Suitability of foliar N applied to rainfed maize in permanent beds after 12 crop seasons of granular N application

Abstract

Yield and kernel quality of rainfed maize as affected by N fertilizer has been generally evaluated through the application of granular N sources at high rates. The purpose of this work was to estimate the response of maize yield and quality (kernel hardness—floating index, weight and test weight -, P uptake and protein) to foliar N application and preceding granular N. Data for this report were collected in 2014 and 2015 in a long-term experiment established in 2002 under permanent beds in a split plot arrangement. Main plot treatments were three foliar N rates (0, 4.5 and 9?kg ha^?1) laid out on the top of four preceding granular N rates (0, 20, 40 and 60?kg ha^?1) applied from 2002 to 2013 as subplots. Weather conditions were relatively wetter in 2014 than 2015. In 2014, test weight and floating index improved over that in 2015. Foliar application of 9?kg N ha^?1 enhanced yield and protein. In 2014, yield response to preceding N rates showed an increasing trend whereas in 2015 response was null. Kernel P uptake response to preceding N rates showed a differential reaction among foliar N rates; 9?kg ha^?1 showed the greatest uptake. Kernel floating index was associated to kernel P uptake. Apparently, this relationship has not been previously reported. Results suggests that the application of 9?kg N ha^?1 to foliage of rainfed maize grown in permanent beds has the potential to substitute the traditional fertilization practice of granular N sources.     

不同耕作和秸秆覆盖对三北2号玉米产量的影响

连续两年在慈利县研究了不同耕作方式(翻耕和免耕)和不同油菜秸秆覆盖量(全量、半量、0)对三北2号玉米产量和主要农艺性状的影响,以评价和筛选适合当地的耕作模式。结果表明,与免耕处理相比,翻耕各处理玉米平均产量增加了2.36%~9.11%,且在高温干旱年份(2013年)比雨水较多年份(2014年)增幅大。玉米单产均是秸秆全量覆盖处理半量覆盖处理不覆盖处理。翻耕+秸秆全量覆盖在连续两年的试验中产量均为最高,可在慈利县推广。     

Effects of different soil conservation tillage approaches on soil nutrients,water use and wheat-maize yield in rainfed dry-land regions of North China

Excessive tillage compromises soil quality by causing severe water shortages that can lead to crop failure. Reports on the effects of conservation tillage on major soil nutrients, water use efficiency and gain yield in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) in rainfed regions in the North China Plain are relatively scarce. In this work, four tillage approaches were tested from 2004 to 2012 in a randomized study performed in triplicate: one conventional tillage and three conservation tillage experiments with straw mulching (no tillage during wheat and maize seasons, subsoiling during the maize season but no tillage during the wheat season, and ridge planting during both wheat and maize seasons). Compared with conventional tillage, by 2012, eight years of conservation tillage treatments (no tillage, subsoiling and ridge planting) resulted in a significant increase in available phosphorus in topsoil (0–0.20 m), by 3.8%, 37.8% and 36.9%, respectively. Soil available potassium was also increased following conservation tillage, by 13.6%, 37.5% and 25.0%, and soil organic matter by 0.17%, 5.65% and 4.77%, while soil total nitrogen was altered by −2.33%, 4.21% and 1.74%, respectively. Meanwhile, all three conservation tillage approaches increased water use efficiency, by 19.1–28.4% (average 24.6%), 10.1–23.8% (average 15.9%) and 11.2–20.7% (average 15.7%) in wheat, maize and annual, respectively. Additionally, wheat yield was increased by 7.9–12.0% (average 10.3%), maize yield by 13.4–24.6% (average 17.4%) and rotation annual yield by 12.3–16.9% (average 14.1%). Overall, our findings demonstrate that subsoiling and ridge planting with straw mulching performed better than conventional tillage for enhancing major soil nutrients and improving grain yield and water use efficiency in rainfed regions in the North China Plain.     

Genetic Variation for Maize Epicuticular Wax Response to Drought Stress at Flowering

Drought stress is thought to promote epicuticular wax accumulation on maize leaves, which reduces plant water loss. We evaluated 62 maize inbred lines and their hybrid testcross progeny for epicuticular wax accumulation on flag leaves at flowering under full and limited irrigation regimes. Extracted wax was measured as a percentage of wax weight to leaf weight (WLW) and leaf area (WLA). Eleven genotypes had above average WLW as both inbred lines and hybrid testcrosses. Thirteen genotypes had above average WLA as either inbred lines or hybrid testcrosses. The drought treatment did not significantly alter WLW or WLA. Heritability of WLW was 0.17 (inbred lines) and 0.58 (hybrid testcrosses). Heritability of WLA was 0.41 (inbred lines) and 0.59 (hybrid testcrosses), suggesting it is a better trait than WLW for epicuticular wax screening. Correlations (r) between inbred lines and their testcross progeny were 0.44 and 0.18, for WLW and WLA, respectively. Heritability of grain weight per ear and plot yield was highest in hybrid testcrosses, with no correlation between inbred and hybrid germplasm. It is not warranted to evaluate epicuticular wax accumulation as the sole drought tolerance mechanism. However, it may be a good secondary trait to observe in relation to grain yield production in hybrids tested under water‐limiting conditions.     

Effect of Cropping on Changes in Phosphorus Fractions of Soils from Arable and Other Forest Land Use: A Greenhouse Bioassay

Abstract

Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted on six soils from natural reserves, seven plantation soils, and two arable soils from the Omo biosphere reserves in southwestern Nigeria to assess the phosphorus (P) fractions and the extent to which the soils could support five consecutive cycles of maize (Zea mays L.) harvest. The organic‐P fractions constitutes about 50% of the total P, and the inorganic‐P fractions in the order of abundance was iron (Fe) P>occluded P>aluminum (Al)‐P>calcium (Ca) P. The residual P constituted about 20% of the total P. There were significant reductions in the inorganic‐P fractions after five consecutive maize harvests; this was however, more pronounced in the available P (Bray 1). About 62% reduction in Bray 1 P was recorded after maize harvests. The reductions in the P forms after five cycles of maize harvest was Bray 1 P>Ca P>residual P>Al P>total P>Fe P>organic P>occluded P>reductant P. The capacity of the soils to support maize growth without fertilization varied widely in each of the maize cycle. Soil from natural reserves produced a significantly higher maize yield compared to most plantation soils. The arable soils investigated were depleted of their fertility after the third crop harvest.     

Response of Maize and Cowpea Grown Sequentially to Application of Phosphate Rock in the Humid Tropics

Field trials were conducted at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training Ibadan in 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons to evaluate the efficiency of some phosphorus (P) sources, rates, and frequency of application on grain yields of maize and cowpea grown sequentially. The experiment was laid out in a split–split plot arrangement using randomized complete block design, with three replications. The main plot was frequency of fertilizer application (seasonal and annual). Source of P [single superphosphate (SSP: 18% P₂O₅)]; Ogun rock phosphate (OPR: 20.21% P₂O₅), and crystallizer super (CS: 31.4% P₂O₅) constituted the subplots. The P rates (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg P ha^?1) were the sub-subplots. An early maize cropping followed by a late-season cowpea was the sequential cropping, while an early maize followed by a late-season maize was the continuous cropping. The croppings were repeated the second year. Frequency of P application and source of P were significantly different while rates of application were not. Maize and cowpea grain yields from the control treatment were significantly less than yields from P-treated plots. Maize grain yields were slightly greater in plots alternated with cowpea, compared to continuous maize. Relative agronomic efficiency (RAE) values of OPR and CS were 67% and 75%, respectively, in annual application and 140% and 134% in seasonal applications, respectively, in 2000. In 2001, the trend was almost similar to 2000 except that there was a decline in RAE values of cowpea. Each Naira invested in the annual application returned about ?3.12 while about ?2.13 was returned with the seasonal application (?125.00 is the equivalent of USD$1.00). The OPR and CS can serve as alternatives to water-soluble sources such as SSP.     

Comparison of nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen utilization efficiency between elite inbred lines and the landraces of maize

Abstract

Inadequate supply of nitrogen (N) fertilizers results in lower N use efficiency (NUE) and higher N losses which cause environmental deterioration, such as nitrate pollution of groundwater and emission of nitrous greenhouse gases. One way to increase NUE is to use N-efficient cultivars, which grow better under reduced N supplies. Both elite inbred lines and landraces are the basis for hybrid breeding in maize. While inbred lines are mostly selected from high N input conditions, landraces are historically distributed in poor soils with low N availability. Therefore, some potential NUE-related traits conserved in the landraces may have been lost during modern breeding processes. In the present study, the N accumulation and utilization efficiency of 15 elite inbred lines and four landraces of maize were compared at low (LN) and high N (HN) input conditions. In general, the grain yields of the inbred lines and the landraces were similar at both N rates. However, nitrogen accumulation ability in landraces was much higher than that of the inbred lines. The high N accumulation of landraces was closely related to their higher biomass, indicating that growth potential is the main driving force for N accumulation. Nevertheless, N utilization efficiency (grain produced per unit N absorbed) of the landraces was significantly lower than that in inbred lines. Correspondingly, assimilation allocation for grain formation, as indicated by the harvest index, was much lower in landraces than in inbred lines. The higher growth potential, and hence, the ability of N accumulation in landraces may be a valuable trait in breeding programs aiming to further improve N use efficiency.     

不同生育期水分胁迫对玉米农艺性状的影响

为了研究不同生育期玉米水分胁迫对玉米农艺性状的影响,为干旱、半干旱地区玉米抗旱提供理论依据。以玉米在苗期、拔节期、抽雄-吐丝、灌浆-成熟期进行水分胁迫,测量玉米株高、穗位高、叶面积、穗部性状,对比充分灌水与非充分灌溉下玉米农艺性状差异。利用Jensen模型求解出玉米各生育期水分敏感系数,验证水分胁迫对玉米产量的影响。结果表明在拔节期进行干旱处理的株高、穗位高、叶面积受影响较大,有明显的抑制作用。抽雄—吐丝期干旱胁迫对穗部性状的形成较为明显,并且对产量影响较大。