不同熟期类型玉米品种籽粒灌浆和脱水特性

根据自然生态条件及玉米品种的熟期、籽粒灌浆与脱水特性和产量潜力等进行科学品种布局,是实现玉米高产优质和资源高效利用的重要途径。本试验选用中早熟、中熟和中晚熟3个熟期类型,共13个玉米生产主栽品种,通过测定籽粒干物质积累和含水率的动态变化,研究并明确了不同熟期类型玉米品种的籽粒灌浆和脱水特性,旨在为生产品种布局提供参考和指导。试验结果表明:产量、籽粒灌浆和脱水特性在不同熟期类型和品种间均存在显著差异。产量表现为中晚熟(13,813.0 kg hm^–2)>中熟(12,970.4 kg hm^–2)>中早熟品种(10,729.0 kg hm^–2),中晚熟分别较中早熟和中熟品种增产28.7%和6.5%。平均灌浆速率表现为中早熟(0.034 g 100-grain^–1℃^–1)>中熟(0.031g 100-grain^–1℃^–1)>中晚熟品种(0.027 g 100-grain^–1℃^–1),生理成熟后的平均物理脱水速率表现为中熟(0.027%℃^–1 d–1)>中早熟(0.025%℃^–1 d–1)>中晚熟品种(0.018%℃^–1 d–1)。中早熟代表性品种京农科728的平均灌浆速率和生理成熟后的物理脱水速率。分别较3个熟期代表性品种郑单958、先玉335、农华101高38.5%和112.5%、28.6%和54.5%、28.6%和13.3%;中晚熟代表性品种京科968产量潜力最大(14,813.0 kg hm^–2),且平均灌浆速率和物理脱水速率分别较同熟期品种郑单958高7.7%和18.8%。产量与灌浆期天数、积温、平均灌浆速率和百粒重呈显著或极显著正相关,收获期籽粒含水率与灌浆期天数和积温显著正相关、与生理降水速率和物理脱水速率极显著负相关,生理降水速率和物理脱水速率与平均灌浆速率相关性不显著。综上,中早熟、中熟和中晚熟3个不同熟期类型及不同玉米品种的籽粒灌浆和脱水特性差异显著,生产中品种布局除考虑熟期外还需兼顾该特性,以更利于实现玉米高产优质和资源高效利用。     

不同熟期夏玉米品种籽粒灌浆脱水特性和激素含量变化

本文旨在研究不同熟期夏玉米品种籽粒灌浆与脱水特性和内源激素含量与平衡的变化,以期为黄淮海夏玉米机械化收获籽粒和高产高效品种筛选提供理论依据。以早熟玉米品种登海518(DH518)、衡早8号(HZ8)和晚熟玉米品种郑单958(ZD958)、登海605(DH605)为试验材料,研究玉米籽粒形成过程中干物质积累、水分含量及内源激素含量变化。结果表明,早熟品种较晚熟品种灌浆期短,籽粒开始脱水早,脱水速率高,生理成熟期粒重低,产量低,但早熟品种中DH518的产量显著高于HZ8。不同熟期玉米品种籽粒内源激素含量及其变化模式不同,但同一激素含量随籽粒发育的变化趋势一致。两早熟品种籽粒的ABA含量高于两晚熟品种,尤其表现在灌浆中后期。各品种籽粒灌浆、脱水速率均与内源激素含量有关,两早熟品种的籽粒脱水速率与玉米素核苷(ZR)含量呈显著正相关。     

Genotypic Variation in Maize Shoot Biomass at Different Stages of Development

A diallel cross from nine early-maturing lines of maize was grown in northern Germany during 1981 and 1982 in order to study the genotypic variation of shoot biomass at early and late stages of development. Inbred lines had been chosen from breeding programmes for early and medium early cultivars. Nevertheless, the date of maturity varied between them which can have some influence on the correlation between plant parameters. Plants were harvested at the fourth and sixth leaf stages, at anthesis and at maturity. S.c.a. effects were highly significant for traits during the vegetative stage. G.c.a. effects were highly significant for traits of the mature plant including grain yield components. The ratio of g.c.a. to s.c.a. effects for shoot biomass was dominated throughout the growing season by s.c.a. effects. Hybrids from the diallel cross had a superior growth rate until the fourth leaf stage; thereafter, relative growth rates of lines and hybrids were similar for the average of both groups until maturity. The correlation of g.c.a. effects and s.c.a. effects between shoot biomass throughout the season revealed that no significant relationship existed between early and late stages. G.c.a. and s.c.a. effects for grain yield components, with the exception of hundred kernel weight, were negatively correlated with shoot biomass at an early stage while correlation was positive at maturity. This would probably make it a difficult task to improve shoot growth and grain yield components simultaneously through the season.     

不同熟期类型玉米品种籽粒灌浆和脱水特性

Suitable variety arrangement according to the natural ecological conditions, maturity, grain filling and dehydrating characteristics and yield potential of maize hybrid is an important approach for realizing higher maize yield, quality and photothermal resource utilization. Thirteen hybrids widely planted in maize production with three maturity types [medium-early maturity (MEM), medium maturity (MM) and medium-late maturity type (MLM)] were selected to clarify the grain filling and dehydrating characteristics for different maturity hybrids, by investigating the dynamic changes of grain filling and moisture content. The results showed that yield, grain filling and dehydrating characteristics differed significantly between different maturities and hybrids. Average yield level showed MLM (13,813.0 kg hm^-2) > MM (12,970.4 kg hm^-2) > MEM (10,729.0 kg hm^-2), with MLM was 28.7% and 6.5% higher than that of MLM and MM type, respectively. Average grain filling rate showed MEM (0.034 g 100-grain^-1 ℃^-1) > MM (0.031 g 100-grain^-1 ℃^-1) > MLM (0.027 g 100-grain^-1 ℃^-1), average dehydrating rate after physiological maturity (PM) showed MM (0.027% ℃^-1 d^-1) > MEM (0.025% ℃^-1 d^-1) > MLM (0.018% ℃^-1 d^-1). Average grain filling rate and dehydrating rate after PM of MEM representative hybrid Jingnongke 728 were 38.5% and 112.5%, 28.6% and 54.5%, 28.6% and 13.3% higher than those of representative hybrid Zhengdan 958, Xianyu 335 and Nonghua 101 for three maturity type; the yield of Jingke 968 was the highest (14,813.0 kg hm^-2), average grain filling rate and dehydrating rate after PM was7.7% and 18.8% higher than the same maturity hybrid Zhengdan 958. Yield level was significantly or extremely significantly correlated with grain filling period, corresponding accumulated temperature, average grain filling rate and 100-grain weight; grain moisture content at harvest stage was significantly correlated with grain filling period and corresponding accumulated temperature, but negatively significantly correlated with dehydrating rate before and after PM; there were no significant correlation between dehydrating rate before and after PM with average grain filling rate. Maturity, grain filling and dehydrating characteristics were all important factors for higher maize yield, quality and photothermal resource utilization. This study indicated that maize grain filling and dehydrating characteristics differed significantly between different maturity types and hybrids. Maturity, grain filling and dehydrating characteristics should be well considered for variety arrangement in maize production in order to achieve higher maize yield, quality and photothermal resource utilization.     

Increased utilization of lengthening growing season and warming temperatures by adjusting sowing dates and cultivar selection for spring maize in Northeast China

Global warming has lengthened the theoretical growing season of spring maize in Northeast China (NEC), and the temperatures during the growing season have increased. In practise, crop producers adjust sowing dates and alternate crop cultivars to take advantage of the lengthening growing season and increasing temperatures. In this study, we used crop data and daily weather data for 1981–2007 at five locations in NEC to quantify the utilization of the lengthening growing season and increasing temperatures by adjusting sowing dates and cultivar selection for spring maize production. If these two positive factors are not fully utilized, then it is important to know the potential impacts of these climatic trends on spring maize grain yields. The results show that in NEC, both the actual and theoretical growing seasons are lengthening, i.e., the sowing dates have been advanced and the maturity dates have been delayed. The actual sowing dates are 1–8 days later and the actual maturity dates are 6–22 days earlier than the theoretical perspective. Advancing sowing dates and changing cultivars led to 0–5 days and 6–26 days extension of the growing season. For the potential thermal time (TT), adjusting the sowing dates decreased the unutilized TT before sowing, while the cultivar selection increased the utilized TT and decreased the unutilized TT after maturity. On average, the unutilized heating resource before sowing is less than that after the maturity date (0.3–1.9% vs. 2.1–7.8%). During 1981–2007, for per day extension of the growing season, the spring maize grain yield increased by 75.2 kg ha⁻¹. The spring maize grain yields have increased by 7.1–57.2% when both early sowing and changing cultivars during 1981–2007. In particular, adjusting the sowing dates increased the grain yield by 1.1–7.3%, which was far less than the increase effect (6.5–43.7%) from switching to late maturing cultivars. Therefore, selecting late maturing cultivars is an important technique to improve maize grain yields in NEC under the global warming context. Nevertheless, if the currently unutilized TT were fully explored, the local spring maize grain yield would have increased by 12.0–38.4%.     

Toward yield improvement of early-season rice: Other options under double rice-cropping system in central China

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain yields vary considerably between seasons under subtropical irrigated conditions. Reports on comparisons of grain yield between early- and late-season rice in subtropical environments are lacking. In order to evaluate the role of climatic and physiological factors under double rice-cropping system in determining rice grain yield in farmers’ fields, six field experiments were conducted in both early and late seasons from 2008 to 2010 in Wuxue County, Hubei province, China. For early season crop, the attainable yield was highest under dense planting (38.5 hills m⁻²) when N was applied at a rate of 120–180 kg ha⁻¹. However, the effect of hill density on grain yield was relatively smaller for late season crop, while moderate hill density (28.1 hills m⁻²) and nitrogen rate (120 kg ha⁻¹) were advantageous in terms of grain yield and lodging resistance. Remarkably higher grain yields were achieved in late season crops compared with early season crops, as the former had superiority over the latter in sink size (sink capacity, such as spikelets per m²) and biomass production. The comparatively lower yield under early season mainly resulted from slower growth during the vegetative phase, which can be attributed to the lower temperature rather than reduced mean daily radiation. Summary statistics suggested that there was ample opportunity to improve rice yield in early season crops, compared with late season crops. Correlation analysis further showed that spikelets per m², panicles per m², leaf area index at panicle initiation and flowering, biomass at physiological maturity and biomass accumulation after flowering should be emphasized for increasing grain yield, especially in early season crops under the double rice-cropping system in central China. Current breeding programs need to target strong tillering ability, large panicle size and greater grain filling (%) for early season crops, and high yield potential and lodging-resistance for late season crops as primary objectives.     

Impact of Water Stress on Maize Grown Off-Season in a Subtropical Environment

During the last decade, the production of off‐season maize has increased in several regions of Brazil. Growing maize during this season, with sowing from January through April, imposes several climatic risks that can impact crop yield. This is mainly caused by the high variability of precipitation and the probability of frost during the reproduction phases. High production risks are also partially due to the use of cultivars that are not adapted to the local environmental conditions. The goal of this study was to evaluate crop growth and development and associated yield, yield components and water use efficiency (WUE) for maize hybrids with different maturity ratings grown off‐season in a subtropical environment under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. Three experiments were conducted in 2001 and 2002 in Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, Brazil with four hybrids of different maturity duration, AG9010 (very short season), DAS CO32 and Exceler (short season) and DKB 333B (normal season). Leaf area index (LAI), plant height and dry matter were measured approximately every 18 days. Under rainfed conditions, the soil water content in the deeper layers was reduced, suggesting that the extension of the roots into these layers was a response to soil water limitations. On average, WUE varied from 1.45 kg m⁻³ under rainfed conditions to 1.69 kg m⁻³ under irrigated conditions during 2001. The average yield varied from 4209 kg ha⁻¹ for the hybrids grown under rainfed conditions to 5594 kg ha⁻¹ under irrigated conditions during 2001. Yield reductions under rainfed conditions were affected by the genotype. For the hybrid DKB 333B with a normal maturity, yield was reduced by 25.6 % while the short maturity hybrid Exceler was the least impacted by soil water limitations with a yield reduction of only 8.4 %. To decrease the risk of yield loss, the application of supplemental irrigation should be considered by local farmers, provided that this practice is not restricted by either economic considerations or the availability of sufficient water resources.     

冬小麦–夏玉米周年生产条件下夏玉米的适宜熟期与积温需求特性

本研究旨在探讨冬小麦–夏玉米周年生产条件下黄淮海区夏玉米的适宜熟期与积温需求特性。选用郑单958(ZD958)、先玉335(XY335)、登海605(DH605)、登海618(DH618)和登海661(DH661),设置5月21日、5月31日、6月10日和6月20日4个播期,研究表明,播期对夏玉米生理成熟所需积温无显著影响,各品种生理成熟所需要的积温主要取决于品种自身的特性,DH618、XY335、ZD958、DH605、DH661的生育期和生理成熟所需要积温分别为110、112、116、116、121 d和2800、2880、2945、2950、3025°C d。冬小麦-夏玉米周年生产条件下,夏玉米最大可能的生长期约107~112 d(自6月15日至10月1~5日),积温约2800°C d,难以满足现有品种的生产需要。夏玉米直播晚收、冬小麦适期晚播有利于周年产量提高,但目前广泛推广的夏玉米品种生育期过长(约120 d),适时晚收仍难以完全生理成熟,机收籽粒损伤严重。可见,冬小麦–夏玉米周年生产条件下夏玉米最大可能的生长期和有效积温不能满足目前广泛推广的夏玉米品种所需生育持续期和积温,且适时晚收仍难以完全生理成熟,黄淮海区亟需生育期适宜(生育期≤107 d)的高产夏玉米新品种。     

Water availability affects nectar sugar production and insect visitation of the cup plant Silphium perfoliatum L. (Asteraceae)

The perennial cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) is considered as an alternative feedstock to maize for biogas plants. Due to its ecological advantages of an extensive management and function as food resource for pollinators, it can be grown in Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) since 2018. However, studies at the Julius Kühn-Institute in Braunschweig (Germany) showed that the assumed advantage of the cup plant of a high drought tolerance could not be confirmed regarding aspects of crop production and yield. We complemented this experiment by assessing how different soil moisture conditions affect the production of floral resources and insect visitation. In 2014, we sampled three irrigated and three rainfed plots of the cup plant. We quantified the nectar volume and sugar mass per inflorescence, the number of inflorescences per plant and calculated the total nectar sugar production. We further counted insect visitation on the inflorescences. Due to reduced numbers of inflorescences per plant and an earlier harvest, the estimated nectar sugar production was 58 kg/ha regarding irrigated and 20 kg/ha regarding rainfed plots. Honeybee visitation per inflorescence was about twice as high in the irrigated plots. Furthermore, the early harvest is a disadvantage for wild pollinators with a late activity period.     

Silage yield and quality traits in elite maize hybrids and their relationship to elemental concentrations in juvenile plants

European silage maize is cultivated for animal feed and biogas production. We evaluated 210 factorial crosses of elite dent and flint lines in multilocation trials for agronomic and quality traits together with biomass and shoot concentrations of 10 elements in juvenile plants. Significant genotypic variances, mainly due to general combining ability variance of the dent lines, and high heritabilities were observed for dry matter yield (DMY) and quality traits. DMY was not correlated with quality traits, but methane fermentation yield (MFY) and metabolizable energy content (MEC) showed significant correlations with starch and fibre content. Concentrations of elements N,P,S,K were positively correlated with each other but only in few cases correlated with DMY and quality traits. Parent lines with contrasting P concentrations differed in root morphology traits. Results support DMY as primary trait for selection of silage maize hybrids, but MFY is of negligible importance in breeding for biogas contrary to MEC for animal feed. Neither biomass nor elemental composition of juvenile plants were of predictive value for final DMY or quality traits.     

Effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on the production of biogas from maize and sorghum in a water limited environment

The expansion of biogas production from anaerobic digestion in the Po Valley (Northern Italy) has stimulated the cultivation of dedicated biomass crops, and maize in particular. A mid-term experiment was carried out from 2006 to 2010 on a silt loamy soil in Northern Italy to compare water use and energy efficiency of maize and sorghum cultivation under rain fed and well-watered treatments and at two rates of nitrogen fertilization. The present work hypothesis were: (i) biomass sorghum, for its efficient use of water and nitrogen, could be a valuable alternative to maize for biogas production; (ii) reduction of irrigation level and (iii) application of low nitrogen fertilizer rate increase the efficiency of bioenergy production. Water treatments, a rain fed control (I0) and two irrigation levels (I1 and I2; only one in 2006 and 2009), were compared in a split–split plot design with four replicates. Two fertilizer rates were also tested: low (N1, 60 kg ha⁻¹ of nitrogen; 0 kg ha⁻¹ of nitrogen in 2010) and high (N2, 120 kg ha⁻¹ of nitrogen; 100 kg ha⁻¹ of nitrogen in 2010). Across treatments, sorghum produced more aboveground biomass than maize, respectively 21.6 Mg ha⁻¹ and 16.8 Mg ha⁻¹ (p < 0.01). In both species, biomass yield was lower in I0 than in I1 and I2 (p < 0.01), while I1 and I2 did differ significantly. Nitrogen level never affected biomass yield. Water use efficiency was generally higher in sorghum (52 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹) than in maize (38 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹); the significant interaction between crop and irrigation revealed that water use efficiency did not differ across water levels in sorghum, whereas it significantly increased from I0 and I1 to I2 in maize (p < 0.01). The potential methane production was similar in maize and sorghum, while it was significantly lower in I0 (16505 MJ ha⁻¹) than in I1 and I2 (21700 MJ ha⁻¹). The only significant effect of nitrogen fertilization was found in the calculation of energy efficiency (ratio of energy output and input) that was higher in N1 than in N2 (p < 0.01). These results support the hypothesis that (i) sorghum should be cultivated rather than maize to increase energy efficiency, (ii) irrigation level should replace up to 36% of ETr and (iii) nitrogen fertilizer rate should be minimized to maximize the efficiency in biomass production for anaerobic digestion in the Po Valley.     

Trade-offs between water-use related traits,yield components and mineral nutrition of wheat under Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE)

This study investigated trade-offs between parameters determining water use efficiency of wheat under elevated CO₂ in contrasting growing seasons and a semi-arid environment. We also evaluated whether previously reported negative relationships between nutrient content and transpiration efficiency among wheat genotypes will be maintained under elevated CO₂ conditions. Two cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Scout and Yitpi, purportedly differing in water use efficiency related traits (e.g. transpiration efficiency) but with common genetic backgrounds were studied in a high yielding, high rainfall (2013), and in a low yielding, very dry growing season (2014) under Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE, CO₂ concentration of approximately 550 μmol mol⁻¹) and ambient (approximately 390 μmol mol⁻¹) CO₂. Gas exchange measurements were collected diurnally between stem elongation and anthesis. Aboveground biomass and nutrient content (sum of Ca, K, S, P, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn and Mg) were determined at anthesis. Yield, yield components and harvest index were measured at physiological maturity. Cultivar Scout showed transiently greater transpiration efficiency (measured by gas exchange) over cultivar Yitpi under both ambient and elevated CO₂ conditions, mainly expressed in the high yielding but not in the low yielding season. Nutrient content was on average 13% greater for the lower transpiration efficiency cultivar Yitpi than the cultivar with higher transpiration efficiency (Scout) in the high yielding season across both CO₂ concentrations. Elevated CO₂ stimulated grain yield to a greater extent in the high yielding season than in the low yielding season where increased aboveground biomass earlier in the season did not translate into fertile tillers in cultivar Yitpi. Yield increased 27 and 33% in the high yielding and 0 and 19% in the low yielding season for cultivars Yitpi and Scout, respectively. Intraspecific variation in CO₂ responsiveness related mechanisms of grain yield were observed. These results suggest CO₂-driven trade-offs between traits governing water use efficiency are related to both growing season and intraspecific variations, and under very dry finishes, the trade-offs may even reverse. The negative relationship between nutrient content and transpiration efficiency among wheat genotypes will be maintained under elevated CO₂ conditions.     

Risks of yield loss due to variation in optimum density for different maize genotypes under variable environmental conditions

Understanding the nature of complex genotype‐by‐environment‐by‐management interactions is crucial to identify risks and opportunities for increasing maize yield and profitability in rainfed production systems. The objectives of this study were to (i) define the conditions where hybrids of different maturity and plant densities are viable options in terms of improving productivity, and (ii) quantify the risk levels associated with different genotype‐by‐management combinations in relation to target environments. Responses to plant density were analysed on field experimentation with different genotypes representing early, medium and late maturity types and 2, 4 and 6 plant/m² plant densities at three major or potential dryland maize production environments in Queensland, Australia. Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM)‐Maize module was employed to simulate yield responses and compute the cumulative probability distribution. APSIM simulations suggested that the risk of expecting a yield level less than 2 t/ha increased up to about 17 and 27% for quick and late maturing types, respectively, when density increased to 10 plants/m² in marginal environments such as Emerald. In relatively better environments, however the risk increased only up to 10% for late hybrids, and 7% for a quick hybrid at 10 plants/m². In both high and low potential environments, choice of hybrids and plant densities should be based on seasonal weather forecasts to minimize risks and maximize opportunities for higher yields.     

Effect of biogas digestate,animal manure and mineral fertilizer application on nitrogen flows in biogas feedstock production

The expansion of biogas feedstock cultivation may affect a number of ecosystem processes and ecosystem services, and temporal and spatial dimensions of its environmental impact are subject to a critical debate. However, there are hardly any comprehensive studies available on the impact of biogas feedstock production on the different components of nitrogen (N) balance. The objectives of the current study were (i) to investigate the short-term effects of crop substrate cultivation on the N flows in terms of a N balance and its components (N fertilization, N deposition, N leaching, NH₃ emission, N₂O emission, N recovery in harvested product) for different cropping systems, N fertilizer types and a wide range of N rate, and (ii) to quantify the N footprint of feedstock production in terms of potential N loss per unit of methane produced. In 2007/08 and 2008/09, two field experiments were conducted at two sites in Northern Germany differing in soil quality, where continuous maize (R1), maize–whole crop wheat followed by Italian ryegrass as a double crop (R2), and maize–grain wheat followed by mustard as a catch crop (R3) were grown on Site 1 (sandy loam), and R1 and a perennial ryegrass ley (R4) at Site 2 (sandy soil rich in organic matter). Crops were supplied with varying amounts of N (0–360 kg N ha⁻¹, ryegrass: 0–480 kg N ha⁻¹) supplied as biogas digestate, cattle slurry, pig slurry or calcium-ammonium nitrate (CAN).Mineral-N fertilization of maize-based rotations resulted in negative N balances at N input for maximum yield (Nopt), with R2 having slightly less negative balances than R1 and R3. In contrast, N balances were close to zero for cattle slurry or digestate treatments. Thus, trade-offs between substrate feedstock production and changes of soil organic matter stocks have to be taken into consideration when evaluating biogas production systems. Nitrogen losses were generally dominated by N leaching, whereas for the organically fertilized perennial ryegrass ley the ammonia emission accounted for the largest proportion. Nitrogen balance of the ryegrass ley at Nopt was close to zero (CAN) or highly positive (cattle slurry, digestate). Nitrogen footprint (NFP) was applied as an eco-efficiency measure of N-loss potential (difference of N input and N recovery) related to the unit methane produced. NFP ranged between −11 and +6 kg N per 1000 m³ methane at Nopt for maize-based rotations, without a significant impact of cropping system or N fertilizer type. However, for perennial ryegrass ley, NFP increased up to 65 kg N per 1000 m³. The loose relation between NFP and observed N losses suggests only limited suitability for NFP.     

Comparison of Drought Tolerance of Maize,Sweet Sorghum and Sorghum‐Sudangrass Hybrids

In drought‐prone environments, sweet sorghum and sorghum‐sudangrass hybrids are considered worthy alternatives to maize for biogas production. The biomass productivity of the three crops was compared by growing them side‐by‐side in a rain‐out shelter under different levels of plant available soil water (PASW) during the growing periods of 2008 to 2010 at Braunschweig, Germany. All crops were established under high levels of soil water. Thereafter, the crops either remained at the wet level (60–80 % PASW) or were subjected to moderate (40–50 % PASW) and severe drought stress (15–25 % PASW). While the above‐ground dry weight (ADW) of sweet sorghum and maize was insignificantly different under well‐watered conditions, sweet sorghum under severe drought stress produced 27 % more ADW than maize. The ADW of sorghum‐sudangrass hybrids significantly lagged behind sweet sorghum at all levels of water supply. The three crops differed markedly in their susceptibility to water shortage. Severe drought stress reduced the ADW of maize by 51 %, but only by 37 % for sweet sorghum and 35 % for sorghum‐sudangrass hybrids. The post‐harvest root dry weight (RDW) in the 0–100 cm soil layer for maize, sweet sorghum and sorghum‐sudangrass hybrids averaged 4.4, 6.1 and 2.9 t ha^?1 under wet and 1.9, 5.7 and 2.4 t ha^?1 under severe drought stress. Under these most dry conditions, the sorghum crops had relatively higher RDW and root length density (RLD) in the deeper soil layers than maize. The subsoil RDW proportion (20–100 vs. 0–20 cm) for maize, sweet sorghum and sorghum‐sudangrass hybrids amounted to 6 %, 10 % and 20 %. The higher ADM of sweet sorghum compared with maize under dry conditions is most likely attributable to the deep root penetration and high proportion of roots in the subsoil, which confers the sorghum crop a high water uptake capacity.     

Radiation‐Use Efficiency,Biomass Production,and Grain Yield in Two Maize Hybrids Differing in Drought Tolerance

Drought‐tolerant (DT) maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids have potential to increase yield under drought conditions. However, little information is known about the physiological determinations of yield in DT hybrids. Our objective was to assess radiation‐use efficiency (RUE), biomass production, and yield in two hybrids differing in drought tolerance. Field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 with two hybrids, P1151HR (DT hybrid) and 33D49 (conventional hybrid) under well‐watered (I₁₀₀) and drought (I₅₀) conditions. I₁₀₀ and I₅₀ refer to 100 % and 50 % evapotranspiration requirement, respectively. On average, P1151HR yielded 11–27 % greater than 33D49 at I₁₀₀ and about 40 % greater at I₅₀, At I₁₀₀, greater yield in P1151HR was due to greater biomass at physiological maturity (BM_pm) resulting from greater post‐silking biomass accumulation (BM_post). At I₅₀, both hybrids had similar BM_pm but P1151HR showed a higher harvest index and greater BM_post. RUE differed significantly (P < 0.05) between the hybrids at I₁₀₀, but not at I₅₀. At I₁₀₀, the RUE values for P1151HR and 33D49 were 4.87 and 4.28 g MJ^?1 in 2013, and 3.71 and 3.48 g MJ^?1 in 2014. At I₅₀, the mean RUE was 3.89 g MJ^?1 in 2013 and 3.16 g MJ^?1 in 2014. Results indicate that BM_post is important for maintaining high yield in DT maize.     

Application of the CSM-CERES-Maize model for planting date evaluation and yield forecasting for maize grown off-season in a subtropical environment

In recent years, maize has become one of the main alternative crops for the Autumn–Winter growing season (off-season) in several regions of Brazil. Water deficits, sub-optimum temperatures and low solar radiation levels are some of the more common problems that are experienced during this growing season. However, the impact of variable weather conditions on crop production can be analyzed with crop simulation models. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the Cropping System Model (CSM)-CERES-Maize for its ability to simulate growth, development, grain yield for four different maturity maize hybrids grown off-season in a subtropical region of Brazil, to study the impact of different planting dates on maize performance under rainfed and irrigated conditions, and for yield forecasting for the most common off-season production system. The CSM-CERES-Maize model was evaluated with experimental data collected during three field experiments conducted in Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. The experiments were completely randomized with three replications for the 2001 experiment and four replications for the 2002 experiments. For the yield forecasting application, daily weather data for 2002 were used until the forecast date, complemented with 25 years of historical daily weather data for the remainder of the growing season. Six planting dates were simulated, starting on February 1 and repeated every 15 days until April 15. The evaluation of the CSM-CERES-Maize showed that the model was able to simulate phenology and grain yield for the four hybrids accurately, with normalized RMSE (expressed in percentage) less than 15%. The planting date analysis showed that a delayed planting date from February 1 to April 15 caused a decrease in average yield of 55% for the rainfed and 21% for the irrigated conditions for all hybrids. The yield forecasting analysis demonstrated that an accurate yield forecast could be provided at approximately 45 days prior to the harvest date for all four maize hybrids. These results are promising for farmers and decision makers, as they could have access to accurate yield forecasts prior to final harvest. However, to be able to make practical decisions for stock management of maize grains, it is necessary to develop this methodology for different locations. Future model evaluations might also be needed due to the release of new cultivars by breeders.     

Morphological variation of Medicago sativa subsp. falcata genotypes and their hybrid progeny

Semi-hybrid alfalfa cultivars offer the possibility of capturing non-additive genetic variation. Medicago sativa subsp. falcata and subsp.sativa have been shown to form a heterotic pattern for biomass yield. Objectives of this study were to examine morphological variation in a broad range of falcate germplasm and to determine how falcate morphological variation per se is related to the performance of falcate germplasm in hybrid crosses with subsp. sativa. Falcata genotypes from 40 populations spanning the subspecies native range were selected and biomass yield, plant width, plant height, growth angle, biomass density, plant maturity, and regrowth after cutting were measured on the genotypes and their hybrid progeny three times throughout the growing season. In addition weekly plant heights were measured and growth rates were determined with a Gompertz function. Falcata parental genotypes exhibited a full range of phenotypes for plant width, plant height, growth angle, density, and maturity. Heterosis was not only observed for biomass yield but also for plant width, plant height, and more erect growth habit. The top yielding sativa-falcata hybrids had increased plant width, plant height, and plant density. European germplasm was taller and had faster regrowth than Asian material. Sativa-falcata hybrids produced biomass yield superior to the mid-subspecies mean only after two to three weeks of growth prior to first and third harvests. Prior to second harvest, biomass production was inferior to the mid-subspecies mean for 30 days. Hybrids using falcata as one parent are not currently adapted to intensive harvest management due to their slower regrowth. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

不同熟期夏玉米品种籽粒灌浆与脱水特性及其密度效应

研究不同熟期夏玉米品种籽粒灌浆与脱水特性及种植密度的调控作用, 以期为黄淮海地区夏玉米籽粒机收提供科学依据。2016—2017年在山东农业大学玉米科技创新园, 种植早熟玉米品种登海518 (DH518)、衡早8号(HZ8)和中晚熟玉米品种郑单958 (ZD958)、登海605 (DH605), 设60 000、75 000、90 000株 hm ^-23个种植密度。结果表明, 早熟品种DH518、HZ8较中晚熟品种ZD958、DH605灌浆期短, 产量低。4个品种生理成熟时的籽粒含水率与其生育期相关性不显著, 早熟品种籽粒后期脱水速率快, DH518和HZ8从籽粒达最大含水量到生理成熟的脱水速率均值较ZD958和DH605两年分别高0.015% °C ^-1和0.014% °C ^-1。相关性分析显示, 籽粒脱水速率与灌浆速率相关性不显著, 生育后期籽粒含水率与茎鞘、叶片含水率呈显著正相关, 与苞叶、穗轴含水率呈极显著正相关。随种植密度的增加, 不同品种籽粒灌浆期缩短, 平均灌浆速率降低, 籽粒生理成熟时的含水率降低。合理增加种植密度能够显著提高不同熟期夏玉米品种的产量。     

Radiation use efficiency,chemical composition,and methane yield of biogas crops under rainfed and irrigated conditions

For biomethane production, the cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) is considered a promising alternative substrate to silage maize (Zea mays L.) due to its high biomass potential and associated ecological and environmental benefits. It has also been suggested to grow cup plant on less productive soils because of its presumed drought tolerance, but robust information on the impact of water shortage on biomass growth and substrate quality of cup plant is rare. Therefore, this study assesses the effects of soil water availability on the chemical composition and specific methane yield (SMY) of cup plant. Furthermore above-ground dry matter yield (DMY) was analysed as a function of intercepted photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and radiation use efficiency (RUE). Data were collected in a two-year field experiment under rainfed and irrigated conditions with cup plant, maize, and lucerne-grass (Medicago sativa L., Festuca pratensis Huds., Phleum pratense L.). The cup plant revealed a slight decrease of −6% in the SMY in response to water shortage (less than 50% of plant available water capacity). The average SMY of cup plant [306 l (kg volatile solids (VS))⁻¹] was lower than that of maize [362 l (kg VS)⁻¹] and lucerne-grass [334 l (kg VS)⁻¹]. The mean drought-related reduction of the methane hectare yield (MHY) was significantly greater for cup plant (−40%) than for maize (−17%) and lucerne-grass (−13%). The DMY reduction in rainfed cup plant was mainly attributed to a more severe decrease in RUE (−29%) than for maize (−16%) and lucerne-grass (−12%). Under water stress, the mean cup plant RUE (1.3 g MJ⁻¹) was significantly lower than that of maize (2.9 g MJ⁻¹) and lucerne-grass (1.4 g MJ⁻¹). Compared to RUE, the reduced PAR interception was less meaningful for DMY in rainfed crops. Hence, the cup plant is not suitable for growing on drought prone lands due to its high water demand required to produce reasonably high MHYs.