International Journal of Plant Production最新文献

Planting density (PD) is an important management practice that plays a crucial role in crop growth and weeds infestation. Weeds control methods also play an indispensable role to control the weeds infestation. Therefore, present study was conducted to determine the effect of different weed control methods and PD on growth, yield and quality of maize grown under semi-arid conditions. The study was comprised of weedy season, weed free, S-metalachlor @ 1920 g a.i. ha⁻¹, S-metolachlor + atrazine @ 740 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + 550 g a.i. ha⁻¹, mesotrione + atrazine @ 687.5 g a.i. ha⁻¹, S-metolachlor + atrazine @ 740 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + 550 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + mesotrione and atrazine @ 687.5 g and different PD; 12 and 20 cm. The results indicated that taller plants with maximum rows/cob, cob length, grains/cob, 1000 grain weight (GW), grain yield, biological yield and harvest index (HI) during both years was recorded in 20 cm apart plants with application of S-metolachlor + atrazine @ 740 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + 550 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + mesotrione and atrazine @ 687.5 g ha⁻¹ and lowest yield and yield traits were observed in 12 cm spaces plants with fully weeds. However, lowest weed density and weeds biomass was recorded in 12 cm apart plants with l weed free followed by application of S-metolachlor + atrazine @ 740 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + 550 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + mesotrione and atrazine @ 687.5 g ha⁻¹ and maximum weed density and weed biomass broad PD (12 cm) with weedy check. Additionally, maximum concentration of carbohydrate, protein and starch was also recorded in narrow PD (12 cm)) with application of S-metolachlor + atrazine @ 740 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + 550 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + mesotrione and atrazine @ 687.5 g and lowest concentration of carbohydrate, protein and starch was recorded in 12 cm spaced plants with weedy check. Therefore, combination of 20 cm spaced plants and application of S-metolachlor + atrazine @ 740 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + 550 g a.i. ha⁻¹ + mesotrione and atrazine @ 687 could be an promising approach to get better maize productivity in semi-arid regions.

Green manure represents a crucial soil management practice for soil traits and potentially sequestering organic carbon (OC) within the soil profile. Understanding the biomass dynamics of Fabaceae and Poaceae plants has become essential for refining existing models of soil fertility and organic carbon. In this work, we have developed six models of the fertility and carbon stock of the soil collected from the plots where ten plant species were cultivated as green manuring crop. Two of them are named aboveground and belowground biomass models which use specific biomass production parameters α and adapted to both Fabaceae and Poaceae stands, and three other models are named Ca²⁺, K⁺ and P models adapted to green manure stands. The last one is named soil organic carbon stock model, and it is adapted to both Fabaceae and Poaceae stands. A Bayesian inference was carried out to determine parameters values according to the 6-years field experiment database. The highest significant values for SOC stock, aboveground biomass model, and belowground biomass modes were found for the Fabaceae model with 9.99 t ha⁻¹, 5.37 t ha⁻¹, and 0.61 g cm⁻³, respectively. All proposed models into this study (density, soil, and biomass models) were explained by the geometric reliability index (GRI) and efficiency factor (EF) with a more dispersive fitting. This study underscores the importance of considering adapted models from the Fabaceae and Poaceae families, particularly those with high growth rate index (GRI) and efficiency factor (EF). We found that shoot dry biomass exhibited a polynomial decrease, whereas root density showed an exponential decrease over time for both Poaceae and Fabaceae plants. Furthermore, our study revealed that long-term cultivation of cover crops with green manure significantly augmented the contents of exchangeable cations (Ca²⁺ and K⁺) as well as soil organic carbon (SOC) stock.

Abstract

Evaluation of the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of agroecosystems may help to assess regional carbon cycles and ensure carbon neutrality. However, farmland NEE is influenced by climate change, phenological period, and crop management. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the time-lag effects of climate change on the phenology and NEE of winter wheat, as well as the influence of crop management. We found that the impact of climate change on the phenology of winter wheat exhibits a time lag of 1 to 2 months, with notable spatial and temporal heterogeneity. When accounting for time-lag effects, the correlation between climate change and both phenology and NEE significantly strengthens, with the lagged impact on NEE primarily mediated through changes in phenology. Specifically, climate change accelerates the green-up and heading dates but delays the maturity date, while crop management extends the phenological period. Our findings indicated that during the green-up stage, NEE is mainly influenced by temperature changes resulting from climate change. During the heading stage, it is predominantly affected by crop management, and during the maturity stage, it is impacted by both factors, with crop management having a more significant effect. Overall, the accelerated green-up stage and delayed heading and maturity stages contribute to enhanced carbon sequestration. This research provides new insights into carbon exchanges in agricultural ecosystems.

Abstract

Attaining sustainable agriculture requires water consumption management. A water allocation optimization model was developed for the Moghan irrigation network (northwest of Iran) based on the AquaCrop plug-in model. The genetic algorithm was applied to optimize water allocation for five main crops, including wheat, first-cultivation maize, second-cultivation maize, soybeans, and alfalfa. The heuristic economic utility (EU) function was used as the objective function to optimize water allocation. In this function, drained water salinity was applied as a penalty factor to the total benefit, and soil salinity deterioration due to irrigation was also considered as a factor in each crop’s benefit. The results showed that the optimal allocated water depth was 17% less than the normal water consumption. Moreover, the application of soil water salinity coefficients did not affect the ratio of EU to EB (economic benefits) for wheat and alfalfa. However, first-cultivation maize, second-cultivation maize, and soybeans cultivation led to a reduction in EU within the study area. A combination of the crops cultivation led to a change in river water quality and an 8.2% reduction in the ratio of EU to EB function.

Abstract

Studies on the wheat response under late sowing (LS) and salinity stress (SS) are available, however, in rice-wheat and cotton-wheat cropping systems, wheat planting is often delayed resulting in co-occurrence of LS and SS in salt affected soils. This two-year field study was conducted to evaluate the influence of foliar application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) [thiourea (TU), salicylic acid (SA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂); water and no application were taken as control] on the productivity, grain quality and economic returns of timely-sown (TS) and LS wheat under normal (NC) and natural saline conditions (SS; EC 11.27 dS m^− 1). Delay in sowing and planting in naturally saline soils caused a significant decrease in plant growth, grain yield, grain quality and net economic returns during both years of study. Late planting and SS caused a significant reduction in grain yield reduction by 40.58% and 34.72% (LS) and 40.66% and 42.89% (SS) compared with respective controls during 2021 and 2022, respectively. However, the influence of co-occurrence of LS and SS was more devastating than the individual stress causing 62.17% and 60.18% reduction in grain yield than the respective control during 2021 and 2022, respectively. However, the application of all PGRs improved the grain yield, grain quality and economic turnover under SS and LS stress. The order of improvement in grain yield by the application of PGRs treatments was TU > SA > H₂O₂. In conclusion, the application of different plant growth regulators improved economic returns, grain yield and quality attributes of late-sown wheat under saline conditions. In this regard, TU application was the most effective.

High-quality japonica rice, distinguished by its unique flavor and enriched nutritional value, has attracted significant attention across Asia. The over-application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers, however, is a growing concern, threatening both the rice quality and the environmental sustainability of its production. This situation calls for a reevaluation and modification of traditional agricultural practices. Our study investigates the effects of reduced N fertilizer use, complemented by foliar fertilizer application, on the physiological attributes and yield of high-quality japonica rice. The aim is to achieve efficient N use and enhanced crop productivity. The experiment employed ‘Sujing 1180’, a high-quality japonica rice cultivar, utilizing urea as the N source and a comprehensive macronutrient-rich water-soluble fertilizer for foliar application. Five treatments were established: conventional N application (270 kg ha^− 1, N₁₀₀), 10% N reduction (N₉₀), 10% N reduction with foliar application (N₉₀ + FF), 20% N reduction (N₈₀), and 20% N reduction with foliar application (N₈₀ + FF). These treatments were meticulously examined throughout various growth stages. Photosynthetic parameter analysis indicated that N₉₀ + FF significantly boosted the net photosynthetic rate during the heading stage. N₈₀ + FF maintained higher stomatal conductance at the maturity stage, suggesting that foliar fertilizer is effective in enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and stomatal conductance. In terms of N metabolism, N₉₀ + FF notably increased the accumulation of nitrate N during the jointing stage, surpassing other treatments. While N₉₀ and N₈₀ showed reductions in both nitrate and ammonium N levels compared to N₁₀₀, N₉₀ + FF was particularly effective in elevating nitrate and ammonium N as well as free amino acid concentrations. Regarding N fertilizer efficiency, N₉₀ + FF surpassed N₁₀₀ across several critical parameters, specifically total N absorption, N recovery efficiency, N agronomic efficiency, and N physiological efficiency. Significantly, N₉₀ + FF showed marked improvements in both N agronomic efficiency and N partial factor productivity. In examining yield and its components, the N₉₀ + FF treatment achieved a higher yield of 9872.48 kg ha^− 1, surpassing the 9383.75 kg ha^− 1 of N₁₀₀. N₉₀ + FF had better results in seed-setting rate and average grain number per panicle, with its 1000-grain weight similar to that of N₁₀₀. The N₉₀ and N₈₀ treatments, however, were less effective in terms of yield and its components. The integrated study findings demonstrate that a strategy incorporating moderate N reduction and foliar fertilizer application markedly optimizes rice photosynthesis, augments N metabolis

Abstract

Despite global warming, the response of rice yield to long-term warming in cool regions and its physiological mechanisms remain unknown. This study used the widely cultivated japonica rice Jiyang100 in Northeast China. Taking rice grown under natural temperatures as a control (CK), field warming treatments were conducted at the tillering-panicle initiation (T1), whole growth (T2), and grain-filling (T3) stages. The positive effects of T1, T2, and T3 on the total number of spikelets per hole increased the yield in both years, with average increases of 11.5%, 9.9% and 6.5% compared to CK, respectively. Warming treatments improved the stay-green traits, photosynthesis, sucrose synthesis, and nitrogen metabolism of rice. The yield was positively correlated with the relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), soluble sugar content, sucrose content, and the activities of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamine oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GOGAT) in flag leaves. In addition, SPAD had a positive correlation with soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, and the activities of NR, GS, GOGAT, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), but a negative correlation with acid invertase (AI) activity. The stay-green ability was positively correlated to the net photosynthetic rate (P_n), soluble sugar content and soluble protein content. The coupling interactions of stay-green traits, nitrogen and carbon metabolism increased the yield potential and yield supply capacity, increased yield under long-term warming conditions in the cool regions. Under gradual warming, the physiological response of rice in cool regions promotes plant growth and development, thereby increasing yield.

Among the many threats to food security, extremes of temperature, and unpredictable changes in temperature such as unseasonal frost or snowfall resulting from climate change have significant impacts on crop productivity and yields. It has been projected that for each increase by 1 °C of the global temperature, agricultural outputs of some staple food crops will decline by up to 3–8%. Alarmingly, reports from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have revealed that our earth experienced one of the warmest summers in 2022, indicating that temperature stress is not a threat that can be taken lightly. Global food prices have risen by more than 70% since the middle of 2020, however, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) projects that by 2027, the combined effects of climate change, conflict and poverty may lead to an additional rise in food prices by 8.5%. Taken together, the impacts of extreme temperatures on staple food supply amplify the risks of child malnutrition and food insecurity, especially in less-developed countries. This review offers a novel perspective on the intricate interplay between plant responses to heat and cold stresses, aiming to pave the way for innovative and efficient crop improvement programs crucial for ensuring a resilient and sustainable food supply in the face of climate change. A thorough and comprehensive understanding on plant mechanisms can effectively help agricultural industry to produce stress-resilient and climate-tolerant crops. Also, with the assistance from robust breeding techniques and genetic tools, the goal to achieve sustainable food supply chain can be attained.

This paper focuses on the cold damage and drought cross-stress in maize in Northeast China. The WOFOST model based on parameter localization was used to simulate the growth and development process of maize using daily meteorological data from 110 stations in the research area from 1981 to 2020. The experiment determined that the grouting index and the number of drought days were the indicators for identifying the low-temperature and drought cross-stress in maize, as well as the impact assessment indicators for the fluctuation percentage of dry matter weight in storage organs. It also achieved a quantitative assessment of the impact of cross-stress of low-temperature and drought between 1981 and 2020 and typical years. The results indicated that the WOFOST model can effectively simulate the impact of low-temperature and drought on maize growth, and the historical occurrence of cold damage identified by using the grouting index and drought days as indicators of the low-temperature and drought cross-stress in maize is basically in line with the actual situation. Compared with the average temperature from May to September and the regional cold damage index of > 105 °C supplemented by the meteorological industry standard “Technical Specification for Assessment of Cold Damage to Spring Maize in Northern China”, as well as the identification results of the “Drought Grade of Spring Maize in Northern China”, the average identification accuracy of low-temperature drought cross-stress in Northeast China based on the WOFOST model is 82.0%, 76.4% of stations have an accuracy of 80.0% or above, and only 4.5% of stations have an accuracy of less than 50.0%. Under the combined influence of low temperature and drought cross-stress, 88.9% of the years showed a reduction in maize production. The evaluation results reflect the historical production reality of maize in Northeast China and are consistent with existing research results.

A comparative evaluation of grain legumes is essential for the effective planning of legume-based agricultural systems in a given environment. The goal of this work was to contrast the growth, translocation of assimilates, and grain yield of spring-planted common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), red pea (Lathyrus cicera L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), and field pea (Pisum sativa L.) under rainfed Mediterranean conditions. Two cultivars of each species were cultivated on a silty clay soil in northeastern Greece for 2 years (2014 and 2015) with contrasting rainfall patterns. Chickpea and field pea exhibited better early crop growth rate than any other legume. Species differences in assimilates availability prior to grain filling affected the remobilization of assimilates to seed, which increased by 45% for every kg ha⁻¹ rise in early dry matter accumulation. Dry matter translocation efficiency varied from 9 to 51% depending on species and year. Red pea was the best option in terms of seed yield, regardless of the seasonal rainfall. Chickpea in the drier year (2015) and field pea in the wetter year (2014) produced seed yields that were comparable to that of red pea. Lentil and common vetch were generally less productive species in terms of seed yield. Species seed yield was associated with their ability to accumulate biomass either before podding (r = 0.52, P < 0.05) or at maturity (r = 0.51, P < 0.05), but not with harvest index or translocation of dry matter. Findings provide new knowledge regarding growth attributes and reallocation of assimilate in five legume species grown simultaneously in the same environment, which has never been studied before. In addition, results highlight that selecting species with enhanced early or final biomass potential as well as adopting cultural practices that promote biomass accumulation in the growing season appear to be effective management strategies for improving seed yield of the tested grain legumes under Mediterranean conditions.