Fitting Cropping Technology in a Changing Climate

Abstract

SUMMARYMaize is one of the most important crops in the world. Its successful production depends mainly on meteorological factors. The aim of study was to define the most efficient tillage system (no-till, reduced or conventional tillage) and fertilizer amount (Ø, 330 or 660 kg ha -1 of N:P:K) for high maize yields (ZP 704) under rain-fed and irrigation conditions, according to the results of a longterm maize cropping experiment (1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010). The observed 20 year period was characterized by increasing trends of the average temperatures and sum of precipitation. A positive dependence between grain yield and precipitation was noticed only under rain-fed cropping. Weibull analysis emphasised that the highest yields were achieved with 330 kg ha -1 of N:P:K fertilizer and conventional tillage under unfavourable conditions. Negative meteorological factors were diminished under irrigation, where high inputs resulted in increased yields. However, rain-fed cropping is still the most abundant cropping practice in the world, and moderate inputs (330 kg ha -1 N:P:K) resulted in stability of the maize yield, regardless of the lower yields achieved. On the other hand, the high yields attained with high fertilizer and tillage inputs under irrigation could be reasonable only in seasons with low precipitation (drought).

ADVANCED CROPPING TECHNOLOGY OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) IN SERBIA

“…These two types of three-crop rotation are identical in relation to the crops included, but due to the sequence of crops (alternation of crops), there are significant differences, before all in their effects on the reduction of weed infestation (Spasojević, 2014b). Under Serbian agro-ecological conditions, the soya bean-wheat-maize (wheat is the preceding crop to maize) rotation very efficiently affected a reduction in the total weed infestation, even when reduced amounts of herbicides were applied, which is very important from the aspect of agro-ecosystem protection (Simić et al, 2015). In dependence on the level of herbicide application, the maize-soybean-wheat three-crop rotation had the greatest effect on the reduction of maize weeds, especially perennials species, after only one rotation of crops .…”

Variability of maize inbred lines in nitrogen use effciency

“…However, NUE values of the other lines varied among seasons, with mainly positive values obtained in 2017, as somewhat unfavourable season, indicating connection between NUE and (WUE) (MANSOURI-FAR et al, 2010;YU et al, 2015). As lower grain yields, obtained in the same year by the same genotypes, were taken into consideration, importance of increased N requirements (higher N rates) during stressful conditions is accentuated (DRAGIČEVIĆ et al, 2015). It is important to underline that maize root architecture (large and deep root system), is very important trait that combat stress (particularly drought), enabling greater absorption of N and other essential minerals, thus providing improved growth of above-ground biomass, as well as grain yield potential (YU et al, 2015;SZCZEPANIAK, 2016;WANG et al, 2019 According to the results of similarity between tested lines, present in Figure 3, several groups were formed.…”

Influence of growing measures on weed interference and water status in maize

“…Maize is grown on the largest percent of arable land in Serbia. Common technology for its production includes mechanical planting in 70 cm-wide rows, the use of herbicides for weed control, and mineral, primarily nitrogen fertilizers to achieve higher yield (Dragičević et al, 2015). Row spacing at 70 cm apart with 20 to 25 cm between plants within each row, results in 57.000 to 72.000 plants per ha.…”