International Journal of Plant Production最新文献

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.

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.

Dryland agricultural soils are recognized as significant sites of methane (CH₄) absorption, making them integral to the global CH₄ budget. Nitrogen fertilization is commonly used by growers in these regions to obtain optimal wheat yields, but it is unclear how various methods may affect CH₄ absorption. Therefore, we conducted two years of field studies in the rain-fed agricultural experimental station in the semi-arid Loess Plateau in northwest China to test how four fertilization methods altered different crop and soil characteristics. Plots consisted of a popular spring wheat variety treated with either no fertilizer (CK), nitrogen fertilizer (N), organic manure (M), or a combination of nitrogen and organic manure (NM). We analyzed the effects each fertilization methods had on both yield and soil CH₄ flux. The results indicated that these soils act as a net sink of CH₄. The NM treatment significantly increased wheat yield, while the N treatment significantly reduced CH₄ absorption. Furthermore, soil CH₄ absorption under each treatment had a clear temporal pattern, which peaked during the flowering stage. Our principal component analysis and linear regression analysis illustrated how CH₄ fluxes were significantly positively or negatively correlated with soil total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and temperature (P < 0.05), potentially explaining 40% of the CH₄ variability. In conclusion, our results indicate that the co-application of nitrogen and organic manure can both support optimal wheat yield and effectively reduce the risk of CH₄ emissions.

The study examines the morpho-physiological differences in leaf characteristics between two species of C4 plants: sorghum and maize. The research was conducted in field conditions where plants were rainfed. Both species different varieties were cultivated at two distinct sites that exhibited variations in soil texture and drought stress incidence according to the vegetation condition index (VCI). Samples were collected during various growth stages to analyze the relative water content (RWC), proline levels, and stomatal density. Sorghum plants displayed higher RWC, proline levels, and stomatal density than maize plants. In sorghum, the biochemical traits, such as the proline content, may play a more critical role in withstanding water-limited conditions than in maize in our experiment. Under the same water restriction period, sorghum showed higher RWC levels. Sorghum plants reduced stomatal density under more water-limited conditions, which proves its plasticity. Additionally, early maturation played a crucial role in both species. The early sorghum variety KWS Kallisto and maize variety Walterinio KWS had a more stable yield at both sites. Nevertheless, the highest yields were found in the later varieties, KWS Hannibal and KWS Inteligens. The higher proline levels and the relative water content are drought-tolerant mechanisms and may be used to indicate drought intensity in field conditions. Our findings spotlight the influence of genetic diversity and genotype-environment interactions in determining crop responses to drought stress, providing valuable information for future breeding programs to enhance drought tolerance in crops.

The stagnant crop productivity and declining factor productivity especially under rice-wheat system in changing climate scenario demand the adoption of nutrient responsive high yielding climate-resilient varieties. Considering these challenges, the present study was conducted during two consecutive Rabi seasons of 2020-21 and 2021-22 with an aim to improve wheat productivity through appropriate combinations of genotypes, nutrient management and plant growth regulators (PGRs). The experiment was conducted in split-plot design with two nutrient levels {recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) as 150:60:40 kg N, P₂O₅ and K₂O ha^-1, respectively, and 150% RDF + 15 t FYM (farm yard manure) ha^-1 + two sprays of PGRs consisting of tank-mix of chlormequat chloride @ 400 g + tebuconazole @ 172 g ha^-1 at the first node and flag leaf stage} in main-plots and nine genotypes (DBW187, DBW303, DBW327, DBW332, DBW370, DBW371, DBW372, HD3086 and PBW872) in sub-plots. The plant height significantly reduced while earheads m^-2 and grains m^-2 improved with PGRs application under high fertility which led to increased (12.6%) mean grain yield over RDF. Among genotypes, maximum yield was observed for DBW370 (67.84 q ha^-1) followed by PBW872, DBW371 and DBW372. Nutrient management and genotype interaction revealed that more grains m^-2 in DBW370 led to maximum yield (66.2 q ha^-1) at RDF while bolder grains in PBW872 made it top yielder (71.16 q ha^-1) under high fertility condition. It is concluded that productivity of modern wheat cultivars can be improved through higher fertility and tank-mix application of chlormequat + tebuconazole.

The cultivated crop is frequently subjected to a variety of environmental challenges including drought, salinity, extreme temperature and low moisture levels. In which, drought stress is major factor, which significantly reduces crop survival and productivity, particularly in semi-arid region of the Vindhyan highlands. In response to this stress, millets and traditional crops have evolved a range of morphological and physiological adaptations to withstand these phenomenon. Therefore, the aim of this study is to characterize the morphological and physiological traits of underutilized crops under different nutrient amendments towards the dry conditions. A plot experiment with four treatments viz. control, compost, fertilizer and compost + fertilizer was conducted for eight crop landraces. The results demonstrate plant morpho-physiological traits as well as production were develop in accordance with following trends such as compost + fertilizer > fertilizer > compost > control. This trend was continued in percentage change of production and highest in white maize (41.97%) and ramrahar (36.93%) compared to control. Soil total nitrogen, organic carbon and available phosphate contents were shown a consistent increase from pre-sowing to post-harvest conditions for both cropping seasons in all the treatments. In the context of eco-physiological traits relation, PSR (Photosynthetic rate) was positively associated with plant height in black maize (R = 0.69 P < 0.01), baturi (R = 0.79 P < 0.01), masoor (R = 0.74 P < 0.01) and senduri (R = 0.78 P < 0.01). However, photosynthetic pigment such as, chl a (R = 0.66 P < 0.05) chl b (R = 0.78 P < 0.01) carotenoids (R = 0.71 P < 0.01) in white maize, while chl a (R = 0.84 P < 0.001), chl b (R = 0.82 P < 0.01) and carotenoids (R = 0.76 P < 0.01) in baturi positively related with PSR. This study can help policymakers to make a climate-adaptive crop system for better production in dry climatic conditions and livelihood improvement of the local community.