Solar Radiation Effects on Dry Matter Accumulations and Transfer in Maize

Solar radiation is the energy source for crop growth, as well as for the processes of accumulation, distribution, and transfer of photosynthetic products that determine maize yield. Therefore, learning the effects of different solar radiation amounts on maize growth is especially important. The present study focused on the quantitative relationships between solar radiation amounts and dry matter accumulations and transfers in maize. Over two continuous years (2017 and 2018) of field experiments, maize hybrids XY335 and ZD958 were grown at densities of 4.5 × 104 (D1), 7.5 × 104 (D2), 9 × 104 (D3), 10.5 × 104 (D4), and 12 × 104 (D5) plants/ha at Qitai Farm (89°34′E, 44°12′N), Xinjiang, China. Shading levels were 15% (S1), 30% (S2), and 50% (S3) of natural light and no shading (CK). The results showed that the yields of the commonly planted cultivars XY335 and ZD958 at S1, S2, and S3 (increasing shade treatments) were 7.3, 21.2, and 57.6% and 11.7, 31.0, and 61.8% lower than the control yields, respectively. Also, vegetative organ dry matter translocation (DMT) and its contribution to grain increased as shading levels increased under different densities. The dry matter assimilation amount after silking (AADMAS) increased as solar radiation and planting density increased. When solar radiation was <580.9 and 663.6 MJ/m2, for XY335 and ZD958, respectively, the increase in the AADMAS was primarily related to solar radiation amounts; and when solar radiation was higher than those amounts for those hybrids, an increase in the AADMAS was primarily related to planting density. Photosynthate accumulation is a key determinant of maize yield, and the contributions of the vegetative organs to the grain did not compensate for the reduced yield caused by insufficient light. Between the two cultivars, XY335 showed a better resistance to weak light than ZD958 did. To help guarantee a high maize yield under weak light conditions, it is imperative to select cultivars that have great stay-green and photosynthetic efficiency characteristics.

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Leaf Removal Affects Maize Morphology and Grain Yield

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10020269 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 269 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Guangzhou Liu ◽

Yunshan Yang ◽

Wanmao Liu ◽

Xiaoxia Guo ◽

Jun Xue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Leaf Area ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Photosynthetic Capacity ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Light Distribution ◽

Planting Density ◽

Leaf Removal ◽

Area Index ◽

Source Sink

Increasing planting density is an important practice associated with increases in maize yield, but densely planted maize can suffer from poor light conditions. In our two-year field experiments, two morphologically different cultivars, ZD958 (less compact) and DH618 (more compact), were planted at 120,000 plants ha−1 and 135,000 plants ha−1, respectively. We established different leaf area index (LAI) treatments by removing leaves three days after silking: (1) control, no leaves removed (D0); (2) the two uppermost leaves removed (D1); (3) the four uppermost leaves removed (D2); (4) the leaves below the third leaf below the ear removed (D3); (5) the leaves of D1 and D3 removed (D4); (6) the leaves of D2 and D3 removed (D5). Optimal leaf removal improved light distribution, increased photosynthetic capacity and the post-silking source-sink ratio, and thus the grain yield, with an average LAI of 5.9 (5.6 and 6.2 for ZD958 and DH618, respectively) for the highest yields in each year. Therefore, less-compact cultivars should have smaller or fewer topmost leaves or leaves below the ear that quickly senesce post-silking, so as to decrease leaf area and thus improve light distribution and photosynthetic capacity in the canopy under dense planting conditions. However, for more compact cultivars, leaves below the ear should senesce quickly after silking to reduce leaf respiration and improve the photosynthetic capacity of the remaining top residual leaves. In future maize cultivation, compact cultivars with optimal post-silking LAI should be adopted when planting densely.

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Competitive Abilities of Six Corn (Zea maysL.) Hybrids with Four Weed Control Practices

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/s0890037x00039312 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 124-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Garry Tyron Ford ◽

Jane Mt. Pleasant

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Leaf Angle ◽

Corn Plant ◽

Corn Hybrids ◽

Area Index ◽

Maize Hybrids ◽

Grain Yields ◽

Plant Characteristics

Six corn hybrids were studied in field experiments in 1989 and 1990 to identify hybrids and corn plant characteristics that may be valuable in systems using reduced levels of weed control. Four weed control treatments (no-control, cultivation-only, band herbicide-plus-cultivation, and broadcast herbicide) represented main plots and maize hybrids were subplots. Medium-season hybrids with differences in height, early-season vigor, and leafiness were used. There were significant differences among hybrids in leaf angle, leaf width, leaf number, plant height, leaf area index (LAI), plant dry matter (DM) and grain and stover yields. Lower yielding hybrids had grain yields that ranged from 87 to 91% of the highest yielding hybrid. Aboveground corn characteristics were not correlated with weed numbers, weed cover, or weed biomass. A significant interaction between hybrid and weed control for grain yields was observed in 1989, suggesting that some hybrids are more competitive when weed pressure is high.

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Temperature and Solar Radiation Effects on Potential Maize Yield across Locations

Agronomy Journal ◽

10.2134/agronj1990.00021962008200020033x ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 82 (2) ◽

pp. 338-343 ◽

Cited By ~ 223

Author(s):

R. C. Muchow ◽

T. R. Sinclair ◽

J. M. Bennett

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Radiation Effects ◽

Maize Yield

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Field Performance of Three-way Cross Yellow and White Maize Hybrids in Nepal

Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research ◽

10.9734/ajaar/2021/v15i130144 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 24-33

Author(s):

Mahendra Prasad Tripathi ◽

Keshab Babu Koirala ◽

Damodar Gautam ◽

Subash Subedi ◽

Jharana Upadhyay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Field Experiments ◽

Low Cost ◽

Field Performance ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Experimental Plot ◽

Yield Gap ◽

Maize Hybrids ◽

Lattice Design ◽

Wheat Improvement ◽

Resource Poor

Maize hybrids can increase production, bridge the yield gap, and boost up domestic production in Nepal. Three-way cross hybrid introduces an alternative to produce low cost hybrid seed for resource poor farmers. A study was performed to identify promising yellow and white maize hybrids developed by International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT), Mexico in Rampur, Nepal. Nineteen three-way cross white maize hybrids with two checks and seventeen yellow maize hybrids with one check were tested in field experiments on 2017 and 2018. Treatments were replicated twice in α-lattice design with each experimental plot of 9.6-m2 (4-m × 2.4-m). AF17A-426-13/14, AF17A-426-1/2, AF17A-426-28/39, and AF17A-426-15/16 were the three-way cross white hybrids produced grain yield of more than 9000 kg ha-1. Similarly, AF17A-473-20/29 and AF17A-473-18/27 yielded about 9000 kg ha-1 among the three-way cross yellow maize hybrids. These hybrids have commercial potentials to increase maize yield in Nepal if the provided parents are successful in the seed production.

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The effect of solar radiation change on the maize yield gap from the perspectives of dry matter accumulation and distribution

Journal of Integrative Agriculture ◽

10.1016/s2095-3119(20)63581-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 482-493 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yun-shan YANG ◽

Xiao-xia GUO ◽

Hui-fang LIU ◽

Guang-zhou LIU ◽

Wan-mao LIU ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Dry Matter Accumulation ◽

Yield Gap ◽

Radiation Change

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Increasing yield, quality and profitability of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) under combinations of nutrient levels in fertiliser and planting density

Crop and Pasture Science ◽

10.1071/cp20328 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 71 (12) ◽

pp. 1010

Author(s):

Chang Tian ◽

Xuan Zhou ◽

Qiang Liu ◽

Jianwei Peng ◽

Zhenhua Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brassica Napus ◽

Protein Content ◽

Oilseed Rape ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Seed Oil ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Plant Population ◽

Planting Density ◽

Individual Growth ◽

Dry Matter Accumulation

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is a crucial source of edible oil and livestock feeding, and is a promising biofuel crop. The increasing demand for oilseed rape requires strategies to increase yield while retaining quality. Field experiments were performed in southern China to evaluate the impacts of fertiliser level and planting density on dry matter accumulation, seed oil and protein content (%) and yield (per ha), oil quality, and the profitability of oilseed rape. Fertiliser treatments contained nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S) and boron (B) at four increasing rates, compared with nil fertiliser, and there were six planting densities (range 7.5–45 × 104 plants ha–1). Dry matter accumulation significantly (P < 0.05) increased in response to increasing plant population and fertiliser level, whereas harvest index decreased, suggesting that increasing the production of oilseed rape is limited to improvement of population quality. Seed oil and protein contents were significantly affected by fertiliser level rather than planting density. Increasing the fertiliser rate increased seed protein content, simultaneously slightly decreasing oil content. Glucosinolate content of rapeseed slightly decreased with increasing fertiliser but erucic and oleic acid contents were not affected, indicating that increasing the fertiliser rate might not reduce oilseed rape quality. Manipulation of fertiliser level was more effective than altering planting density for increasing seed oil and protein yields. Highest seed oil and protein yields resulted from the highest fertiliser application of 240 kg N, 52.4 kg P, 174.3 kg K, 15 kg S and 1.2 kg B ha–1, under a planting density of 22.5 × 104 plants ha–1. Maximum economic gain occurred with the two highest fertiliser levels, whereas planting density has no significant effect on profitability. A balanced application of NPKSB fertilisers should be employed with direct-sowing cultivation of oilseed rape, aimed at building a suitable population structure that balances plant population density and individual growth.

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Optimum harvest date of maize for biogas and silage purposes

Acta Agronomica Hungarica ◽

10.1556/aagr.57.2009.2.3 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 57 (2) ◽

pp. 119-125

Author(s):

G. Hadi

Keyword(s):

Dry Matter ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Vegetation Period ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Matter Content ◽

Harvest Date ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Dry Matter Yield ◽

Vegetative Organs

The dry matter and moisture contents of the aboveground vegetative organs and kernels of four maize hybrids were studied in Martonvásár at five harvest dates, with four replications per hybrid. The dry matter yield per hectare of the kernels and other plant organs were investigated in order to obtain data on the optimum date of harvest for the purposes of biogas and silage production.It was found that the dry mass of the aboveground vegetative organs, both individually and in total, did not increase after silking. During the last third of the ripening period, however, a significant reduction in the dry matter content was sometimes observed as a function of the length of the vegetation period. The data suggest that, with the exception of extreme weather conditions or an extremely long vegetation period, the maximum dry matter yield could be expected to range from 22–42%, depending on the vegetation period of the variety. The harvest date should be chosen to give a kernel moisture content of above 35% for biogas production and below 35% for silage production. In this phenophase most varieties mature when the stalks are still green, so it is unlikely that transport costs can be reduced by waiting for the vegetative mass to dry.

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Effects of Nitrogen Application Rates on Dry Matter Productivity and Nitrogen Utilization of Different Type Maize Hybrids

ACTA AGRONOMICA SINICA ◽

10.3724/sp.j.1006.2017.00263 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 263 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Pei-Lu ZHOU ◽

Hong REN ◽

Hua QI ◽

Ming ZHAO ◽

Cong-Feng LI

Keyword(s):

Dry Matter ◽

Nitrogen Utilization ◽

Nitrogen Application ◽

Maize Hybrids ◽

Application Rates

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Contrasting yield formation characteristics in two super-rice hybrids that differ in growth duration

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479721000120 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Min Huang ◽

Zui Tao ◽

Tao Lei ◽

Fangbo Cao ◽

Jiana Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Biomass Production ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Growth Duration ◽

Area Index ◽

Rice Hybrid ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Yield Formation

Summary The development of high-yielding, short-duration super-rice hybrids is important for ensuring food security in China where multiple cropping is widely practiced and large-scale farming has gradually emerged. In this study, field experiments were conducted over 3 years to identify the yield formation characteristics in the shorter-duration (∼120 days) super-rice hybrid ‘Guiliangyou 2’ (G2) by comparing it with the longer-duration (∼130 days) super-rice hybrid ‘Y-liangyou 1’ (Y1). The results showed that G2 had a shorter pre-heading growth duration and consequently a shorter total growth duration compared to Y1. Compared to Y1, G2 had lower total biomass production that resulted from lower daily solar radiation, apparent radiation use efficiency (RUE), crop growth rate (CGR), and biomass production during the pre-heading period, but the grain yield was not significantly lower than that of Y1 because it was compensated for by the higher harvest index that resulted from slower leaf senescence (i.e., slower decline in leaf area index during the post-heading period) and higher RUE, CGR, and biomass production during the post-heading period. Our findings suggest that it is feasible to reduce the dependence of yield formation on growth duration to a certain extent in rice by increasing the use efficiency of solar radiation through crop improvement and also highlight the need for a greater fundamental understanding of the physiological processes involved in the higher use efficiency of solar radiation in super-rice hybrids.

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