Plant Soil Environ., 2016, 62(7):299-306 | DOI: 10.17221/720/2015-PSE

Effects of plant density and nitrogen rate on lodging-related stalk traits of summer maizeOriginal Paper

D.Y. Shi1,2, Y.H. Li1, J.W. Zhang1, P. Liu1, B. Zhao1, S.T. Dong1
1 Agronomy College of the Shandong Agricultural University/State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong, P.R. China
2 Institute of maize and oil crops, Yantai Academy of Agricultural Sciences,

Stalk lodging is a major constraint to limit grain yield under increased planting density in modern maize (Zea mays L.) production. A 3-year field experiment was imposed to study the effects of plant density and nitrogen (N) rate on stalk lodging and lodging-related stalk traits of two maize hybrids of contrasting susceptibility to lodging. The results indicated that the stem diameter, rind penetration strength (RPS), bending strength (BS), rind thickness, vascular bundle sheath's thickness (Vbs) and number of vascular bundle (Vb) of both hybrids all significantly decreased at the high density, while ear height and ear ratio clearly increased in Ludan981 (LD981; lodging-susceptible cultivar) with plant density increase. The lower plant height and ear height, stronger RPS and BS, and more Vb at high plant density might be reasons for Zhengdan958 (ZD958, lodging-resistant cultivar) had lower rate of stalk lodging. Meanwhile, N supply can significantly improve the stalk quality and decrease the risk of stalk lodging, however, little effects were observed in cv. LD981. Therefore, using lodging-resistant cultivar, planting at 82 500 plant/ha and supplying 180 kg N/ha can obtain high grain yield and low stalk lodging.

Keywords: maize lodging; lodging resistance; mechanical property; microstructure

Published: July 31, 2016  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Shi DY, Li YH, Zhang JW, Liu P, Zhao B, Dong ST. Effects of plant density and nitrogen rate on lodging-related stalk traits of summer maize. Plant Soil Environ. 2016;62(7):299-306. doi: 10.17221/720/2015-PSE.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Chen S.H., Chen H.L., Shen X.S., Wang C.T. (2012): Effect of planting density and nitrogen application on yield and lodging of mechanized sowing summer maize. Southeast China Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 25: 805-808. (In Chinese)
    2. Dudley J.W. (1994): Selection for rind puncture resistance in two maize populations. Crop Science, 34: 1458-1460. Go to original source...
    3. Esechie H.A. (1985): Relationship between potassium, total nonstructural carbohydrates and lodging in maize in the rainforest zone. Samaru Journal of Agricultural Research, 3: 61-66.
    4. Esechie H.A., Rodriguez V., Al-Asmi H. (2004): Comparison of local and exotic maize varieties for stalk lodging components in a desert climate. European Journal of Agronomy, 21: 21-30. Go to original source...
    5. Fu X.-Q., Feng J., Yu B., Gao Y.-J., Zheng Y.-L., Yue B. (2013): Morphological, biochemical and genetic analysis of a brittle stalk mutant of maize inserted by mutator. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 12: 12-18. Go to original source...
    6. Hondroyianni E., Papakosta D.K., Gagianas A.A., Tsatsarelis K.A. (2000): Corn stalk traits related to lodging resistance in two soils of differing salinity. Maydica, 45: 125-133.
    7. Islam M.S., Peng S.B., Visperas R.M., Ereful N., Bhuiya M.S.U., Julfiquar A.W. (2007): Lodging-related morphological traits of hybrid rice in a tropical irrigated ecosystem. Field Crops Research, 101: 240-248. Go to original source...
    8. Kang M.S., Din A.K., Zhang Y.D., Magari R. (1999): Combining ability for rind puncture resistance in maize. Crop Science, 39: 368-371. Go to original source...
    9. Li H.C., Li L., Wegenast T., Longin C.F., Xu X.W., Melchinger A.E., Chen S.J. (2010): Effect of N supply on stalk quality in maize hybrids. Field Crops Research, 118: 208-214. Go to original source...
    10. Ma D.L., Xie R.Z., Liu X., Niu X.K., Hou P., Wang K.R., Lu Y.L., Li S.K. (2014): Lodging-related stalk characteristics of maize varieties in China since the 1950s. Crop Science, 54: 2805-2814. Go to original source...
    11. Melich A. (1953): Determination of P, Ca, Mg, K, Na, and NH 4. North Carolina Soil Testing Division. Raleigh, NC State University.
    12. Norberg O.S., Mason S.C., Lowry S.R. (1988): Ethephon influence on harvestable yield, grain quality, and lodging of corn. Agronomy Journal, 80: 768-772. Go to original source...
    13. Peng D.L., Chen X.G., Yin Y.P., Lu K.L., Yang W.B., Tang Y.H., Wang Z.L. (2014): Lodging resistance of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Lignin accumulation and its related enzymes activities due to the application of paclobutrazol or gibberellin acid. Field Crops Research, 157: 1-7. Go to original source...
    14. Tokatlidis I.S., Has V., Mylonas I., Has I., Evgenidis G., Melidis V., Copandean A., Ninou E. (2010): Density effects on environmental variance and expected response to selection in maize (Zea mays L.). Euphytica, 174: 283-291. Go to original source...
    15. Tollenaar M., Deen W., Echarte L., Liu W. (2006): Effect of crowding stress on dry matter accumulation and harvest index in maize. Agronomy Journal, 98: 930-937. Go to original source...
    16. Zandstra H.G. (1968): Automated determination of phosphorus in sodium bicarbonate extracts. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 48: 219-220. Go to original source...
    17. Zhang Q., Zhang L.Z., Evers J., van der Werf W., Zhang W.Q., Duan L.S. (2014): Maize yield and quality in response to plant density and application of a novel plant growth regulator. Field Crops Research, 164: 82-89. Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content