Effects of nitrogen management on photosynthetic characteristics and yield of maize in arid areas of central Gansu, China

doi:10.11686/cyxb2018096

Abstract

Abstract: Maize has become one of the major cultivated crops in arid farming areas of central Gansu, China because of the adoption of complete film surface mulching and adoption of double ridge-furrow planting. However, the high output of maize using this technology results in exhaustion of soil nutrients negatively influencing the sustainability of maize production. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different nitrogen application rates on the photosynthetic characteristics, chlorophyll content (SPAD), leaf area index, dry matter accumulation and distribution and yield of maize. The study relied on a field experiment that was conducted in 2012 at Dingxi, Longzhong region. The treatments included four nitrogen rates (N₀: 0 kg·ha^-1, N₁: 100 kg·ha^-1, N₂: 200 kg·ha^-1, N₃: 300 kg·ha^-1) and two nitrogen application times (T₁: 1/3 at sowing+1/3 at jointing+1/3 at flowering, T₂: 1/3 at sowing+2/3 at jointing). The photosynthetic characteristics improved with increased nitrogen application rate, but there was no difference between T₂N₂ and N₃; T₂ enhanced the photosynthetic characteristics. N₃ increased SPAD by 50.9%, 17.0%, and 2.7% respectively comparing N₀, N₁, and N₂ at all stages. Leaf area index also improved with increased nitrogen application rate, but N₂ and N₃ were not different. SPAD and leaf area index under T₂ were higher than T₁. Dry matter during all growth stages was highest at N₃ and lowest at N₀ (N₃>N₂>N₁>N₀) and T₂ was higher than T₁. Grain yield and biomass were significantly higher with increased nitrogen rates; for example, grain yield and biomass were 79.2% and 68.4% higher for N₃ than N₀ respectively, and 65.9% and 51.4% higher for N₂ than N₀ respectively. T₂ improved grain yield and biomass by 9.9% and 13.5% respectively, compared with T₁. However, T₂N₂ and N₃ were not different. The application of double furrow sowing technology, mulching with nitrogen applied at 200 kg·ha^-1 rate, 1/3 applied at sowing+2/3 at jointing is suggested as a means of more sustainable maize production systems in arid areas of central Gansu, China.

Key words: nitrogen rates, nitrogen application time, maize, photosynthetic characteristics, yield

WANG Jin-bin, XIE Jun-hong, LI Ling-ling, Eunice Essel, PENG Zheng-kai, DENG Chao-chao, SHEN Ji-cheng, XIE Jian-hui. Effects of nitrogen management on photosynthetic characteristics and yield of maize in arid areas of central Gansu, China[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2019, 28(1): 60-69.

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