scholarly journals Optimum Planting Density Improves Resource Use Efficiency and Yield Stability of Rainfed Maize in Semiarid Climate

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanhong Zhang ◽  
Zonggui Xu ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Rui Wang
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Photosynthetic Capacity ◽  
Canopy Structure ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Yield Stability ◽  
Planting Density ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Semiarid Environments ◽  
Use Efficiency

Increasing planting density is an effective strategy for improving maize productivity, but grain yield does not increase linearly with the increase in plant density, especially in semiarid environments. However, how planting density regulates the integrated utilization of key input resources (i.e., radiation, water, and nutrients) to affect maize production is not clear. To evaluate the effects of planting density and cultivar on maize canopy structure, photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and resource use efficiency, we conducted a successive field experiment from 2013 to 2018 in Heyang County (Shaanxi Province, China) using three different cultivars [i.e., Yuyu22 (C1), Zhengdan958 (C2), and Xianyu335 (C3)] at four planting densities [i.e., 52,500 (D1), 67,500 (D2), 82,500 (D3), and 97,500 (D4) plants ha–1]. Increasing planting density significantly increased the leaf area index (LAI) and the amount of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR), thereby promoting plant growth and crop productivity. However, increased planting density reduced plant photosynthetic capacity [net photosynthetic rate (Pn)], stomatal conductance (Gc), and leaf chlorophyll content. These alterations constitute key mechanisms underlying the decline in crop productivity and yield stability at high planting density. Although improved planting density increased IPAR, it did not promote higher resource use efficiency. Compared with the D1 treatment, the grain yield, precipitation use efficiency (PUE), radiation use efficiency (RUE), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) increased by 5.6–12.5%, 2.8–7.1%, and −2.1 to 1.6% in D2, D3, and D4 treatments, respectively. These showed that pursuing too high planting density is not a desirable strategy in the rainfed farming system of semiarid environments. In addition, density-tolerant cultivars (C2 and C3) showed better canopy structure and photosynthetic capacity and recorded higher yield stability and resource use efficiency. Together, these results suggest that growing density-tolerant cultivars at moderate planting density could serve as a promising approach for stabilizing grain yield and realizing the sustainable development of agriculture in semiarid regions.

scholarly journals Optimum Water and Nitrogen Management Increases Grain Yield and Resource Use Efficiency by Optimizing Canopy Structure in Wheat

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 441
Author(s):  
Yang Liu ◽  
Mao Yang ◽  
Chunsheng Yao ◽  
Xiaonan Zhou ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Canopy Structure ◽  
Nitrogen Management ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Structure Characteristics ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Optimum Water

Excessive nitrogen (N) application rates and serious over-exploitation of groundwater under farmer practice threatens the sustainable use of resources in the North China Plain (NCP). Crop canopy structure affects light distribution between leaves, which is important to determine crop growth. A field experiment conducted from October 2016 to June 2019 in the NCP was designed to examine whether optimum water and nitrogen management could optimize canopy characteristics to improve yield and resource use efficiency. Field treatments included: (1) an example of local farming practices, which include the addition of 330 kg N ha−1 and irrigated twice (FP), (2) a reduced N rate of 270 kg N ha−1 and irrigated twice (T1), (3) a reduced rate of N rate of 210 kg N ha−1 and irrigated once (T2), and (4) no N applied (0 kg N ha−1) and irrigated once (T3). Results showed that the highest yield was in T1 treatment during 3 years’ winter wheat growing seasons. Water use efficiency (WUE), N use efficiency (NUtE), and N partial factor productivity (PFPN) were significantly higher in T2 treatment than in FP, and the three-year average yield was 9.4% higher than that at FP. Optimum crop management practice (T1 and T2) improved canopy structure characteristics, with less relative photosynthetically active photon flux density (PPFD) penetrated of canopy and higher population uniformity as well as leaf area index, to coordinate the distribution of light within the canopy and maximize canopy light interception, resulting in higher yield and resource use efficiency. Leaf area index (LAI) and specific leaf area (SLA) were closely correlated with grain yield and WUE, while PPFD penetrated of canopy was negatively and significantly correlated with grain yield and WUE. The results indicate that canopy structure characteristics, especially PPFD and population uniformity are good indicators of yield and resource use efficiency.

scholarly journals Maize-grain legume intercropping for enhanced resource use efficiency and crop productivity in the Guinea savanna of northern Ghana

2017 ◽  
Vol 213 ◽  
pp. 38-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kermah ◽  
Angelinus C. Franke ◽  
Samuel Adjei-Nsiah ◽  
Benjamin D.K. Ahiabor ◽  
Robert C. Abaidoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Guinea Savanna ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Maize Grain

scholarly journals Grain Yield Determination and Resource Use Efficiency in Maize Hybrids Released in Different Decades

10.5772/55287 ◽  
2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Echarte ◽  
Lujan Nagore ◽  
Javier Di ◽  
Matias Cambareri ◽  
Mariana Robles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Maize Hybrids ◽  
Yield Determination ◽  
Use Efficiency

scholarly journals Agronomic Practices to Enhance Nutrient Acquisition, Grain Quality, Resource-Use Efficiency in Direct- Seeded Aerobic Rice in Eastern India

2020 ◽  
pp. 102-111
Author(s):  
Arjun Singh ◽  
Anchal Dass ◽  
Shiva Dhar ◽  
C. V. Singh ◽  
S. Sudhishri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Grain Quality ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Aerobic Rice ◽  
Eastern India ◽  
Resource Use Efficiency ◽  
Use Efficiency

Aim: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is mainly grown in the rainy season in eastern India on rainfed uplands with a low average productivity of 1.0-1.4 t ha-1. Erratic rainfall leading to moisture stress and poor cultivation practices are the key reasons for low yields and rice grain quality in the area. Hence, the current study was designed to investigate the effects of irrigation scheduling, soil adjuvant and sowing methods on yield, grain quality and resource-use efficiency in aerobic rice. Methodology: The experiment was conducted in a three-time replicated split-plot design during rainy-season of 2016 on a sandy loam soil in Eastern India. Treatments included 8 combinations of 4-irrigation schedules, viz., irrigation at IW/CPE 0.9, 1.2, 1.5 and no-irrigation (rainfed) and 2-soil adjutants (soil adjuvant applied and no-soil adjuvant) assigned to main-plots, and 2-planting methods (conventional dry seeding at 20 cm row spacing and spot-sowing (dibbling of 4-seeds hill-1 at 20×15 cm interval) assigned to sub-plots. Results: Irrigation at IW/CPE 1.5 increased grain yield by 37.3% over rainfed crop, 23% over crop irrigated at IW/CPE 0.9 and 13.5% over IW/CPE 1.2. Grain quality parameters were also best, in crop watered at IW/CPE 1.5. Net return, B: C ratio, net energy output, production efficiency (PE) and monetary efficiency (ME) were significantly greater with irrigation at IW/CPE 1.5 compared to other irrigation schedules. Spot-sowing proved superior to conventional drilling of seeds exhibiting about 7% improvement in grain yield and water-use efficiency (WUE). Effect of soil adjuvant application was not significant. Interpretation: This study emphatically demonstrated that aerobic rice should be spot-sown and irrigated at IW/CPE 1.5, for obtaining higher yield with better grain quality. The findings are useful for aerobic rice production in eastern India and adjoining sub-humid regions.

scholarly journals Increased photosynthesis and grain yields in maize grown with less irrigation water combined with density adjustment in semiarid regions

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9959
Author(s):  
Donghua Liu ◽  
Qianmin Jia ◽  
Juan Li ◽  
Peng Zhang ◽  
Xiaolong Ren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Relative Water Content ◽  
Photosynthetic Capacity ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Planting Density ◽  
Supplementary Irrigation ◽  
Relative Water ◽  
Use Efficiency

In order to design a water-saving and high-yield maize planting model suitable for semiarid areas, we conducted trials by combining supplementary irrigation with different planting densities. Three planting densities (L: 52,500, M: 75,000, and H: 97,500 plants ha–1) and four supplementary irrigation modes (NI: no irrigation; IV: 375 m3 ha–1 during the 11-leaf stage; IS: 375 m3 ha–1 in the silking stage; and IVS: 375 m3 ha–1 during both stages) were tested. The irrigation treatments significantly increased the leaf relative water content, but the high planting density significantly decreased the relative water content during the silking and filling stages. After supplementary irrigation during the 11-leaf stage, IV and IVS significantly increased the photosynthetic capacity, but decreased the leaf water use efficiency. IS and IVS significantly increased the photosynthetic capacity after supplementary irrigation in the silking stage over two years. During the filling stage, IV, IS, and IVS increased the two-year average net photosynthetic rate by 17.0%, 27.2%, and 30.3%, respectively. The intercellular CO2 concentration increased as the density increased, whereas the stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, net photosynthetic rate, and leaf water use efficiency decreased, and the high planting density significantly reduced the leaf photosynthetic capacity. The highest grain yield was obtained using the IVS treatment under the medium planting density, but it did not differ significantly from that with the IS treatment. Furthermore, the IVS treatment used two times more water than the IS treatment. Thus, the medium planting density combined with supplementary irrigation during the silking stage was identified as a suitable water-saving planting model to improve the photosynthetic capacity and grain yield, and to cope with drought and water shortages in semiarid regions.

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