Maize harvest index and water use efficiency can be improved by inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis

Possibilities to improve maize harvest index and nutrient utilization efficiency by application of plant growth regulators were investigated. In container experiments, the effects of different growth regulators on the development of the maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars Pioneer 3906 and Fabregas were tested. Paclobutrazol (PAC) and chlorocholine chloride (CCC), two inhibitors of gibberellin biosynthesis, as well as gibberellic acid (GA₃) were applied at growth stage V5. Three weeks after application of PAC, shoot growth of both maize cultivars was strongly affected with a significant decrease in plant height in the PAC treatment by 44% and 36% for Pioneer 3906 and Fabregas, respectively. The growth‐retarded plants had higher leaf areas and reduced transpiration rates. The higher shoot growth after GA₃ application was accompanied by a reduction in leaf area and an increase in transpiration rate during 1 week before anthesis. CCC treatment showed no significant effects on plant height, leaf area and transpiration rate. The PAC‐treated cultivar Pioneer 3906 produced several cobs per plant, which were mainly barren at maturity. However, PAC application to Fabregas resulted in just one cob per plant with good kernel development and a grain yield, which was not significantly reduced in comparison with the control. With this similar grain yield in combination with a straw yield decrease of 32%, the harvest index was significantly improved by 12%. In addition, with PAC‐treated Fabregas plants, a 19% increased water use efficiency of the grain (WUE_grain) during the critical period of kernel setting was achieved. In this maize cultivar, CCC application also improved harvest index by 5%, but no effect on WUE_grain occurred. GA₃ treatment decreased harvest index of both maize cultivars, and it either reduced WUE_grain (Pioneer 3906) or showed no effect (Fabregas). Utilization efficiencies of N, P and K were not increased with growth regulator application, even in the PAC‐treated Fabregas plants with a significantly improved allocation of assimilates to the grain, mirrored by the higher harvest index. The results indicate that fertilizer applications must be adjusted to the reduced demand of growth‐retarded plants, most likely leading to higher nutrient utilization efficiencies.     

Potassium accumulation,partitioning, and remobilization in high-yield spring maize in Northeast China

Potassium (K) plays an important role in maize yield, but K accumulation characteristics in high yielding maize is still not well documented. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the K accumulation characteristics of high yield (HY)（>15 t ha^?1）spring maize compared with medium yield (MY)（10–15 t ha^?1), and low yield (LY)（<10 t ha^?1). The maximum K accumulation stage in maize appeared between V6 and V12 stage (LY, MY, and HY was 125.46, 138.05, and 146.22?kg ha^?1, respectively). Most of the K (94.27–97.13%) was accumulated during vegetative stages. HY exhibited a significantly higher K accumulation than either MY or LY. For different organs, the K remobilization amount of leaf was the highest, and the remobilization amount of stalk was the lowest, the K remobilization amount of leaf and stalk showed as HY?<?MY?<?LY, same as the total K remobilization amount, but the K remobilization amount of sheath and husk plus cob showed the opposite order. These results indicated that sufficient nutrient supply for maize can not only accumulate more K but also delay leaf senescence and maintain high photosynthetic activity, resulting in reduced K remobilization from vegetative organs, and reduced K loss in whole plant.     

播期对夏玉米生长发育及产量的影响

2018年在湖南省桃源县木塘垸乡,以临奥1号、湘农玉27号和郑单958为材料,设置5个播期处理,T1(5月8日)、T2(5月16日)、T3(5月24日)、T4(6月4日)、T5(6月14日),研究不同播期对夏玉米生长发育和产量形成的影响。结果表明:播期延后,玉米的生育期缩短,湘农玉27号、郑单958和临奥1号全生育期分别缩短5、5、4d;从吐丝期至成熟期,早播处理(T1、T2)的干物质积累量大于晚播处理(T3、T4、T5)的,各品种均以T1处理的最大;至成熟期,湘农玉27号、临奥1号、郑单958的干物质积累量分别为24576.2、25087.7、26367kg/hm~2;3个品种的叶面积指数在吐丝期最大,播期推迟,叶面积指数逐渐下降;3个品种T3、T4、T5处理的倒伏倒折率均高于T1、T2处理的,倒伏倒折率从高至低依次为湘农玉27号、临奥1号、郑单958;空秆率各处理间无显著差异,品种间差异也较小,空秆率从高至低依次为临奥1号、郑单958、湘农玉27号;3个品种的产量均以T1处理的最高,播期推迟,3个品种的产量均下降,且播种日期越晚,产量降低幅度越大;在本试验区域宜在5月上旬或中旬播种玉米。     

Substitution of chemical fertilizer by Chinese milk vetch improves the sustainability of yield and accumulation of soil organic carbon in a double-rice cropping system

The double-rice cropping system is a very important intensive cropping system for food security in China. There have been few studies of the sustainability of yield and accumulation of soil organic carbon(SOC) in the double-rice cropping system following a partial substitution of chemical fertilizer by Chinese milk vetch(Mv). We conducted a 10-year(2008–2017) field experiment in Nan County, South-Central China, to examine the double-rice productivity and SOC accumulation in a paddy soil in response to different fertilization levels and Mv application(22.5 Mg ha~(–1)). Fertilizer and Mv were applied both individually and in combination(sole chemical fertilizers, Mv plus 100, 80, 60, 40, and 0% of the recommended dose of chemical fertilizers, labeled as F100, MF100, MF80, MF60, MF40, and MF0, respectively). It was found that the grain yields of double-rice crop in treatments receiving Mv were reduced when the dose of chemical fertilizer was reduced, while the change in SOC stock displayed a double peak curve. The MF100 produced the highest double-rice yield and SOC stock, with the value higher by 13.5 and 26.8% than that in the F100. However, the grain yields increased in the MF80(by 8.4% compared to the F100), while the SOC stock only increased by 8.4%. Analogous to the change of grain yield, the sustainable yield index(SYI) of double rice were improved significantly in the MF100 and MF80 compared to the F100, while there was a slight increase in the MF60 and MF40. After a certain amount of Mv input(22.5 Mg ha~(–1)), the carbon sequestration rate was affected by the nutrient input due to the stimulation of microbial biomass. Compared with the MF0, the MF100 and MF40 resulted in a dramatically higher carbon sequestration rate(with the value higher by 71.6 and 70.1%),whereas the MF80 induced a lower carbon sequestration rate with the value lower by 70.1% compared to the MF0. Based on the above results we suggested that Mv could partially replace chemical fertilizers(e.g., 40–60%) to improve or maintain the productivity and sustainability of the double-rice cropping system in South-Central China.     

施用锌肥和遮阴互作对花生生长发育、抗病性及产量的影响

采用大田裂区试验，研究了施用锌肥和不同遮阴程度互作对花生生长发育、抗病性及产量的影响。结果表明，与不施锌肥相比，施用锌肥能提高花生不同部位锌含量、增加叶片SPAD值，提高花生叶片中可溶性糖、蛋白质和生长素含量，减少花生病害的发生，平均降低7.1个百分点，花生产量平均增加19.4%。相同施锌水平下，随着遮阴程度的增加，花生不同部位锌的含量和不同生育期叶片SPAD值以及花生叶片中可溶性糖、蛋白质和生长素含量呈增加趋势，花生的发病率比不遮阴对照增加4.8、10.2个百分点，花生产量平均降低16.5%、10.0%。在30%、70%的遮阴条件下，施用锌肥的花生产量比不施锌的分别提高21.1%、25.0%。本试验条件下，施用七水硫酸锌30 kg/hm2，使花生具有较强的抗低温寡照能力及抗病性能，增产显著，可在花生产区推广应用。     

山东近海口虾蛄单位补充量渔获量评估

为完善口虾蛄的基础生物学资料,并为口虾蛄资源的管理提供科学指导和理论依据,本研究根据2016至2017年山东近海渔业资源底拖网调查获得的口虾蛄体长、体质量数据,估算了口虾蛄的生长、死亡参数,构建了基于体长结构的单位补充量渔获量(YPR)模型,研究口虾蛄的资源动态和管理策略。采集调查口虾蛄样品共5028尾,体长—体质量关系的表达式为W=0.0145L2.88,为负异速生长;使用ELEFAN方法估算出口虾蛄的渐进体长L∞为19.87 cm,生长速率K为0.62 a−1。口虾蛄的生长表现出明显的季节性变化规律,生长参数的季节振幅C为0.76,10月份生长最快,4月份生长最慢。通过体长转换的渔获曲线估算出口虾蛄的总死亡系数Z为3.24 a−1,根据不同方法估算自然死亡系数M的范围为0.75~1.27 a−1,捕捞死亡系数F的估算范围为1.96~2.49 a−1,开发率的均值为0.67。YPR模型结果显示,随着F增大,YPR值呈现先上升后下降的趋势,生物学参考点F0.1和Fmax的值分别为0.92a−1和1.88a−1。口虾蛄资源处于过度开发的状态,应降低捕捞压力,同时调整开捕体长,以维持口虾蛄渔业资源量和渔获量。     

拔节后补灌对不同穗型冬小麦耗水和籽粒产量的影响

为探究拔节期和开花期不同补灌方案对不同穗型冬小麦耗水特性、籽粒产量和水分利用效率的影响，于2017-2019年在山东省泰安市以大穗型品种山农23和中多穗型品种山农29为试验材料，以拔节后无灌水(T1)为对照，设置拔节期补灌目标为0~20 cm土层相对含水率达100%田间持水率(T2)、拔节期和开花期补灌目标为0~20 cm土层相对含水率达100%田间持水率(T3)和拔节期补灌目标为0~40 cm土层相对含水率达100%田间持水率(T4) 3种补灌方案。结果表明，拔节后不同补灌方案对大穗型和多穗型小麦品种影响基本一致。与T1处理相比，T4处理显著提高了0~100 cm土层土壤相对含水率，使60~100 cm土层土壤相对含水率在开花期仍保持较高水平；T3处理显著提高了拔节期0～60 cm和开花期0~40 cm土层土壤相对含水率。与T3处理相比，T4处理的拔节至开花阶段耗水量增加了28.9%，其中对上层土壤总供水的表观消耗量增加了66.4%；T4处理在开花至成熟阶段对深层土壤总供水的表观消耗量增加了68.0%，对上层土壤总供水的表观消耗量降低了37.4%。在开花至成熟期降水较多(121.2 mm)的年份，T4处理的开花至成熟阶段耗水量、开花后旗叶净光合速率和籽粒产量相对于T3处理均无显著变化，但总耗水量较高，水分利用效率显著降低；在开花至成熟期降水较少(45.2 mm)的年份，T4处理的开花至成熟期的阶段耗水量、开花后旗叶净光合速率、籽粒产量和水分利用效率较T3处理均显著降低。因此，在小麦全生育期降水量为111.6~220.2 mm、开花后降水量为45.2~121.2 mm的条件下，大穗型和中多穗型小麦品种均以在拔节期和开花期将0~20 cm土层补灌至100%田间持水率的补灌方案最优，可同时实现高产和高水分利用效率。     

Weed seedling emergence in contrasting fodder crop systems following 30 years of cultivation in the lowlands of Northern Italy

Five fodder crop systems of different intensity (ranging from a double annual crop of Italian ryegrass + silage maize to a permanent meadow) were adopted for 30 years in the lowlands of Northern Italy under two input levels, differing mainly in their provision of organic fertiliser (manure). Herbicides were used in the maize crops included in all systems, except the meadow. After 30 years, the weed seedbank of all systems and input levels were assessed by the seedling emergence technique on soil samples from each plot. The cropping systems determined the abundance and composition of the weed assembly. Relatively few, frequent species made up the majority of the emerged seedlings in all systems, and there was no relationship between the total number of emerged seedlings and the mean number of species recorded in the different systems. Arabidopsis thaliana and Oxalis corniculata were abundant in the annual double crop and in the 3- and 6-year rotations that also comprised the annual double crop. These weeds, however, were unlikely to represent a major threat to the crops, due to their vigour and growth period. The permanent meadow tended to greater weed biodiversity than the other systems. The application of manure favoured the seedbank of species such as Lolium multiflorum, Digitaria sanguinalis and A. thaliana. Weed communities in the different systems were mainly determined by herbicide application, (through the ability of weeds to avoid its effects, determined by the weed life history and emergence period) and manure application (with its possible dual effect of spreading weed seeds and favouring nitrogen-responsive weeds).     

不同行距配比对玉米光合生理指标及茎秆特性的影响

以‘大丰30’为试验材料,在同一密度下（75000株/hm²）设置5种不同行距配比,研究不同行距配比对玉米光合生理指标及茎秆力学特性的影响。结果表明：行距配比为40 cm×80 cm时,棒三叶的叶绿素含量(SPAD)在灌浆期达到峰值;行距配比为30 cm×90 cm时,棒三叶净光合速率在灌浆期最高。大口期开始,行距配比为40 cm×80 cm时,叶面积指数(LAI)最高。单株干物质积累量以40 cm×80 cm最高。各行距配比的茎秆硬皮穿刺强度与茎秆弯曲性能随着节位的下降均呈逐渐增强的趋势,从大到小为 40 cm×80 cm>50 cm×70 cm>30 cm×90 cm>60 cm×60 cm>20 cm×100 cm。穗长、穗粗、千粒重和穗粒数各处理间均有不同变化,行距配比为40 cm×80 cm时产量最高,比等行距60 cm×60 cm增产7.96%。由此可见,行距配比为40 cm×80 cm,有利于大穗型品种‘大丰30’的光合性能和茎秆强度的提高,从而达到抗倒伏增产的目的。     

基于纳米碳添加的减量施肥模式对寒地水稻产量及氮肥效率的影响

为解决减量施肥造成北方寒地水稻肥料供给不足和产量低的问题,以纳米碳增效剂为材料,采用仪器快速检测和植株常规测定分析方法,研究纳米碳添加的常规施肥和减量施肥模式对水稻产量性状和肥料利用效率的影响。结果表明：与常规施肥(CK)相比,纳米碳添加的常规施肥模式(SM-A)、减施氮肥10%(SM-B)和减施氮肥20%(SM-C)对水稻植株形态特征、光合生理特性、产量性状和肥料利用效率产生显著的影响,其中以SM-B增幅最大,SM-A次之,SM-C最小;SM-A、SM-B和SM-C增加经济效益分别为563.56、1374.20和-1391.08元/hm ²,以SM-B增效值最高。本研究表明,SM-B能改善生育期光合生理特性,提高植株产量和肥料利用效率,是寒地水稻较为理想的减量施肥安全利用模式。