Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer Management on Stalk Lodging Resistance Traits in Summer Maize

Juan Zhai, Yuanmeng Zhang, Guoqiang Zhang, Ming Tian, Ruizhi Xie, Bo Ming, Peng Hou, Keru Wang, Jun Xue and Shaokun Li
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Juan Zhai: 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
Yuanmeng 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
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
Ming Tian: 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
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
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
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, 2022, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: Stalk lodging in Huang-Huai-Hai summer maize is a serious problem that reduces maize yields and precludes the use of mechanical grain harvesting equipment. In order to determine the effect of nitrogen management on the lodging resistance of maize stalk, three nitrogen application rates of 150, 250, and 350 kg ha −1 (denoted as N150, N250, and N350), and different nitrogen application periods (sowing, 6-leaf, 12-leaf, silking) were set. Plant morphology, stalk mechanical strength, total carbohydrate, nitrogen content, and yield were measured in the different treatments. The results showed that as the nitrogen application rate increased and nitrogen application was postponed, the stalk breaking force, plant height, ear height, center of gravity height, stalk basal internode diameter, rind penetration strength, content of carbohydrate, and total N of maize stalk also increased. The stalk lodging resistance was improved by the increased nitrogen application rate and postponed nitrogen application by increasing the stalk material accumulation and mechanical strength. The nitrogen application rates had no significant effect on grain yield. Under N250 and N350, the treatments with no base fertilizer significantly decreased the kernel number per ear, reflected in some in grain yield. In summary, under the conditions of integrated water and fertilizer drip irrigation and fractional nitrogen fertilizer applications, increased nitrogen fertilizer input can stimulate the growth of high-quality maize populations, significantly improve stalk lodging resistance in the early growth stage, delay stalk senescence, improve stalk strength and influence stalk composition in later growth stages. Based on the summer maize grain yield and stalk lodging resistance, under N250 treatment, a base fertilizer combined with topdressing at the 12-leaf and silking stages was beneficial to the growth of summer maize.

Keywords: summer maize; nitrogen application rate; fertilization period; lodging resistance; stalk strength; yield (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: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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