scholarly journals Improvement of Maize Productivity and N Use Efficiency in a No-Tillage Irrigated Farming System: Effect of Cropping Sequence and Fertilization Management

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1459
Author(s):  
Heba S. A. Salama ◽  
Ali I. Nawar ◽  
Hassan E. Khalil ◽  
Ahmed M. Shaalan

The sequence of the preceding crops in a no-tillage farming system, could interact with the integrated use of mineral and organic nitrogen (N) sources in a way that improves the growth and productivity of the terminal maize crop, meanwhile, enhancing its N use efficiency (NUE). In the current study, six legume-cereal crop sequences, including faba bean, soybean, Egyptian clover, wheat, and maize were evaluated along two experimental rotations that ended up by planting the terminal maize crop. In addition, the effects of applying variable mineral nitrogen (MN) rates with and without the incorporation of farmyard manure (FYM) on the productive performance of maize and its NUE were tested. The field experiments were conducted in a no-tillage irrigated farming system in Northern Egypt, a location that is characterized by its arid, Mediterranean climate. Results revealed that increasing the legume component in the evaluated crop sequences, up to 75%, resulted in improved maize ear leaf area, 1000-grain weight, and harvest index, thus, a higher final grain yield, with the inclusion of Egyptian clover was slightly better than faba bean. Comparing the crop sequences with 50% legume contribution uncovered the positive effects of soybean preceding crop on the terminal maize crop. Substituting 25% of the applied MN with FYM resulted in similar maize yields to the application of the equivalent 100% MN rates. The fertilizer treatments significantly interacted with the crop sequences in determining the maize grain yield, where the highest legume crop contribution in the crop sequence (75%) equalized the effects of the different fertilizer treatments on maize grain yield. The integrated use of FYM with MN in maize fertilization improved the NUE compared to the application of MN alone. Comparing fertilization treatments with similar MN content, with and without FYM, revealed that the difference in NUE was attributed to the additional amount of FYM. In similar conditions to the current study, it is recommended to grow faba bean two years before maize, while Egyptian clover could be grown directly preceding maize growth, with frequent inclusion of soybean in the sequence, this could be combined with the application of an average of 200 kg MN ha−1 in addition to FYM.

2011 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 152-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
You-Liang YE ◽  
Yu-Fang HUANG ◽  
Chun-Sheng LIU ◽  
Ri-Tao QU ◽  
Hai-Yan SONG ◽  
...  

Crop Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 2806-2819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baoyuan Zhou ◽  
Di Ma ◽  
Xuefang Sun ◽  
Zaisong Ding ◽  
Congfeng Li ◽  
...  

2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 861-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luís Sangoi ◽  
Márcio Ender ◽  
Altamir Frederico Guidolin ◽  
Milton Luiz de Almeida ◽  
Pedro Canísio Heberle

The interest in reducing maize row spacing in the short growing season regions of Brazil is increasing due to potential advantages such as higher radiation use efficiency. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of row spacing reduction on grain yield of different maize cultivars planted at different dates. The trial was conducted in Lages, in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, during 1996/97 and 1997/98 growing seasons, in a split-split plot design. Early (October 1st) and normal (November 15) planting dates were tested in the main plot; two morphologically contrasting cultivars (an early single-cross and a late double-cross hybrids) were evaluated in the split plots and three row widths (100, 75 and 50 cm) were studied in the split-split plots. The reduction of row spacing from 100 to 50 cm increased linearly maize grain yield. The yield edge provided by narrow rows was higher when maize was sown earlier in the season. Differences in hybrid cycle and plant architecture did not alter maize response to the reduction of row spacing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 3156-3169
Author(s):  
Yue-e LIU ◽  
Peng HOU ◽  
Gui-rong HUANG ◽  
Xiu-li ZHONG ◽  
Hao-ru LI ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 527-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baoyuan Zhou ◽  
Xuefang Sun ◽  
Dan Wang ◽  
Zaisong Ding ◽  
Congfeng Li ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (21) ◽  
pp. 21451-21459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinqiang Liang ◽  
Huifang Zhang ◽  
Miaomiao He ◽  
Junli Yuan ◽  
Lixian Xu ◽  
...  

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10291
Author(s):  
Wennan Su ◽  
Shakeel Ahmad ◽  
Irshad Ahmad ◽  
Qingfang Han

High external nitrogen (N) inputs can maximize maize yield but can cause a subsequent reduction in N use efficiency (NUE). Thus, it is necessary to identify the minimum effective N fertilizer input that does not affect maize grain yield (GY) and to investigate the photosynthetic and root system consequences of this optimal dose. We conducted a 4-year field experiment from 2014 to 2017 with four N application rates: 300 (N300), 225 (N225), 150 (N150), and 0 Kg ha−1 (N0) in the Northwest of China. GY was assessed by measuring the photosynthetic capacity and root system (root volume, surface area, length density and distribution). Grain yield decreased by −3%, 7.7%, and 21.9% when the N application rates decreased by 25%, 50%, and 100% from 300 Kg ha−1. We found that yield reduction driven by N reduction was primarily due to decreased radiation use efficiency (RUE) and WUE instead of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation and evapotranspiration. In the N225 treatment, GY, WUE, and RUE were not significantly reduced, or in some cases, were greater than those of the N300 treatment. This pattern was also observed with relevant photosynthetic and root attributes (i.e., high net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and root weight, as well as deep root distribution). Our results suggest that application of N at 225 Kg ha−1 can increased yield by improving the RUE, WUE, and NUE in semi-arid regions.


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