nbsp;Zhijie Li ,&nbsp;Rui Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109830","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109830","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Optimal root morphology is essential for crops to acquire soil resources and adapt to rhizosphere adversity. Effective water and nitrogen management strategies can regulate root growth to enhance resource utilization in arid saline-alkali regions. However, the response characteristics of crop roots morphology and nutrient utilization to water-nitrogen coupling under various salinity gradients remain incompletely understood. Understanding this coupling’s regulation mechanisms in diverse rhizosphere environments is vital for sustainable agriculture in saline-alkali regions globally. We conducted a two-year field experiment in Xinjiang, China, treating cotton fields with differing salt gradients (7.67–11.53 dS·m⁻¹) and varying water (60 %–80 %–100 %<span><math><msub><mrow><mi>ET</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>c</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>) and nitrogen (75 %–100 %–125 %<span><math><msub><mrow><mi>N</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>ck</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>) levels. Using the ¹⁵N isotope labeling method and structural equation model, we analyzed and quantified the interplay of water-nitrogen coupling on root morphology and resource utilization under salinity stress. Our results confirmed that water and nitrogen applications significantly improved root morphology in saline-alkali soil, water promotes root elongation slightly more than nitrogen, with root length density increasing by 14.63 % and 8.45 %, respectively. However, soil salinity significantly inhibited root morphology optimization, resulting in an average root length density reduction of 19.08 %. The response of nitrogen content in cotton organs to water was slightly stronger than that to nitrogen. Salt stress primarily inhibited urea nitrogen absorption, resulting in a 28.94 % decrease in total nitrogen uptake and a 17.31 % decrease in nitrogen utilization efficiency. A structural equation model was developed to understand the regulatory effects of water-nitrogen coupling on cotton growth under salinity stress. The model revealed that the positive influence of water-nitrogen inputs on efficiency indexes was mainly achieved by optimizing root morphology, with an impact coefficient of 0.66 for the control variables-root-efficiency evaluation. Water had a greater positive effect on cotton than nitrogen, with load coefficient of 0.20 and 0.15, respectively. Therefore, this study provides a theoretical basis for crops to adapt to adverse conditions by aligning root system construction with biomass allocation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 109830"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143550447","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":"Controlled-release phosphate fertilizer improves soil fertility and soybean productivity by regulating soil microbial diversity and composition and increasing enzyme activities","authors":"Zhaoming Qu ,&nbsp;Qi Chen ,&nbsp;Hao Deng ,&nbsp;Qin Wang ,&nbsp;Shuihong Yao ,&nbsp;Qianhui Chen ,&nbsp;Hui Dong ,&nbsp;Yanli Liu ,&nbsp;Haojie Feng ,&nbsp;Chengliang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109836","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109836","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphorus (P) is one of the most important macronutrients for soybean growth. The extensive application of conventional chemical P fertilizers has contributed to soybean yield increase but, at the same time, has also led to P buildup in soil and subsequent loss to the environment. Controlled-release P fertilizers (CRP) can improve crop P absorption and yield. However, it remains unclear how CRP application regulates soybean productivity by affecting soil microbial communities and soil enzyme activities. In this study, a two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate soybean productivity and assess the contributions of soil microorganisms and soil enzymes to soybean productivity, in the different P fertilization treatments, which included 100 % triple superphosphate (TSP), 80 % CRP–20 % TSP, and 60 % CRP–40 % TSP at three application rates each (90, 75, and 60 kg P ha⁻¹). The results showed that compared with 100 % TSP, CRP application significantly improved soybean yield and P use efficiency (PUE) by 1.7 %–10.1 % and 1.1–12.8 percentage points in 2023, and 3.7 %–12.9 % and 4.9–22.5 percentage points in 2024, respectively. Of all treatments, 80 % CRP–20 % TSP at 75 kg ha⁻¹ (MHCP treatment) resulted in the highest soybean yield and PUE. Meanwhile, a higher proportion of CRP was more favorable for soil microbial diversity, P- and N-cycling enzyme activities, and a stable soil pH. MHCP treatment also obtained the highest microbial diversity and relative abundances of beneficial microorganisms, such as <em>Bradyrhizobium</em>, <em>Lysobacter</em>, <em>Sphingomonas</em>, and <em>Flavisolibacter</em>, thereby promoting soil enzyme activities, soil fertility, and soybean growth. In conclusion, CRP combined with TSP at an appropriate proportion and application rate can significantly improve soybean yield and PUE. This study provides an important scientific basis for the management and optimization of P fertilization in soybean production in China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 109836"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143547097","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":"Cotton lint yield and quality variability in Georgia, USA: Understanding genotypic and environmental interactions","authors":"Gonzalo J. Scarpin ,&nbsp;Anish Bhattarai ,&nbsp;Lavesta C. Hand ,&nbsp;John L. Snider ,&nbsp;Phillip M. Roberts ,&nbsp;Leonardo M. Bastos","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109822","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109822","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Georgia is one of the largest cotton producer in the United States. Genotype x environment analysis have been previously performed, although there still exists a gap in knowledge related to i) newer varieties and ii) characterization of environmental potential in relation to meteorological patterns during the growing season.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>i) to quantify the effects of environment, genotype, and management on yield and quality; ii) to evaluate the performance and responsiveness of different genotypes to different environments, and iii) to identify environmental conditions with increased cotton lint yield or quality parameters.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Studies were conducted in 73 site-years as part of a variety trial program. In all the site-years, 22 cotton varieties were evaluated, of which twelve were present in at least 45 site-years. We performed analysis of variance, variance component, Finlay-Wilkinson, and conditional inference tree, to achieve our objectives.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The environment had a greater impact on yield and fiber quality (length, strength, uniformity and micronaire) than did genotype. We generate recommendations on variety selection according to each environment index. Conditional inference tree identified temperature and stage duration in squaring and boll opening as the most important variables and stages for affecting micronaire, yellowness, length, and uniformity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our results will help farmers selecting the proper variety, considering not only their potential but also their main goal (yield or quality). As newer cotton genotypes are introduced yearly, we propose to continue working with these datasets to develop an online application to help farmers to identify and select the best genotype for their environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 109822"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143547099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing rice residue and nitrogen management strategies on productivity and nitrogen use efficiency of wheat in rice-wheat cropping system in Indo-Gangetic Plains","authors":"Vicky Singh ,&nbsp;Rajeev Kumar Gupta ,&nbsp;Seema Sepat ,&nbsp;Gobinder Singh ,&nbsp;Chinka Batra","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109826","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109826","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Context&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Rice-wheat cropping system produces ample scattered rice residue in the field after mechanical harvesting which holds no economic value for the farmers in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of South Asia. Several options are available for managing rice residue, enabling wheat seeding in the succeeding season to avoid its burning. However, limited information is available on the efficient nitrogen management practices under different rice residue management options to achieve higher wheat productivity and N use efficiency (NUE).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This two-year study (2020–2022) aimed to evaluate the effect of time and method of fertilizer N application under different rice residue management options on canopy temperature, wheat yield and NUE on two texturally different soils.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Field experiment was conducted in a split-plot design on two texturally different soils (sandy loam and clay loam). Treatments in the main plots included four different tillage and residue management (TRM) options; zero tillage with rice residue as mulch using Happy Seeder (ZTRM), minimum tillage with partial incorporation of residue using super seeder (MTRI), residue incorporation using mould board plough (MBRI), and conventional tillage after complete removal of residue (CTR0), and six fertilizer N management options (time and method of applications) including no N control in subplots.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;ZTRM significantly reduced canopy temperature (CT) at the grain development stage compared to residue removal (CTR0) on both soil types. ZTRM resulted in mean yield increase of 2.2 % (2 yrs mean) over CTR0 on both soils. Among TRM options, CTR0 recorded the lowest NUE indices. Across the soils, ZTRM showed significantly higher values of agronomic efficiency (14.1 kg grain kg&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; N), recovery efficiency (43.3 %) and physiological efficiency (27.4 kg grain kg&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; N uptake) of applied N compared to the other TRM options on sandy loam with similar trend on clay loam. Application of 132 kg N ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; (N4) to wheat (24 kg at sowing, 96 kg top dressed at 1st and 2nd irrigation followed by three foliar sprays of 4 % urea) resulted in 76.5 % and 49.6 % increase in grain yield over no-N control in sandy loam and clay loam, respectively. The N4 recorded significantly higher N uptake and NUE in wheat compared to the other modes of fertilizer N application, irrespective of residue management option.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Zero tillage with rice residue as mulch using Happy Seeder and soil application of 120 kg N ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; in three splits along with 12 kg N ha&lt;sup&gt;−1&lt;/sup&gt; as three foliar sprays of 4 % urea solution are viable option to achieve higher wheat productivity and NUE in wheat to avoid rice residue burning in North-West IGP of India.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Implications&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study revealed a paradigm approach for attaining highe","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 109826"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143547098","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":"Resource acquisition and interactions in spring wheat/faba bean intercropping under diverse environments","authors":"Dereje T. Demie ,&nbsp;Sabine J. Seidel ,&nbsp;Daniel Wallach ,&nbsp;Thomas F. Döring ,&nbsp;Frank Ewert ,&nbsp;Thomas Gaiser ,&nbsp;Madhuri Paul ,&nbsp;Ixchel M. Hernández-Ochoa","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109817","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109817","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Cereal/legume intercropping offers numerous advantages over monocultures, often attributed to complementary resource use of soil water, soil nitrogen (N), and radiation.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study explores how the dynamics of crop resource (radiation, water, soil N) demand and use drive productivity in intercropping systems under different environmental conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We used a process-based intercrop simulation model and field experimental data obtained from three contrasting environments with differing soil N and precipitation levels. Spring wheat and faba bean were sown as monocultures and intercropped in a 1:1 replacement design.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The simulations and field experiments revealed no considerable differences in total water uptake and light interception between intercrops and the average of monocultures across environments. Intercrops acquired more soil N than the average of monocultures in all environments. Spring wheat in intercrop systems consistently acquired more soil water and N compared to spring wheat in monocultures. Faba bean resource acquisition and use efficiency depended on the environmental conditions. Resource use efficiency of intercropping was comparable to that of the monocultures, except for N use efficiency, which was 22 % higher, and water use efficiency which was 12 % higher under low N and the low precipitation environment. There was a slightly enhanced water use efficiency in the intercropping system compared to monoculture under high N and high precipitation environment. In environments with limited water, intercropped faba bean suffered considerably from drought stress, particularly during flowering compared to the monoculture of faba bean.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Soil water availability is a key determinant for faba bean productivity in intercropping, while mainly soil N availability influenced spring wheat productivity compared to its corresponding monocultures. Overall, there was small (high precipitation) or no (low precipitation) increase in radiation and water acquisition in the intercrops but there was a large increase in N uptake in all cases.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>Designing site specific spring wheat/faba bean intercropping systems enhances the availability of N and use efficiency, which helps to minimize N input.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 109817"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143547091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Managing trade-offs among yield, carbon, and nitrogen footprints of wheat-maize cropping system under straw mulching and N fertilizer application in China's Loess Plateau","authors":"Pengfei Li ,&nbsp;Afeng Zhang ,&nbsp;Helei Liu ,&nbsp;Xinyu Zhu ,&nbsp;Hangyu Xiao ,&nbsp;Zihan Shan ,&nbsp;Qaiser Hussain ,&nbsp;Xudong Wang ,&nbsp;Jianbin Zhou ,&nbsp;Zhujun Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109821","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109821","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Contexts</h3><div>Although soil mulching and nitrogen application have long been used in rainfed agriculture, there are still significant uncertainties about their effects on crop yield, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions, and reactive nitrogen losses.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aimed to investigate yield responses, carbon footprint (CF), and nitrogen footprint (NF) changes following long-term straw mulching and N application, thereby identifying cleaner production management practices for wheat-maize rotation system in the Loess Plateau.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>This study conducted a three-year field experiment in the Loess Plateau from 2019 to 2022 to investigate the comprehensive effects of straw disposal methods (straw mulching and conventional treatment with no straw mulching) and nitrogen fertilization rates (0, 120, 240 kg N ha⁻¹) on soil properties, crop yield, GHG emissions, net global warming potential, CF and NF in wheat-maize rotation system.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Straw mulching and N fertilization significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen, NO₃⁻-N, microbial biomass carbon, and nitrogen content. Compared to conventional treatment, straw mulching enhanced CO₂ emission by 15.23–21.15 % and reduced CH₄ uptake by 5.60–14.61 % while having negligible effects on N₂O emissions. Straw mulching reduced CF and yield-scaled CF but increased NF due to the boost of SOC sequestration. N fertilization significantly increased GHG emissions, particularly at higher N rates. Straw mulching and N fertilization significantly enhanced wheat-maize yield and straw mulching boosted the contribution rate of N application to yield. A significant positive correlation was observed between GHG emissions and crop yield. Despite this, yield-scaled CF decreased significantly due to increased crop production. Among the treatments, straw mulching combined with 120 kg N ha⁻¹ treatment had the lowest CF (–1613.92 kg CO₂ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), yield-scaled CF (–155.40 g CO₂ kg⁻¹). It also achieved lower NF (122.83 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and yield-scaled NF (11.66 g N kg⁻¹) while producing the highest wheat-maize yield.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The study's findings suggest that straw mulching combined with 120 kg N ha⁻¹ treatment achieved a better trade-off between crop yields and environmental impacts in the wheat-maize rotation system in the Loess Plateau of China.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>Quantifying the straw mulching and N fertilization on crop yield and environmental impacts strengthens carbon sequestration and promotes sustainable and clean production in the wheat-maize rotation system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 109821"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520391","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":"Development of a model for maize stalk lodging resistance based on plant bending strength and trait selection","authors":"Guanmin Huang,&nbsp;Yuling Guo,&nbsp;Weiming Tan,&nbsp;Mingcai Zhang,&nbsp;Zhaohu Li,&nbsp;Yuyi Zhou,&nbsp;Liusheng Duan","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109828","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109828","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Context&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Stalk lodging is a critical factor limiting maize (&lt;em&gt;Zea mays&lt;/em&gt; L.) grain yield and quality worldwide. Despite identifying numerous traits associated with stalk lodging resistance, the relative importance of these traits remains unclear, hindering the breeding of resistant varieties. Recently, machine learning techniques have shown promise in agricultural research, particularly in plant disease identification and precise phenotyping. The advanced methods offer new approaches to analyze complex trait interactions and predict stalk lodging resistance.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The objective of this study is to develop a maize plant bending strength evaluation model based on machine learning algorithms. Through model simulation, this study aims to identify sensitive traits that can improve maize stalk lodging resistance, thereby providing theoretical support for maize stalk lodging-resistant breeding.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A three-year field experiment was conducted to construct phenomic datasets through a combination of variety selection, tailored planting densities, and treatments with plant growth regulators (PGRs), generating 288 datasets encompassing 30 phenotypic traits from maize populations with distinct structural characteristics. To quantify maize stalk lodging resistance, plant bending strength was measured, and these comprehensive phenotypic indicators were collected through field surveys and calculations. A machine learning model, based on the random forest algorithm, was developed to identify and define clear indicators of maize stalk lodging resistance, providing a robust framework for understanding this critical trait.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Approximately 46.9 %, 23.2 %, and 10.3 % of the trait pairs showed absolute correlation coefficients greater than 0.5, 0.7, and 0.8, respectively, indicating substantial collinearity among indicators. Lasso regression was employed for feature selection, reducing 30 indicators to 16 key features. Based on these 16 indicators as input parameters and plant bending strength as the output parameter, a prediction model was constructed using the Random Forest algorithm. The model performed excellently, with a coefficient of determination of 0.94, a root mean square error of 0.82, and a relative root mean square error of 0.09. Sensitivity analysis of the model indicated that the crushing strength of the 7th internode in maize is the key factor affecting Plant bending strength, with an importance score of 0.743, significantly higher than other phenotypic traits.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study developed a machine learning-based model for evaluating maize plant bending resistance, identifying the crushing strength of the 7th internode as a key trait for breeding stalk lodging-resistant varieties.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Significance&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study, utilizing machine learning models, pioneered the identification of ","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 109828"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143512343","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":"Synergies and trade-offs of crop diversification system for productive, energy budget, economic, and environmental indicators in Northeast China","authors":"Tao Sun ,&nbsp;Haotian Chen ,&nbsp;Li Yao ,&nbsp;Xiaogang Yin ,&nbsp;Zichao Zhao ,&nbsp;Aixing Deng ,&nbsp;Weijian Zhang ,&nbsp;Xinhao Gao ,&nbsp;Zhenwei Song","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109816","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109816","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Continuous maize monoculture in Northeast China maintains higher productivity as well as results in excessive environmental costs. Integrating legume or gramineous crops into maize cropping system is an effective way to achieve high productivity while reducing carbon footprint (CF). However, the performance of different crop diversification systems is not clear so far.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The present study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effects of diversified maize, peanut, and wheat cropping systems on 1) crop productivity, energy budget and economic benefits; 2) environmental costs including CF, net ecosystem economic budget (NEEB), and carbon sustainability index (CSI) in Northeast China.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A four-year field experiment was conducted in Northeast China, including continuous maize (CM), continuous wheat (CW), continuous peanut (CP), maize and wheat intercropping (M||W), maize and peanut intercropping (M||P), maize and wheat rotation (M→W), maize and peanut rotation (M→P). The life cycle assessment (LCA) and Z-score methods were employed to analyze carbon emission related performance for these treatments.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Crop diversification (i.e., rotation and intercropping system) decreased biomass and grain yield but increased maize equivalent yield (MEY) and protein yield (PY). In particular, the M||P treatment showed 20.9 % and 24.6 % higher MEY and PY, respectively, compared to the CM treatment. Total revenue and net income for the M||P treatment were 20.8 % and 23.7 % higher than the CM treatment. However, M||W, M||P, M→W, and M→P treatments had lower energy yield (EY) and energy use efficiency compared to CM. The CSI was significantly higher for M||W (86.3 %), M||P (81.6 %), and M→W (46.4 %) treatments compared to CM. The M||P showed the lowest CF per unit equivalent yield (CF_MEY), per unit energy yield (CF_EY), and per unit economic benefit (CF_E), which were 58.6 %, 47.3 %, and 59.5 % lower than CM, respectively. Additionally, the M||P treatment had the highest NEEB of 15307.6 CNY ha⁻¹, which was 24.4 % higher than CM. Overall, M||P treatments demonstrated more positive effects with the highest comprehensive score of 20.1 due to higher yield, economic return, and lower environmental cost among the treatments.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>It is indicated that crop diversification practices, particularly the M||P system, can achieve higher profitability and NEEB while maintaining a lower CF in Northeast China.</div></div><div><h3>Implications</h3><div>This study underpins that maize and peanut intercropping is a viable alternative to traditional maize monoculture in Northeast China, which offers improved economic returns and environmental sustainability. However, the potential negative impact on energy yield should be considered when implementing such systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 109816"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143512344","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":"Improving soil health and crop productivity through conservation agriculture and nitrogen management in rice-mustard-maize systems","authors":"Santosh Marahatta ,&nbsp;Shrawan Kumar Sah ,&nbsp;Andrew McDonald ,&nbsp;Jagadish Timsina ,&nbsp;Krishna Prasad Devkota","doi":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109825","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109825","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Conventional crop production practices, including crop establishment using intensive soil tillage, low use of fertilization, low-yielding varieties, and the removal or burning of crop residues, in the Terai region of Nepal have led to low crop yields and nutrient imbalances. Conservation agriculture (CA) offers a potential solution by integrating no-tillage, residue retention, and optimized nitrogen (N) management, yet its impact in this region remains underexplored.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study investigated the effects of CA practices combined with varying N rates on soil physico-chemical properties, nutrient uptake, and crop yields in rice-mustard-maize- systems.</div></div><div><h3>Methodologies</h3><div>A two-year field experiment (2011–2013) was conducted in farmers’ fields in the Western Terai region using a strip-split plot design. Treatments included: (i) two establishment methods (CA: no-till with residue retention vs. conventional tillage (CT): conventional tillage without residue retention, (ii) two crop varieties (improved or hybrid vs. local), and (iii) four N rates (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha⁻¹ for rice and 0, 30, 60, and 90 kg ha⁻¹ for mustard in both years whereas for maize, 0, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha⁻¹ in the first year and 0, 80, 160, and 240 kg ha⁻¹ in the second year). Soil properties, crop yields, and crop nutrient uptake were assessed.</div></div><div><h3>Results and discussion</h3><div>CA enhanced soil fertility and structure, with significant increase in soil organic carbon (15.4 %) and total nitrogen (14.6 %) at 0–10 cm depth, reduced bulk density, and improved moisture retention. In CA, Nitrogen uptake increased by 3 % in rice and 11 % in maize, while yield increased by 7 % and 9 %, respectively. Hybrid maize and rice outperformed local varieties, yielding 47 % and 3 % higher, respectively. Mustard performed variably, with ‘Bikash’ yielding 44 % more than ‘Goldie’. System productivity increased by 5 % under CA. Optimal yields were achieved with 180 kg ha⁻¹ for rice and maize and 90 kg ha⁻¹ for mustard. Increased N application reduced barrenness and sterility percentage across varieties.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>CA combined with optimized N management significantly improves soil health, nutrient dynamics, and crop productivity in intensive rice-based systems. Hybrid varieties exhibit higher productivity under CA than open-pollinated or inbred types. Thus, adopting CA with appropriate N management and variety can sustainably intensify cropping systems, bridging yield gaps while preserving soil health. These findings have implications for broader adoption across Nepal's Terai and similar agroecological zones of Indo-Gangetic Plains, addressing food security and environmental challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12143,"journal":{"name":"Field Crops Research","volume":"325 ","pages":"Article 109825"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520390","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}