PP333,CCC,B9喷施对彩色马蹄莲矮化效应的研究

采用多效唑(PP333)、矮壮素(CCC)和B93种植物生长延缓剂对彩色马蹄莲(Zantedeschiahybrida)2个三角叶型品种‘Golden chalice’和‘Fire glow’以及2个窄叶型品种‘Lip stick’和‘Garnetglow’进行不同浓度喷施处理,研究植物生长延缓剂对彩色马蹄莲的矮化效应。结果表明:各品种对不同药剂处理响应不同,同种药剂各浓度处理间无明显规律性。3种生长延缓剂对抑制4个品种的株高生长,提高其叶片叶绿素含量都能起到良好的效果。根据冠幅、叶长、叶宽、花梗长、花梗粗等观赏性状综合比较来看,PP3331500mg/L处理对‘Golden chalice’各性状均起到明显抑制作用,矮化效果较好;而CCC 250mg/L处理对‘Fire glow’和‘Lip stick’矮化效果最好;B91000mg/L处理对‘Garnet glow’矮化效果较好,各性状抑制程度与对照相比差异均达到显著水平。总之,彩色马蹄莲品种间差异较大,无法筛选特定的生长延缓剂进行统一调控,但是,3种药剂对4个品种都有矮化效应,在生产中进行适宜浓度喷施可作为调控株型,提高盆栽质量的重要手段。     

三种植物生长调节剂对秋菊品种‘山城之光’观赏性状的影响

试验研究了多效唑（PP333）、比久（B9）和矮壮素（CCC）三种植物生长调节剂对秋菊品种‘山城之光’观赏性状的影响,结果表明,PP333对‘山城之光’矮化效果最为显著,适用浓度为250～500mg/L。     

三种植物生长调节剂对八仙花观赏性状的影响

通过试验研究多效唑（PP333）、比久（B9）、矮壮素（CCC）三种植物生长调节剂对八仙花观赏性状的影响,结果表明：B9是最适合八仙花的植物生长调节剂,其最适浓度范围为1000～2000mg／L;而若采用PP333、CCC,则宜采用低浓度（≤500mg／L）多次（≥5次）的喷施方法。     

生长延缓剂对忍冬枝条生长和花蕾产量与品质的影响

为了研究能否用抑制枝叶生长的方法提高花类药材的产量和品质,用不同浓度的3种植物生长延缓剂（矮壮素,缩节胺,烯效唑）,在花前和开花初对忍冬植株进行喷施。结果表明:适宜浓度的生长延缓剂可以明显抑制忍冬枝条的生长而不影响花蕾的生长,还可以通过增强花芽分化,提高花蕾数量而提高加产量;其中以100和200 mg/L的缩节胺增产效果最佳,花蕾产量增幅达45%以上;150～200 mg/L的烯效唑也有较显著的效果;不同浓度的缩节胺处理可使花蕾中绿原酸和总黄酮含量增加,二者增幅最高可达14.3%和27.5%;其它两种延缓剂处理不能明显提高金银花品质。综合来看,100～150 mg/L的缩节胺对金银花的产量和品质提高效果最佳,说明通过适宜的处理控制忍冬枝条的生长以提高花蕾产量和质量是可行的。     

欧李幼苗荧光参数对两种植物生长调节剂的响应

[目的]探讨多效唑(PP333)和生根粉(GGR6)两种植物生长调节剂对欧李(Cerasus humilis)叶绿素荧光参数的影响,为欧李幼苗的壮苗栽培技术提供科学理论依据。[方法]采用单因素分析法,以1年生欧李幼苗为研究对象,分别设置0,50,100,150和200mg/L 5个浓度梯度的PP333和GGR6溶液对欧李幼苗进行蘸根处理,采用PMA2500叶绿素荧光仪对荧光参数进行测定。[结果]电子传递效率(ETR)、实际光化学量子效率(ΦPSⅡ)、光化学猝灭(qP)和最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)在一定浓度范围内,随着PP333和GGR6溶液浓度的增大而增大,非光化学猝灭(qN)随着PP333和GGR6溶液浓度的增大而减小。[结论]欧李幼苗生长发育促进效果最佳的植物生长调节剂为GGR6,最佳浓度为200mg/L,且同浓度GGR6对欧李幼苗荧光参数促进作用优于PP333。     

化控剂对冬小麦茎秆抗倒性能、植株整齐度及产量的影响

2008/2009、2009/2010年度两个冬小麦生长季分别在田间设置3个化控处理试验,于冬小麦起身期（3月1日前后）进行喷雾处理,处理1喷多效唑（PP333,15%粉剂）、处理2喷矮壮素（CCC,50%水剂）,用量分别为600g·hm-2和1000mL·hm-2,处理3将多效唑和矮壮素浓度减半并复配后进行喷施（P+C）,以喷清水为对照（CK）,于乳熟期对不同处理小麦的株高、重心高度、基部第二节间长度、直径、厚度、充实度和机械强度及小麦基部第二节间的木质素含量、纤维素含量、含氮量和碳氮比（C/N）进行观测,于成熟期调查各小区实际倒伏面积,计算抗倒指数和倒伏率,通过考种分析小麦产量和植株整齐度的关系。结果表明：在控制株高、基部第2节间长度和重心高度以及增加基部第2节间直径、厚度、充实度和机械强度方面,P+C处理最优,其次为PP333和CCC处理。在反映基部第2节间抗倒性能的生化指标如纤维素含量、木质素含量、C/N和含氮量指标方面,也以P+C最优,PP333次之,CCC较差。在抗倒伏方面,P+C处理的抗倒指数最高,田间未出现倒伏现象,其次为PP333处理,田间亦未出现倒伏,CCC抗倒指数最低,2008/2009和2009/2010年度两个小麦生长季田间倒伏率分别达到11.3%和6.7%。在大田长势均匀度方面,P+C处理的作用最强,显著高于CK,其次为PP333,CCC略差。在产量方面看,也表现出同样的规律,而且各处理小麦株高、穗长、每穗小穗数、穗重整齐度与产量间均呈极显著正相关关系。说明多效唑与矮壮素配合施用处理可显著提高大田小麦的长势均匀度并进而提高产量。     

As对谷子萌发、幼苗生长及抗氧化酶系统的影响

为探究As对谷子苗期生长的影响及谷子生长的临界浓度,设置As浓度梯度分别为0,2,4,8,10mg/kg,以石英砂为基质,通过培养试验,分析探讨不同浓度As对谷子萌发、苗期生长与抗氧化酶系统的影响。研究表明:低浓度的As(4mg/kg)促进谷子萌发,高浓度的As(≥4mg/kg)抑制谷子萌发。当As浓度为2 mg/kg时,谷子的发芽势、发芽率和发芽指数在所有处理中最高,其值分别为18.67%,32.00%和19.00%。低浓度的As对谷子幼苗生长有促进作用,高浓度对其有抑制作用,当As浓度为2mg/kg,谷子的株高、根长和地上部鲜重与地下部鲜重都达到最大值,分别为15.46,7.34cm和0.64,0.16g,随着As浓度梯度增加,地下部鲜重/地上部鲜重先增加后降低,As对根系的促进与抑制作用大于地上部,谷子幼苗根部的As含量均明显高于地上部,且TF值逐渐减小;当As浓度4mg/kg时,As能促进谷子叶绿素的合成,在As浓度为2 mg/kg时,谷子的叶绿素a、叶绿素b和叶绿素总量显著高于对照28.38%,51.60%,37.06%,As浓度高于4mg/kg时,谷子的叶绿素合成受到抑制;随着As浓度梯度的增加,谷子幼苗的SOD活性不断增强,POD与CAT活性呈先增加后减小的趋势,但均高于对照,As浓度4mg/kg后,CAT活性开始减小;As浓度8mg/kg后,谷子幼苗的POD活性开始减小,表明低浓度的As(4mg/kg)对谷子萌发及幼苗生长有促进作用,高浓度的As(≥4mg/kg)抑制谷子萌发和幼苗生长,且根系对As胁迫的反应更为敏感,抗氧化酶系统(POD和CAT)活性降低。研究可为谷子的抗污染栽培和无公害生产提供科学依据。     

多效唑和三碘苯甲酸对大叶黄杨根系和叶片氮积累的影响

目的多效唑 (PP333) 和三碘苯甲酸 (TIBA) 是植物生长延缓剂,因其对植株矮化的显著效果,广泛应用于绿篱植物的化学修剪中,本研究使用此两种激素对苗木进行叶面喷施,探讨其对大叶黄杨根系和叶片氮代谢的影响。方法以三年生扦插大叶黄杨 (Buxus megistophylla) 苗为试验材料,在北京林业大学实验林场苗圃地内进行了叶面喷施田间试验。采用双因素随机区组设计,设置PP333 0、20、50、80 mg/L 四个浓度水平,TIBA为0、50、100 mg/L 三个浓度水平,共12个处理组合。自2017年4月5日起,每隔25天在每个小区喷施1 L备好的溶液。第三次喷施25天后取扦插苗全株样,分别测定了根系、叶片全氮、硝态氮、游离氨基酸含量以及叶片可溶性蛋白和光合色素含量。结果1) 单施高浓度PP333对细、中根全氮、硝态氮和游离氨基酸含量有显著提升作用,而单施TIBA仅对细根全氮、硝态氮和游离氨基酸含量有显著影响。PP333和TIBA及二者的交互效应对大叶黄杨细根的全氮、硝态氮和游离氨基酸含量均有极显著提升作用。2) PP333、TIBA及其交互作用均能极显著促进叶片全氮、可溶性蛋白含量和光合色素含量提升,50或80 mg/L PP333能够促进游离氨基酸含量提升,且仅在80 mg/L时对硝态氮含量有显著影响。3) PP333对不同径级根系全氮、游离氨基酸、硝态氮以及叶片全氮、硝态氮、游离氨基酸、可溶性蛋白和光合色素含量的促进作用较TIBA更为显著。结论PP333和TIBA对大叶黄杨氮代谢有显著影响,且相对于TIBA, PP333更能影响大叶黄杨氮的生理代谢过程。在生产应用中,80 mg/L PP333与100 mg/L TIBA结合喷施会加速根系中细根的氮代谢过程,并对叶片中蛋白质和光合色素的提升有显著促进作用,单施80 mg/L PP333显著促进叶片硝态氮和游离氨基酸的含量。     

不同灌水下限对黄瓜穴盘苗生长及生理指标的影响

为了给黄瓜工厂化穴盘育苗适宜灌溉下限指标提供参考,该文采用醋糟基质为穴盘育苗基质,以‘津优1号’黄瓜为材料,研究了以基部供水为灌水方式,不同灌水下限处理对黄瓜穴盘苗干物质积累、根系活力、光合能力及叶绿素荧光参数的影响。共设4个处理,灌水下限分别为基质饱和含水率的65%、55%、45%、35%。结果表明,以相对含水率55%作为灌水下限的黄瓜穴盘苗干物质积累量、主根长、根系活力,光合能力均显著高于其他处理,相对含水率为45%的下限处理处理次之,在基质相对含水率为45%～55%的下限处理范围内,有利于黄瓜穴盘苗生长,可以作为以醋糟为基质的黄瓜穴盘育苗的灌溉下限指标。     

南方红豆杉扦插繁殖技术研究——Ⅳ.促根剂对扦插穗条生根的影响

试验研究促根剂对南方红豆杉扦插穗条生根的影响结果表明,促根剂A3生根效果最佳,其始根天数、生根率、根数、根长和根系效果指数分别为52.7~64.0d、90.0%~93.7%、8.00~8.67条、8.67~8.93cm和0.61~0.69,显著优于其他3种促根剂;其次为促根剂A2>促根剂A1>萘乙酸(对照)。除20ng/kg浓度促根剂A1所得根系效果指数显著高于10ng/kg和15ng/kg浓度外,促根剂A2和A3各浓度间差异不明显,但20ng/kg浓度促根剂A2根系效果指数也高于其他2个浓度,提高促根剂A1和A2的应用浓度有望提高扦插穗条生根效果。     

基于双波段作物长势分析仪的东北水稻长势监测

为了实现水稻精细栽培和变量管理的目的,利用独立开发的双波段作物长势分析仪,进行了水稻生长监测的试验与分析。传感器分别在610与1220 nm处测量太阳光与作物冠层反射光的强度,进而计算光谱反射率。利用双波段作物长势分析仪于2008年在黑龙江省农垦总局建三江分局2处水稻试验田,在分蘖期与抽穗早期进行了氮肥胁迫试验,结果表明水稻叶片氮浓度及生物质干质量与RVI、NDVI都具有很高的相关性,但与NDVI的相关性比与RVI的更高。分蘖期的测量结果表明,NDVI与施肥量的相关性非常显著,R2大于0.94。但NDVI并不与施肥量成线性相关,过量的施氮量反而会引起NDVI值的降低。分蘖期、抽穗早期的NDVI值都与最终产量有着显著的相关,其中抽穗早期的NDVI与产量的决定系数（R2）达到了0.96。分析结果显示利用双波段作物长势分析仪监测水稻冠层,可达到控制投入和提高产量的目的,为水稻的精细栽培提供理论与技术支持。     

基于生长函数的大豆根系生长的三维可视化模拟

植物的可视化模拟与仿真能为植物生长研究提供直观、迅捷的科学研究方法.植物根系在生长介质中的三维空间造型与分布,对水分养分的利用具有十分重要的作用.为了避免植物根系生长环境的不可见性和次要因素的影响,定量地直观地研究根构型的适应性变化,将植物根构型的多个生长函数和植物根系的形态发生模型耦合起来,结合可视化方法,建立了植物根系生长的三维可视化模拟系统.以大豆根系为研究对象,根构型的生长函数采用前期研究已获得的三次多项式形式;形态发生模型采用微分L系统理论编译其生成规则;可视化方法采用一系列连接在一起并平滑处理的圆台代表根轴.系统设计成只需输入三次多项式形式的生长函数的系数,就可直观地、连续地、可控地获得该根系生长的可视化图形和根构型几何参数.     

Long-term plant growth legacies overwhelm short-term plant growth effects on soil microbial community structure

Plant-soil feedbacks are gaining attention for their ability to determine plant community development. Plant-soil feedback models and research assume that plant-soil interactions occur within days to weeks, yet, little is known about how quickly and to what extent plants change soil community composition. We grew a dominant native plant (Pseudoroegneria spicata) and a dominant non-native plant (Centaurea diffusa) separately in both native- and non-native-cultivated field soils to test if these species could overcome soil legacies and create new soil communities in the short-term. Soil community composition before and after plant growth was assessed in bulk and rhizosphere soils using phospholipid fatty acid analyses. Nematode abundance and mycorrhizal colonization were also measured following plant growth. Field-collected, native-cultivated soils showed greater bacterial, Gram (−), fungal, and arbuscular mycorrhizal PLFA abundance and greater PLFA diversity than field-collected, non-native-cultivated soils. Both plant species grew larger in native- than non-native-cultivated soils, but neither plant affected microbial composition in the bulk or rhizosphere soils after two months. Plants also failed to change nematode abundance or mycorrhizal colonization. Plants, therefore, appear able to create microbial legacies that affect subsequent plant growth, but contrary to common assumptions, the species in this study are likely to require years to create these legacies. Our results are consistent with other studies that demonstrate long-term legacies in soil microbial communities and suggest that the development of plant-soil feedbacks should be viewed in this longer-term context.     

增硝营养对水稻不同生育时期生长及氮素吸收同化的影响

The effect of nitrate （NO3^-） on rice （Oryza sativa L.） growth as well as N absorption and assimilation during different growth stages was examined using three typical rice cultivars. Dry weight, yield, N uptake, nitrate reductase activity （NRA） in leaves, and glutamine synthetase activity （GSA） in roots and leaves during their entire growth periods, as well as the kinetic parameters of ammonium （NH4^＋） uptake at the seedling stage, were measured with solution culture experiments. Results indicated that addition of NH4^＋-N and NO3^-N at a ratio of 75：25 （NH4^＋＋NO3^- treatment） when compared with that of NH4^＋-N alone （NH4^＋ treatment） increased the dry weight of ‘Nanguang＇ cultivar by 30% and ‘Yunjing 38＇ cultivar by 31%, and also increased their grain yield by 21% and 17%, respectively. For the four growth stages, the total N accumulation in plants increased by an average of 36% for ‘Nanguang＇ and 31% for ‘Yunjing 38＇, whereas the increasing effect of NO3^- in the ‘4007＇ cultivar was only found at the seedling stage, in the NH4^＋＋NO3^- treatment compared to the NH4^＋ treatment, NRA in the leaves increased by 2.09 folds, and GSA increased by 92% in the roots and 52% in the leaves of the three cultivars. NO3^- supply increased the maximum uptake rate （Vmax） in the ‘Nanguang＇ and ‘Yunjing 38＇ cultivars, reflecting that the NO3^- itself, not the increasing N concentration, increased the uptake rate of NH4^＋ by rice. There was no effect on the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant （Kin） of the three cultivars. Thus, some replacement of NH4^＋ with NO3^-could greatly improve the growth of rice plants, mainly on account of the increased uptake of NH4^＋ promoted by NO3^-, and future studies should focus on the molecular mechanism of the increased uptake of NH4^＋ by NO3^-.     

干旱胁迫对花生生育中后期根系生长特征的影响

花生是较耐旱的经济和油料作物, 长期少雨或季节性干旱是限制花生产量提高的重要环境因子, 也是花生收获前黄曲霉素感染的重要因素。根系是植物吸水的主要器官, 不同土壤水分状况下植物的根系构型可能会表现出显著差异, 进而影响植物根系吸收养分和水分的能力。研究不同土壤水分状况下花生根系形态的发育特征与抗旱性的关系对进一步理解花生的水分吸收、运输、利用和散失机制以及培育抗旱性花生具有非常重要的作用。为明确不同抗旱性花生品种的根系形态发育特征, 探讨其根系形态发育特征对不同土壤水分状况的响应机制, 在防雨棚旱池内进行土柱栽培试验, 研究抗旱型花生品种"花育22号"和干旱敏感型花生品种"花育23号"生育中后期根系生长特征及其对干旱胁迫的响应。设置正常供水和中度干旱胁迫(分别控制土壤含水量为田间持水量的80%~85%和45%~50%)2个水分处理, 分别在花针期、结荚期和饱果期进行取样,根长、根表面积和体积扫描后通过WinRhizo Pro Vision 5.0a程序进行分析; 收获时测定产量和抗旱系数(干旱胁迫处理与正常供水处理下产量之比)。结果表明, "花育22号"具有较高的产量和抗旱系数, "花育23号"对干旱胁迫的适应性小于"花育22号"。抗旱型品种"花育22号"具有较大的根系生物量、总根长和根系表面积, 且深层土壤内根系表面积和体积大于"花育23号"。与正常供水处理相比, 干旱胁迫显著降低2个品种花针期的根系总根长、根系总表面积和总体积, 对结荚期和饱果期根系性状无显著影响; 干旱胁迫增加2个品种生育中后期40 cm以下土层内的根长密度分布比例、根系表面积和体积, 但"花育23号"各根系性状增加幅度小于"花育22号"。干旱胁迫处理下20~40 cm和40 cm以下土层内根系表面积和体积分别与总根长、总表面积和总体积呈显著或极显著正相关, 而正常供水处理下0~20 cm土层内根系表面积和体积与整体根系性状表现极显著正相关。总体而言, 具有较大根系和深层土壤内较多的根系分布是抗旱型花生的主要根系分布特征; 土壤水分亏缺条件下, 花生主要通过增加深层土壤内根长、根系表面积和体积等形态特性调节植株对水分的利用。     

Potato growth and nutrient diagnosis as affected by systemic pesticide and physiological growth stage

Abstract

Growth and chemical composition of crop plants may be subject to alteration by systemic compounds employed for pest control. A field study was implemented to examine the effects of aldicarb on growth, chemical composition, and nutrient diagnosis of a potato crop at various growth stages. Aldicarb use resulted in increased dry matter production of leaves, stems, and tubers, and final fresh tuber weight during the second year of the study. Higher tuber yields were likely due to greater photosynthetic capacity because the increase in leaf dry matter production with time was greater in the aldicarb treatment than in control. Leaf nutrition was not influenced by aldicarb; however, leaf nutrient content varied greatly with growth stage. Similar nutrient status evaluations were generated by DRIS, regardless of pesticide treatment or growth stage. DRIS was able to diagnose nutrient limitations as early as tuber initiation     

Microbial growth in the rhizosphere

Barley plants were grown for up to 16 days in solution culture either under axenic conditions or in the presence of a mixed population of microorganisms. The quantities of soluble carbohydrate released by the roots grown in the absence of microorganisms and the numbers of bacteria which developed in the inoculated solutions were determined. Except for the first 4 days after germination, a greater biomass was produced than could be accounted for by the utilization of the carbohydrates released by the roots grown in the absence of microorganisms; this supports the view that the microorganisms stimulate the loss of soluble organic materials. These results are considered in relation to microbial activity in the soil and in particular to the significance of N₂ fixation by free-living rhizosphere bacteria in the nitrogen economy of plants.     

不同生育阶段洪涝淹没时长对水稻生长发育及产量构成的影响

夏季小流域洪涝常常导致南方稻田受淹并成灾。为探究小流域洪涝淹没时长对水稻生长发育及产量的影响,于2015—2016年在广西象州县选用丝香1号和百香139进行双季稻淹水试验,分别设分蘖期、孕穗期和开花期淹没0(对照CK)、2、4、6、8、10 d处理,测定淹没前后的茎蘖数变化、抽穗期及收获后的每穗粒数、结实率、千粒质量和每盆稻谷产量,并对产量构成因素进行相关分析和通径分析。结果表明:与对照组相比,同一生育期内淹没时间越长茎蘖死亡率越高、植株恢复生长越慢,但不同的淹没时期影响程度和主要影响对象存在差异。分蘖期淹没超过6d则死苗率大于80%,且不能完全恢复生长,收获时水稻茎蘖数显著低于对照组;孕穗期淹没超过6d则死苗率大于50%,而淹没小于4 d的处理水稻能恢复生长,收获时水稻茎蘖高于对照组;开花期淹没10 d死苗率不足50%,收获时茎蘖数与对照组差异不显著。分蘖期淹没小于4 d水稻始穗期及抽穗持续时间均无显著变化,大于8 d则水稻始穗期显著推迟,抽穗持续时间增加;孕穗期受淹没则会使水稻始穗期推迟,抽穗持续时间显著增加,甚至收割时也未能达到齐穗期标准。分蘖期淹没小于4 d,单株产量无显著下降,淹没6 d及以上则减产率大于80%;孕穗期及开花期淹没超过2 d则减产率大于50%。不同生育期淹没处理下产量的主要因素不同,分蘖期主要受有效穗数和结实率影响,孕穗期受结实率及每穗粒数影响,开花期受结实率和有效穗数影响。研究可为建立西南地区双季稻洪涝灾害指标体系和提出减灾管理措施提供依据。     

Triticale,wheat, and rye growth rates and mineral accumulation at various growth stages

Abstract

Cultivars of triticale, wheat, and rye were grown with different N‐fertilizer rates and sampled at various maturity stages in 1975 to 1977. ‘6TA 131’ triticale, ‘Arthur’ wheat, and ‘Abruzzi’ rye were used as checks. Increasing N fertilizer rates increased dry matter and N accumulation in the above‐ground plant parts. However, after flowering losses of dry matter and N from the plants increased with N fertilizer rates. Triticale and rye generally absorbed more N from the soil than wheat. Triticale and wheat straw had higher P concentrations than rye. The head/straw concentration ratios were: triticale and rye>wheat for P, wheat>triticale and rye for K while Ca and Mg ratios were triticale>wheat>rye.     

Interactive effects of plant growth regulators and nitrogen on corn growth and nitrogen use efficiency

Our objective was to determine the combined effect of some plant growth regulators and nitrogen (N) on corn growth, yield and nitrogen use efficiency. A potted experiment was conducted with two levels of growth regulators [i.e. with or without treatment with Seed king (Kinetine), Root king (Indole-butyric acid) and More king (Chitosan)], two maize cultivars (Calabar White and Obatanpa-98 and three nitrogen rates (0, 90 and 180 kg/ha in the form of urea). The measured parameters were growth attributes, nitrogen uptake, dry matter yield, harvest-index, shoot to root ratio, yield attributes and agronomic and physiological nitrogen use efficiency. Calabar White had taller plants (154.53 cm) more leaves (12.00) and larger leaf area (466.98 cm²) than obatanpa-98 at 6 weeks after sowing. The dry matter yield of both leaf and stem increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with increasing N rates but the growth regulators significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased only the leaf dry matter. The interaction between growth regulators and nitrogen significantly affected the leaf dry matter but not the stem dry matter. There was a considerable (P ≤ 0.05) increase in harvest-index (HI) at the 90 kg/ha N rate with growth regulators and Obatanpa-98 had better HI (30.81%) than Calabar White (27.41%). Obatanpa 98 also had much (P ≤ 0.05) higher grain yield (87.42 g/plant) than Calabar White (65.40 g/plant) but for both cultivars, the grain yield increased progressively with increasing N rate. The uptake of N differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) among the different partitions of maize (leaves, stems and grains) at various growth stages. Calabar White had the highest N uptake in the leaves and stem whether at silking or at harvest. Obatanpa-98 partitioned more N to the grains than Calabar White. Agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (ANUE) was highest (21.31 gg^?1) at the 90 kg/ha N rate with Obatanpa-98 having a superior (20.26 gg^?1) ANUE to Calabar White (15.94 gg^?1). The physiological nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) was also highest (8.14 g/kg) at the 90 kg/ha N rate with Obatanpa-98 being more efficient (8.08 gkg) than Calabar White (6.26 g/kg). Thus, both cultivars treated with 90 kgN/ha with or without growth regulators would best optimize nitrogen fertilizer use. However, the growth regulators increased the yield of Calabar White significantly only when no N was applied. In contrast, they increased the yield of the hybrid Obatanpa-98 at all N rates especially at the 180 kgN/ha rate. Thus, under the low input cropping common with Calabar White, treatment with the growth regulators would boost yield. A combined treatment of 180 kg N/ha with the growth regulators would ensure the best yield of Obatanpa-98.