Determining optimal mulching, planting density, and nitrogen application to increase maize grain yield and nitrogen translocation efficiency in Northwest China
Abstract Background The combination of mulch with N fertilizer application is a common agronomic technique used in the production of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) to achieve higher yields under conditions of optimum planting density and adequate N supply. However, the combined effects of mulch, planti...
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doaj-273d9acd9f8941d7ba7fe6480116041c2020-11-25T02:44:18ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292020-06-0120112110.1186/s12870-020-02477-2Determining optimal mulching, planting density, and nitrogen application to increase maize grain yield and nitrogen translocation efficiency in Northwest ChinaXiukang Wang0Ge Wang1Neil C. Turner2Yingying Xing3Meitian Li4Tao Guo5College of Life Sciences, Yan’an UniversityCollege of Life Sciences, Yan’an UniversityThe UWA Institute of Agriculture and UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western AustraliaCollege of Life Sciences, Yan’an UniversityCollege of Life Sciences, Yan’an UniversityCollege of Life Sciences, Yan’an UniversityAbstract Background The combination of mulch with N fertilizer application is a common agronomic technique used in the production of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) to achieve higher yields under conditions of optimum planting density and adequate N supply. However, the combined effects of mulch, planting density, and N fertilizer application rate on plant N uptake and N translocation efficiency are not known. The objective of this study was to quantify the interaction effect of mulch, planting density, and N fertilizer application rate on maize grain yield, N uptake, N translocation, and N translocation efficiency. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three factors (2 mulch levels × 2 planting densities × 4 N fertilizer application rates) replicated four times. Results There was a significant interaction among mulch, plant density, and N fertilizer on maize grain yield, kernel number per cob, N uptake, N translocation, and N translocation efficiency. Averaged over the 3 years of the study, total plant N uptake at silking ranged from 79 to 149 kg N ha− 1 with no mulch and from 76 to 178 kg N ha− 1 with mulch. The N uptake at silking in different plant organs ranked as leaf > grain > stem > cob. Averaged across all factors, the highest N translocation was observed in leaves, which was 59.4 and 88.7% higher than observed in stems and ears, respectively. The mean vegetative organ N translocation efficiency averaged over mulch, planting density, and N fertilizer application rate treatments decreased in the order of leaf > stem > cob. Conclusions Mulch, planting density, and N fertilizer application rate not only have significant effects on improving maize grain yield and NUE, but also on N uptake, N translocation, and N translocation efficiency. Our results showed clearly that under high planting density, the combination of mulch and moderate N fertilizer application rate was the optimal strategy for increasing maize grain yield and N use efficiency.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12870-020-02477-2Dry matter accumulationNitrogen apparent recovery efficiencyNitrogen assimilation amountNitrogen use efficiencyNitrogen uptake |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Xiukang Wang Ge Wang Neil C. Turner Yingying Xing Meitian Li Tao Guo |
spellingShingle |
Xiukang Wang Ge Wang Neil C. Turner Yingying Xing Meitian Li Tao Guo Determining optimal mulching, planting density, and nitrogen application to increase maize grain yield and nitrogen translocation efficiency in Northwest China BMC Plant Biology Dry matter accumulation Nitrogen apparent recovery efficiency Nitrogen assimilation amount Nitrogen use efficiency Nitrogen uptake |
author_facet |
Xiukang Wang Ge Wang Neil C. Turner Yingying Xing Meitian Li Tao Guo |
author_sort |
Xiukang Wang |
title |
Determining optimal mulching, planting density, and nitrogen application to increase maize grain yield and nitrogen translocation efficiency in Northwest China |
title_short |
Determining optimal mulching, planting density, and nitrogen application to increase maize grain yield and nitrogen translocation efficiency in Northwest China |
title_full |
Determining optimal mulching, planting density, and nitrogen application to increase maize grain yield and nitrogen translocation efficiency in Northwest China |
title_fullStr |
Determining optimal mulching, planting density, and nitrogen application to increase maize grain yield and nitrogen translocation efficiency in Northwest China |
title_full_unstemmed |
Determining optimal mulching, planting density, and nitrogen application to increase maize grain yield and nitrogen translocation efficiency in Northwest China |
title_sort |
determining optimal mulching, planting density, and nitrogen application to increase maize grain yield and nitrogen translocation efficiency in northwest china |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Plant Biology |
issn |
1471-2229 |
publishDate |
2020-06-01 |
description |
Abstract Background The combination of mulch with N fertilizer application is a common agronomic technique used in the production of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) to achieve higher yields under conditions of optimum planting density and adequate N supply. However, the combined effects of mulch, planting density, and N fertilizer application rate on plant N uptake and N translocation efficiency are not known. The objective of this study was to quantify the interaction effect of mulch, planting density, and N fertilizer application rate on maize grain yield, N uptake, N translocation, and N translocation efficiency. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three factors (2 mulch levels × 2 planting densities × 4 N fertilizer application rates) replicated four times. Results There was a significant interaction among mulch, plant density, and N fertilizer on maize grain yield, kernel number per cob, N uptake, N translocation, and N translocation efficiency. Averaged over the 3 years of the study, total plant N uptake at silking ranged from 79 to 149 kg N ha− 1 with no mulch and from 76 to 178 kg N ha− 1 with mulch. The N uptake at silking in different plant organs ranked as leaf > grain > stem > cob. Averaged across all factors, the highest N translocation was observed in leaves, which was 59.4 and 88.7% higher than observed in stems and ears, respectively. The mean vegetative organ N translocation efficiency averaged over mulch, planting density, and N fertilizer application rate treatments decreased in the order of leaf > stem > cob. Conclusions Mulch, planting density, and N fertilizer application rate not only have significant effects on improving maize grain yield and NUE, but also on N uptake, N translocation, and N translocation efficiency. Our results showed clearly that under high planting density, the combination of mulch and moderate N fertilizer application rate was the optimal strategy for increasing maize grain yield and N use efficiency. |
topic |
Dry matter accumulation Nitrogen apparent recovery efficiency Nitrogen assimilation amount Nitrogen use efficiency Nitrogen uptake |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12870-020-02477-2 |
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