Change in Maize Final Leaf Numbers and Its Effects on Biomass and Grain Yield across China

Wanmao Liu, Bo Ming, Ruizhi Xie, Guangzhou Liu, Keru Wang, Yunshan Yang, Xiaoxia Guo, Peng Hou and Shaokun Li
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Wanmao Liu: Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, College of Agronomy, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China
Bo Ming: Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Ruizhi Xie: Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Guangzhou Liu: Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Keru Wang: Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Yunshan Yang: Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, College of Agronomy, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China
Xiaoxia Guo: Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, College of Agronomy, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China
Peng Hou: Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Shaokun Li: Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, College of Agronomy, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: The final leaf number is an important morphological characteristic of maize ( Zea mays L.) and is therefore an important input parameter in some maize crop models. In this study, field experiments were conducted from 2013 to 2016 at 23 sites across China, which were located between latitudes of 26°30′ and 46°45′ N, focusing on five modern maize cultivars, in order to determine the amplitude of variation in mean leaf numbers between each cultivar, identify differences between the mean leaf numbers of cultivars under different climatic conditions, and clarify the effects of the differences in final leaf numbers on aboveground dry matter (DM) and grain yield. The results showed that the mean final leaf numbers increased in the order of XY335 < NH101 < ZD909 < ZD958 < DH11 among the five cultivars, with the wide distribution ranges of final leaf numbers being 17.0–23.3 (DH11), 16.7–22.3 (ZD958), 16.7–22.0 (ZD909), 16.7–22.3 (NH101), and 17.0–22.0 (XY335) across all locations. In addition, leaf numbers above and below the primary ear showed the same trends with the mean final leaf numbers for the same cultivars. Many climatic factors were found to significantly affect the final leaf numbers across four maize-growing regions in China, and the result of stepwise regression indicated that the influences of photoperiod and temperature, in particular, were greater than other climatic factors for these cultivars. Finally, there were found to be significant and positive relationships between the final leaf number and (1) the maximum leaf area index (LAImax), (2) DM at both silking and physiological maturity, and (3) grain yield for the same cultivars across all locations. The results of this study are of great importance for guiding future trans-regional maize cultivation and further model calibration.

Keywords: maize; leaf number; morphological characteristics; photoperiod; crop model (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 (1)

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