Determining optimal mulching, planting density, and nitrogen application to increase maize grain yield and nitrogen translocation efficiency in Northwest China

Abstract

Background The combination of mulch with N fertilizer application is a common agronomic technique used in the production of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) to achieve higher yields under conditions of optimum planting density and adequate N supply. However, the combined effects of mulch, planting density, and N fertilizer application rate on plant N uptake and N translocation efficiency are not known. The objective of this study was to quantify the interaction effect of mulch, planting density, and N fertilizer application rate on maize grain yield, N uptake, N translocation, and N translocation efficiency. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three factors (2 mulch levels × 2 planting densities × 4 N fertilizer application rates) replicated four times. Results There was a significant interaction among mulch, plant density, and N fertilizer on maize grain yield, kernel number per cob, N uptake, N translocation, and N translocation efficiency. Averaged over the 3 years of the study, total plant N uptake at silking ranged from 79 to 149 kg N ha− 1 with no mulch and from 76 to 178 kg N ha− 1 with mulch. The N uptake at silking in different plant organs ranked as leaf > grain > stem > cob. Averaged across all factors, the highest N translocation was observed in leaves, which was 59.4 and 88.7% higher than observed in stems and ears, respectively. The mean vegetative organ N translocation efficiency averaged over mulch, planting density, and N fertilizer application rate treatments decreased in the order of leaf > stem > cob. Conclusions Mulch, planting density, and N fertilizer application rate not only have significant effects on improving maize grain yield and NUE, but also on N uptake, N translocation, and N translocation efficiency. Our results showed clearly that under high planting density, the combination of mulch and moderate N fertilizer application rate was the optimal strategy for increasing maize grain yield and N use efficiency.

Effect of Straw Mulching and Nitrogen Doses on Nutrient Status, Yield and Economics of Rabi Maize

“…It concluded that with proper mulching and nitrogen management helped the crop to utilize soil moisture and provided competitive advantage towards the high crop growth, yield attributes that resulted in grain and stover yield. Similar result was also reported by Wang et al (2020) [12] and Qin et al (2021) [14].…”

“…Similarly root growth, above ground biomass and the nutritional value of fruits are influenced by proper nitrogen management [11]. The combine application of mulching and nitrogen enhance nutrient composition of soil, along with nutritional value of seeds and stover and economics of the production [12]. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to check the interaction effect of mulching and nitrogen management on the nutritional value of seeds and stover, along with chemical properties of soil and economics.…”

Band Phosphorus and Sulfur Fertilization as Drivers of Efficient Management of Nitrogen of Maize (Zea mays L.)

“…The increase in IE is associated with an increase in NHI, which in turn was associated with a higher N translocation efficiency in later stages of the grain filling period [31,60]. In our experiment, the NPS rate increase did not lead to the improvement of NHI.…”

“…The advantage of PFP over others results from its sensitivity both to the course of weather and experimental factors. As the literature shows, the PFP values in maize cultivation for grain stay within the range of 6.1 and 114.9 kg kg −1 [14,44,[59][60][61]. Thus, the PFP are within the above-mentioned range, yet they remain quite high.…”

Effect of Various Mulch Materials on Chemical Properties of Soil, Leaves and Shoot Characteristics in Dendrocalamus Latiflorus Munro Forests

“…We found the contents of HN, AP, and AK were generally the highest under MF and MB treatments during the entire shooting period. Additionally, organic fertilizer and bamboo leaves have fast decomposition ability with a high nutrient return to soil [47,48] and can be extremely beneficial to the growth of D. latiflorus Munro.…”