Analysis of main agronomic traits of low-fertility-tolerant and high-yielding maize varieties

doi:10.11686/cyxb2024374

Abstract

Abstract:

In this study， field experiments were conducted in nitrogen and phosphorus co-limited soil treated with and without fertilizer application to analyze the differences in plant traits， ear traits， and yield of ten maize （Zea mays） varieties. The aims were to explore the differences in low-fertility tolerance among maize varieties， and identify the main agronomic traits of low-fertility-tolerant and high-yielding maize varieties， thereby providing a scientific basis for selecting and breeding maize varieties that are suitable for low-to-medium-yielding fields with nutrient deficiencies. Based on the average yields under these conditions， the ten maize varieties were classified into three types： low-fertility-tolerant and high-yielding type （HB）， low-fertility-intolerant and high-yielding type （HNB）， and low-fertility-intolerant and medium-yielding type （SHNB）. The yield increase from fertilization of the HB-type was significantly lower than that of HNB and SHNB types. Without fertilizer in low-fertility soil， the HB-type exhibited significantly greater plant height， ear height， ear length， kernels per row， and kernels per ear， compared to HNB and SHNB types， while the bald tip length was significantly shorter， and the coupling coordination degree of agronomic traits was significantly higher. Under fertilization， although the above agronomic traits of the HB-type did not differ significantly from those of the HNB-type， they were significantly higher than those of the SHNB-type. Boundary line analysis of agronomic traits and yields revealed that， to achieve a target yield of 12000 kg·ha^-1 in low-fertility soil， the suitable ranges for agronomic traits of the HB-type were： ear length 17.80-20.42 cm； bald tip length <0.05 cm； kernels per row 34.32-40.36； kernels per ear 578.95-691.55； 100-grain weight 34.31-39.70 g； plant height 229.43-256.98 cm； and ear height 103.38-125.52 cm. In conclusion， in low-to-medium-yielding fields with nitrogen and phosphorus co-limitation， the HB-type maize varieties achieved a significantly higher kernels per row and kernels per ear by maintaining a longer ear length and shorter bald tip length. The coupling coordination degree of agronomic traits was also significantly higher， ultimately demonstrating an obvious yield advantage in low-fertility soil.

Key words: maize varieties, low-fertility-tolerance and high-yield, agronomic traits, coupling coordination degree, boundary line analysis

Chang-qing LI, Ya-ru SONG, Fan XIAO, Chun-yu MIAO, Meng-yu SUN, Meng JI, Zhi-mei SUN. Analysis of main agronomic traits of low-fertility-tolerant and high-yielding maize varieties[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2025, 34(9): 97-110.

Figures/Tables 14

References 37

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品种Varieties	代号Code number	选育单位Breeding organization
华皖261 Huawan 261	HW	安徽华皖种业有限公司Anhui Huawan Seed Industry Co.， Ltd.
科恩702 Keen 702	KE	石家庄考恩农业科技有限公司Shijiazhuang Kaoen Agriculture Technology Co.， Ltd.
美抗1T Meikang1T	MK	河北冀农种业有限责任公司Hebei Jinong Seed Industry Limited Liability Company
怀玉20 Huaiyu 20	HY	河南怀川种业有限责任公司Henan Huaichuan Seed Industry Co.， Ltd.
冀农802 Jinong 802	JN	河北冀农种业有限责任公司Hebei Jinong Seed Industry Limited Liability Company
金海188 Jinhai 188	JH	莱州市金海种业有限公司Laizhou Jinhai Seed Industry Co.， Ltd.
矮状元858 Aizhuangyuan 858	AZY	河北德道农业科技有限公司Hebei Dedao Agriculture Technology Co.， Ltd.
京农科729 Jingnongke 729	JNK	北京市农林科学院玉米研究所Maize Research Institute of Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences
农大372 Nongda 372	ND	中国农业大学China Agricultural University
郑单958 Zhengdan 958	ZD	河南省农业科学院粮食作物研究所Cereal Institute， Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences

品种Varieties	代号Code number	选育单位Breeding organization
华皖261 Huawan 261	HW	安徽华皖种业有限公司Anhui Huawan Seed Industry Co.， Ltd.
科恩702 Keen 702	KE	石家庄考恩农业科技有限公司Shijiazhuang Kaoen Agriculture Technology Co.， Ltd.
美抗1T Meikang1T	MK	河北冀农种业有限责任公司Hebei Jinong Seed Industry Limited Liability Company
怀玉20 Huaiyu 20	HY	河南怀川种业有限责任公司Henan Huaichuan Seed Industry Co.， Ltd.
冀农802 Jinong 802	JN	河北冀农种业有限责任公司Hebei Jinong Seed Industry Limited Liability Company
金海188 Jinhai 188	JH	莱州市金海种业有限公司Laizhou Jinhai Seed Industry Co.， Ltd.
矮状元858 Aizhuangyuan 858	AZY	河北德道农业科技有限公司Hebei Dedao Agriculture Technology Co.， Ltd.
京农科729 Jingnongke 729	JNK	北京市农林科学院玉米研究所Maize Research Institute of Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences
农大372 Nongda 372	ND	中国农业大学China Agricultural University
郑单958 Zhengdan 958	ZD	河南省农业科学院粮食作物研究所Cereal Institute， Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences

年份 Year	施肥 Fertilization （F）	品种 Variety （V）	穗长 Ear length （cm）	秃尖长 Bald tip length （cm）	行粒数 Kernels per row	穗粗 Ear diameter （cm）	穗行数 Rows per ear	穗粒数 Kernels per ear	百粒重 100-grain weight （g）
2022	CK	HB	18.0±0.72a	0.2±0.09b	38.3±2.70a	4.4±0.44a	15.7±0.79a	608.4±39.40a	32.6±2.93a
		HNB	16.8±1.11b	0.8±0.53a	33.3±4.66b	4.2±0.54a	16.1±1.57a	513.8±70.64b	32.4±3.10a
		SHNB	15.5±0.83c	0.8±0.19a	33.4±1.90b	4.6±0.47a	15.4±1.34a	512.4±26.84b	33.2±1.44a
	OF	HB	18.3±1.35a	0.2±0.03a	39.0±2.53a	4.8±0.57a	16.4±0.84a	636.0±48.42a	34.1±1.97a
		HNB	18.1±1.06a	0.2±0.02a	37.8±1.14a	4.5±0.42a	16.5±1.47a	620.6±53.43a	33.9±2.53a
		SHNB	16.2±0.61b	0.2±0.03a	35.2±1.31b	4.5±0.45a	15.8±1.02a	554.2±39.36b	34.0±1.56a
2023	CK	HB	18.4±1.82a	0.3±0.18c	36.3±2.65a	4.9±0.40a	16.0±0.58a	578.6±47.49a	35.6±3.70a
		HNB	15.4±1.20b	1.4±0.28b	28.9±2.27b	4.2±0.40b	15.0±1.19b	435.6±60.26b	34.5±2.08a
		SHNB	15.4±1.11b	2.6±0.73a	30.4±2.87b	4.4±0.40b	14.6±0.45b	441.0±32.47b	33.4±3.85a
	OF	HB	18.8±1.64a	0.2±0.03a	37.6±2.51a	5.0±0.46a	15.6±0.68a	583.7±32.61a	39.3±2.03a
		HNB	18.8±1.07a	0.2±0.02a	36.2±2.82ab	5.0±0.43a	16.0±1.10a	581.5±25.99a	41.1±2.03a
		SHNB	17.2±0.51b	0.2±0.02a	34.1±3.52b	4.7±0.23a	15.8±0.45a	536.6±47.92b	38.7±3.72a
2022	F		**	**	**	NS	NS	**	NS
	V		**	**	**	NS	NS	**	NS
	F×V		NS	**	NS	NS	NS	*	NS
2023	F		**	**	**	**	**	**	**
	V		**	**	**	**	NS	**	NS
	F×V		**	**	**	**	**	**	NS

年份 Year	施肥 Fertilization （F）	品种 Variety （V）	穗长 Ear length （cm）	秃尖长 Bald tip length （cm）	行粒数 Kernels per row	穗粗 Ear diameter （cm）	穗行数 Rows per ear	穗粒数 Kernels per ear	百粒重 100-grain weight （g）
2022	CK	HB	18.0±0.72a	0.2±0.09b	38.3±2.70a	4.4±0.44a	15.7±0.79a	608.4±39.40a	32.6±2.93a
		HNB	16.8±1.11b	0.8±0.53a	33.3±4.66b	4.2±0.54a	16.1±1.57a	513.8±70.64b	32.4±3.10a
		SHNB	15.5±0.83c	0.8±0.19a	33.4±1.90b	4.6±0.47a	15.4±1.34a	512.4±26.84b	33.2±1.44a
	OF	HB	18.3±1.35a	0.2±0.03a	39.0±2.53a	4.8±0.57a	16.4±0.84a	636.0±48.42a	34.1±1.97a
		HNB	18.1±1.06a	0.2±0.02a	37.8±1.14a	4.5±0.42a	16.5±1.47a	620.6±53.43a	33.9±2.53a
		SHNB	16.2±0.61b	0.2±0.03a	35.2±1.31b	4.5±0.45a	15.8±1.02a	554.2±39.36b	34.0±1.56a
2023	CK	HB	18.4±1.82a	0.3±0.18c	36.3±2.65a	4.9±0.40a	16.0±0.58a	578.6±47.49a	35.6±3.70a
		HNB	15.4±1.20b	1.4±0.28b	28.9±2.27b	4.2±0.40b	15.0±1.19b	435.6±60.26b	34.5±2.08a
		SHNB	15.4±1.11b	2.6±0.73a	30.4±2.87b	4.4±0.40b	14.6±0.45b	441.0±32.47b	33.4±3.85a
	OF	HB	18.8±1.64a	0.2±0.03a	37.6±2.51a	5.0±0.46a	15.6±0.68a	583.7±32.61a	39.3±2.03a
		HNB	18.8±1.07a	0.2±0.02a	36.2±2.82ab	5.0±0.43a	16.0±1.10a	581.5±25.99a	41.1±2.03a
		SHNB	17.2±0.51b	0.2±0.02a	34.1±3.52b	4.7±0.23a	15.8±0.45a	536.6±47.92b	38.7±3.72a
2022	F		**	**	**	NS	NS	**	NS
	V		**	**	**	NS	NS	**	NS
	F×V		NS	**	NS	NS	NS	*	NS
2023	F		**	**	**	**	**	**	**
	V		**	**	**	**	NS	**	NS
	F×V		**	**	**	**	**	**	NS

指标 Indexes	最高预测产量 Highest forecast yield （kg·hm^-2）	95%最高预测产量 95% highest forecast yield （kg·hm^-2）	适宜范围 Suitable value
穗长Ear length	12454.6	11831.9	17.80~20.42 cm
秃尖长Bald tip length	12218.0	11607.1	<0.05 cm
行粒数Kernels per row	12632.6	12000.9	34.32~40.36
穗粒数Kernels per ear	12666.2	12032.9	578.95~691.55
百粒重100-grain weight	12314.0	11698.3	34.31~39.70 g
株高Plant height	12307.3	11691.9	229.43~256.98 cm
穗位高Ear height	12478.1	11854.2	103.38~125.52 cm