A high plant density reduces the ability of maize to use soil nitrogen.

Understanding the physiological changes associated with high grain yield and high N use efficiency (NUE) is important when increasing the plant density and N rate to develop optimal agronomic management. We tested the hypothesis that high plant densities resulting in crowding stress reduce the abili...

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Main Authors: Peng Yan, Junxiao Pan, Wenjie Zhang, Junfang Shi, Xinping Chen, Zhenling Cui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5325311?pdf=render
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spelling doaj-5663eca076b94525b10e2125021dde942020-11-25T01:46:08ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032017-01-01122e017271710.1371/journal.pone.0172717A high plant density reduces the ability of maize to use soil nitrogen.Peng YanJunxiao PanWenjie ZhangJunfang ShiXinping ChenZhenling CuiUnderstanding the physiological changes associated with high grain yield and high N use efficiency (NUE) is important when increasing the plant density and N rate to develop optimal agronomic management. We tested the hypothesis that high plant densities resulting in crowding stress reduce the ability of plants to use the N supply post-silking, thus decreasing the grain yield and NUE. In 2013 and 2014, a field experiment, with five N-application rates and three plant densities (6.0, 7.5, and 9.0 plants m-2), was conducted in the North China Plain (NCP). The calculated maximum grain yield and agronomic use efficiency (AEN) at a density of 7.5 plants m-2 were 12.4 Mg ha-1 and 39.3 kg kg-1, respectively, which were significantly higher than the values obtained at densities of 6.0 (11.3 Mg ha-1 and 30.2 kg kg-1) and 9.0 plant m-2 (11.7 Mg ha-1 and 27.8 kg kg-1). A high plant density of 9.0 plants m-2 decreased the post-silking N accumulation, leaf N concentration and net photosynthesis, which reduced the post-silking dry matter production, resulting in a low yield and NUE. Although a relatively low grain yield was observed at a density of 9.0 plants m-2, the optimal N rate increased from 150 to 186 kg N ha-1 at a density of 7.5 plants m-2. These results indicate that high plant densities with crowding stress reduce the ability of plants to use soil N during the post-silking period, and high rate of N fertilizer was needed to increase grain yield. We conclude that selecting the appropriate plant density combined with optimal N management could increase grain yields and the NUE in the NCP.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5325311?pdf=render
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Peng Yan
Junxiao Pan
Wenjie Zhang
Junfang Shi
Xinping Chen
Zhenling Cui
spellingShingle Peng Yan
Junxiao Pan
Wenjie Zhang
Junfang Shi
Xinping Chen
Zhenling Cui
A high plant density reduces the ability of maize to use soil nitrogen.
PLoS ONE
author_facet Peng Yan
Junxiao Pan
Wenjie Zhang
Junfang Shi
Xinping Chen
Zhenling Cui
author_sort Peng Yan
title A high plant density reduces the ability of maize to use soil nitrogen.
title_short A high plant density reduces the ability of maize to use soil nitrogen.
title_full A high plant density reduces the ability of maize to use soil nitrogen.
title_fullStr A high plant density reduces the ability of maize to use soil nitrogen.
title_full_unstemmed A high plant density reduces the ability of maize to use soil nitrogen.
title_sort high plant density reduces the ability of maize to use soil nitrogen.
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
series PLoS ONE
issn 1932-6203
publishDate 2017-01-01
description Understanding the physiological changes associated with high grain yield and high N use efficiency (NUE) is important when increasing the plant density and N rate to develop optimal agronomic management. We tested the hypothesis that high plant densities resulting in crowding stress reduce the ability of plants to use the N supply post-silking, thus decreasing the grain yield and NUE. In 2013 and 2014, a field experiment, with five N-application rates and three plant densities (6.0, 7.5, and 9.0 plants m-2), was conducted in the North China Plain (NCP). The calculated maximum grain yield and agronomic use efficiency (AEN) at a density of 7.5 plants m-2 were 12.4 Mg ha-1 and 39.3 kg kg-1, respectively, which were significantly higher than the values obtained at densities of 6.0 (11.3 Mg ha-1 and 30.2 kg kg-1) and 9.0 plant m-2 (11.7 Mg ha-1 and 27.8 kg kg-1). A high plant density of 9.0 plants m-2 decreased the post-silking N accumulation, leaf N concentration and net photosynthesis, which reduced the post-silking dry matter production, resulting in a low yield and NUE. Although a relatively low grain yield was observed at a density of 9.0 plants m-2, the optimal N rate increased from 150 to 186 kg N ha-1 at a density of 7.5 plants m-2. These results indicate that high plant densities with crowding stress reduce the ability of plants to use soil N during the post-silking period, and high rate of N fertilizer was needed to increase grain yield. We conclude that selecting the appropriate plant density combined with optimal N management could increase grain yields and the NUE in the NCP.
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5325311?pdf=render
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