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In‐Season Nitrogen Management to Increase Grain Yields in Maize Production
Author(s) -
Pan Junxiao,
Meng Qingfeng,
Chen Riyuan,
Cui Zhenling,
Chen Xinping
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2016.11.0669
Subject(s) - agronomy , dry matter , biology , nitrogen , grain yield , yield (engineering) , growing season , chemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , metallurgy
Core Ideas Optimal N rate treatment increased the maize yield and improved dry matter production and N accumulation post‐silking. In‐season N management‐based post‐silking N management can synchronize soil N supply and plant N uptake. Assessing the performance of leaf and root characteristics in response to post‐silking N management.Post‐silking N accumulation positively correlates with maize ( Zea mays L.) grain yield in production, but the effect of N management post‐silking is unclear. This study was to evaluate maize yield and physiological changes in response to in‐season nitrogen management (INM) with respect to post‐silking N fertilization of maize. Optimal nitrogen rates (ONR) were determined for INM by subtracting soil nitrate‐N content measured at the maize root layers from the target N value. Other treatments included a zero N (0N) post‐silking control with the same N application pre‐silking as ONR and excessive N treatment (Exc. N) with the same N application pre‐silking as ONR plus an additional application of 50% of the target N value post‐silking. The grain yield with ONR of the INM was 10.9 Mg ha −1 , 17% higher than the 9.3 Mg ha −1 obtained with the 0N control post‐silking. The Exc. N treatment post‐silking did not increase maize yield, but resulted in a high residual soil N min after harvest. The high grain yield obtained with ONR showed markedly higher dry matter (DM) production and N accumulation post‐silking, with higher net photosynthesis and green leaf area than obtained with the 0N control post‐silking. Additional N application post‐silking also improved root development, as evidenced by the 18, 20, and 9% increase in root dry matter, root length, and root surface area densities for ONR compared to the 0N control. Results suggested that INM can synchronize soil N supply and plant N uptake throughout the growing season, thereby increasing maize grain yield.

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