Soil Phosphorus Content, Organic Matter, and Elevation Are Key Determinants of Maize Harvest Index in Arid Regions

Zhen Huo, Hengbati Wutanbieke, Jian Chen, Dongdong Zhong, Yongyu Chen, Zhanli Song, Xinhua Lv and Hegan Dong ()
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Zhen Huo: College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Hengbati Wutanbieke: Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Xinjiang, Urumqi 830000, China
Jian Chen: College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Dongdong Zhong: College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Yongyu Chen: College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Zhanli Song: Xinjiang Shihezi Vocational and Technical College, Shihezi 832003, China
Xinhua Lv: College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Hegan Dong: College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: This study systematically investigates the mechanistic effects of multifactor interactions (including soil properties, climatic conditions, and cultivation practices) on the productivity parameters (grain yield, stover yield, dry biomass, harvest index) of maize cultivars of different maturity groups in the arid region of Xinjiang, China. Twelve representative maize-growing counties were selected as study sites, where we collected maize samples to measure HI, grain yield, stover yield, and soil physicochemical properties (e.g., organic matter content, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus). Additionally, climate data (effective accumulated temperature) and agronomic parameters (planting density) were integrated to comprehensively analyze the interactive effects of multiple environmental factors on HI using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results demonstrated significant varietal differences in HI across maturity periods. Specifically, early-maturing cultivars showed the highest average HI (0.58), significantly exceeding those of medium-maturing (0.55) and late-maturing varieties (0.54). Environmental analysis further revealed that soil phosphorus content (both available and total phosphorus), elevation, and organic matter content significantly positively affected HI, whereas soil bulk density and electrical conductivity exhibited negative impacts. Notably, HI exhibited a strong negative correlation with stover yield (R 2 = 0.49), but remained relatively stable across different dry matter (DM) and grain yield levels. Despite the strong positive correlation between DM and grain yield (R 2 = 0.81), the relative stability of HI suggests that yield improvement requires balanced optimization of both DM and partitioning efficiency. This study provides crucial theoretical foundations for optimizing high-yield maize cultivation systems, regulating fertilizer application rates and their ratios, and improving the configuration of planting density in arid regions. These findings offer practical guidance for sustainable agricultural development in similar environments.

Keywords: geo-climatic factors; soil physicochemical properties; Zea mays L.; planting density; structural equation modeling (SEM) (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: 2025
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