Nitrogen Split Application Can Improve the Stalk Lodging Resistance of Maize Planted at High Density

Qun Wang, Jun Xue, Guoqiang Zhang, Jianglu Chen, Ruizhi Xie, Bo Ming, Peng Hou, Keru Wang and Shaokun Li
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Qun Wang: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Jun Xue: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Guoqiang Zhang: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Jianglu Chen: Research Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Division 6 of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Wujiaqu 831300, China
Ruizhi Xie: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Bo Ming: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Peng Hou: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Keru Wang: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Shaokun Li: Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: The decrease of maize stalk quality is an important reason for stalk lodging during the grain filling stage. In the present study, a maize cultivar was planted at densities of 7.5, 9.0, 10.5, 12.0, and 13.5 × 10 4 plants ha −1 and subjected to nitrogen application rates of 0, 270, 360, and 450 kg ha −1 (denoted as N0, N270, N360, and N450). The stalk breaking force, mechanical strength, carbohydrate content, and nitrogen content of basal internodes were determined to study the effects of nitrogen application rate on the stalk lodging resistance of maize under different planting densities with integrated watering and fertilization using drip irrigation. At densities of 7.5 to 10.5 × 10 4 plants ha −1 , the stalk breaking force, rind penetration strength (RPS), and crushing strength (CS) of the basal internode decreased first and then increased with increasing nitrogen application rate, with the lowest values obtained for the N270 treatment. Meanwhile, at planting densities of 12.0 × 10 4 plants ha −1 and above, the stalk breaking force, RPS, and CS increased with increasing nitrogen application rate. The basal internode dry weight per unit length (DWUL) and total N content increased with increasing nitrogen application rate. The breaking force was significantly positively correlated with the DWUL and mechanical strength of the basal internode. The RPS showed a positive linear correlation with the contents of cellulose, lignin, and total N of the third internode. Under the split application of water and fertilizer, the maize stalk total dry matter and contents of cellulose, lignin, and total nitrogen increased with increasing nitrogen fertilization rate during the grain filling stage at high planting density, so the stalk lodging resistance improved.

Keywords: nitrogen fertilizer; planting density; drip irrigation; lodging resistance; stalk strength (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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