Photosynthetic rate (Pn) and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) are the two important factors affecting the photosynthesis and nutrient utilization of plant leaves. However, the effect of N fertilization combined with foliar application of Fe on the Pn and PNUE of the maize crops under different planting patterns (i.e., monocropping and intercropping) is elusive. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to determine the effect of N fertilization combined with foliar application of Fe on the photosynthetic characteristics, PNUE, and the associated enzymes of the maize crops under different planting patterns. The results of this study showed that under intercropping, maize treated with N fertilizer combined with foliar application of Fe had not only significantly (p < 0.05) improved physio-agronomic indices but also higher chlorophyll content, better photosynthetic characteristics, and related leaf traits. In addition, the same crops under such treatments had increased photosynthetic enzyme activity (i.e., rubisco activity) and nitrogen metabolism enzymes activities, such as nitrate reductase (NR activity), nitrite reductase (NiR activity), and glutamate synthase (GOGAT activity). Consequently, intercropping enhanced the PNUE and soluble sugar content of the maize crops, thus increasing its yield compared with monocropping. Thus, these findings suggest that intercropping under optimal N fertilizer application combined with Fe foliation can improve the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic characteristics of maize crops by regulating the associated enzymatic activities. Consequently, this results in enhanced PNUE, which eventually leads to better growth and higher yield in the intercropping system. Thus, practicing intercropping under optimal nutrient management (i.e., N and Fe) could be crucial for better growth and yield, and efficient nitrogen use efficiency of maize crops.
Inappropriate irrigation conditions and nitrogen application can negatively affect soil carbon–nitrogen content and yield of maize, as well as can lead to underground water pollution and soil degradation. A two year (2018, 2019) field experiment was carried out to determine the effect of irrigation and N, alone and in combination on maize grain yield, grain nitrogen content, soil inorganic N and MBC of one-year double cropping maize (Zea mays L.) in a subtropical region. Split plot design was adopted, with main plots consisting of two water regimes: drip irrigation (drip irrigation to keep soil water content no less than 70% of maximum field capacity) and rainfed (no irrigation during growing period). Split-plot treatments consisted of five nitrogen application levels, including 0 (N0), 150 (N150), 200 (N200), 250 (N250), and 300 kg/ha (N300). The results of two-year field experiment showed that soil irrigation nitrogen interaction had a significant influence on the all measured parameters. In detail, soil NH4+-N and NO3−-N content, total nitrogen (TN), soil organic carbon (SOC) and grain nitrogen contents under the combined treatment of N250 and supplementary irrigation were higher relative to other treatments. Compared with rainfed, maize yield, thousand grains weight (TGW) and harvest index increased by 22.0%, 7.7%, and 15.2% under supplemental irrigation. Yield and TGW N300 were 287 kg/ha and 3.1 g higher than those of N250, and yield and TGW of N250 were 59.4% and 23.1% higher than those of N0, respectively. The yield of spring maize was 24.0% significantly higher than that of autumn maize. Therefore, we suggested that 250 kg/ha nitrogen application fertilizer combined with supplementary irrigation can improve soil fertility and annual maize yield in subtropical one-year double cropping region.
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