IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v12y2021i1p7-d708699.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Optimal Cultivar × Sowing Date × Plant Density for Grain Yield and Resource Use Efficiency of Summer Maize in the Northern Huang–Huai–Hai Plain of China

Author

Listed:
  • Lichao Zhai

    (Institute of Cereal and Oil Crops, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Science/Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation Physiology and Green Production of Hebei Province/Scientific observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in the North China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shijiazhuang 050035, China)

  • Lihua Zhang

    (Institute of Cereal and Oil Crops, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Science/Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation Physiology and Green Production of Hebei Province/Scientific observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in the North China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shijiazhuang 050035, China)

  • Haipo Yao

    (Institute of Cereal and Oil Crops, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Science/Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation Physiology and Green Production of Hebei Province/Scientific observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in the North China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shijiazhuang 050035, China)

  • Mengjing Zheng

    (Institute of Cereal and Oil Crops, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Science/Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation Physiology and Green Production of Hebei Province/Scientific observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in the North China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shijiazhuang 050035, China)

  • Bo Ming

    (Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Ruizhi Xie

    (Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Jingting Zhang

    (Institute of Cereal and Oil Crops, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Science/Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation Physiology and Green Production of Hebei Province/Scientific observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in the North China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shijiazhuang 050035, China)

  • Xiuling Jia

    (Institute of Cereal and Oil Crops, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Science/Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation Physiology and Green Production of Hebei Province/Scientific observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in the North China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shijiazhuang 050035, China)

  • Junjie Ji

    (Institute of Cereal and Oil Crops, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Science/Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation Physiology and Green Production of Hebei Province/Scientific observing and Experimental Station of Crop Cultivation in the North China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shijiazhuang 050035, China)

Abstract

In order to explore the optimal cultivar × sowing date × plant density for summer maize ( Zea mays L.) in the Northern Huang–Huai–Hai (HHH) Plain of China, field experiments were conducted over two consecutive years (2018–2019) on a loam soil in the Northern HHH Plain. A split–split plot design was employed in this study, and the main plots included three cultivars (HM1: early-maturing cultivar; ZD958: medium-maturing cultivar; DH605: late-maturing cultivar); subplots consisted of three sowing dates (SD1: June 10; SD2: June 17; SD3: June 24); sub-sub plots include two plant densities (PD1: 6.75 × 10 4 plants ha −1 ; PD2: 8.25 × 10 4 plants ha −1 ). The results showed that the effects of cultivar and plant density on grain yield of summer maize were not significant, and the sowing date was the major factor affecting the grain yield. Delayed sowing significantly decreased the grain yield of summer maize, this was due mainly to the reduced kernel weight, which is associated with the lower post-anthesis dry matter accumulation. Moreover, radiation use efficiency (RUE), temperature use efficiency (TUE), and water use efficiency (WUE) were significantly affected by cultivar, sowing date, and plant density. Selecting early- and medium-maturing cultivars was beneficial to the improvements in RUE and TUE, and plants grown at earlier sowing with higher plant density increased the RUE and TUE. The interactive analysis of cultivar × sowing date × plant density showed that the optimum grain yields of all tested cultivars were observed at SD1-PD2, and the optimum RUE and TUE for HM1, ZD958, and DH605 were observed at SD1-PD2, SD2-PD2, and SD2-PD2, respectively. The differences in the optimum grain yield, RUE, and TUE among the tested cultivars were not significant. These results suggested that plants grown at earlier sowing with reasonable dense planting had benefits of grain yield and resource use efficiency. In order to adapt to mechanized grain harvesting, early-maturing cultivar with lower grain moisture at harvest would be the better choice. Therefore, adopting early-maturing cultivars grown with earlier sowing with reasonably higher plant density would be the optimal planting pattern for summer maize production in the Northern HHH Plain of China in future.

Suggested Citation

  • Lichao Zhai & Lihua Zhang & Haipo Yao & Mengjing Zheng & Bo Ming & Ruizhi Xie & Jingting Zhang & Xiuling Jia & Junjie Ji, 2021. "The Optimal Cultivar × Sowing Date × Plant Density for Grain Yield and Resource Use Efficiency of Summer Maize in the Northern Huang–Huai–Hai Plain of China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2021:i:1:p:7-:d:708699
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/1/7/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/1/7/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hai-Lin Zhang & Xin Zhao & Xiao-Gang Yin & Sheng-Li Liu & Jian-Fu Xue & Meng Wang & Chao Pu & Rattan Lal & Fu Chen, 2015. "Challenges and adaptations of farming to climate change in the North China Plain," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 129(1), pages 213-224, March.
    2. Jonathan A. Foley & Navin Ramankutty & Kate A. Brauman & Emily S. Cassidy & James S. Gerber & Matt Johnston & Nathaniel D. Mueller & Christine O’Connell & Deepak K. Ray & Paul C. West & Christian Balz, 2011. "Solutions for a cultivated planet," Nature, Nature, vol. 478(7369), pages 337-342, October.
    3. Zhijuan Liu & Xiaoguang Yang & Fu Chen & Enli Wang, 2013. "The effects of past climate change on the northern limits of maize planting in Northeast China," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 117(4), pages 891-902, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yanxi Zhao & Dengpan Xiao & Huizi Bai & Jianzhao Tang & Deli Liu, 2022. "Future Projection for Climate Suitability of Summer Maize in the North China Plain," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hongdan Li & Wenjiao Shi & Bing Wang & Tingting An & Shuang Li & Shuangyi Li & Jingkuan Wang, 2017. "Comparison of the modeled potential yield versus the actual yield of maize in Northeast China and the implications for national food security," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(1), pages 99-114, February.
    2. Dianyuan Ding & Hao Feng & Ying Zhao & Wenzhao Liu & Haixin Chen & Jianqiang He, 2016. "Impact assessment of climate change and later-maturing cultivars on winter wheat growth and soil water deficit on the Loess Plateau of China," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 138(1), pages 157-171, September.
    3. Meike Weltin & Silke Hüttel, 2023. "Sustainable Intensification Farming as an Enabler for Farm Eco-Efficiency?," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 84(1), pages 315-342, January.
    4. Law, Elizabeth A. & Macchi, Leandro & Baumann, Matthias & Decarre, Julieta & Gavier-Pizarro, Gregorio & Levers, Christian & Mastrangelo, Matías E. & Murray, Francisco & Müller, Daniel & Piquer-Rodrígu, 2021. "Fading opportunities for mitigating agriculture-environment trade-offs in a south American deforestation hotspot," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 262.
    5. Gong, Ziqian & Baker, Justin S. & Wade, Christopher M. & Havlík, Petr, 2024. "Irrigation intensification in U.S. agriculture under climate change – an adaptation mechanism or trade-induced response?," 2024 Annual Meeting, July 28-30, New Orleans, LA 343581, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. Marcela Prokopová & Luca Salvati & Gianluca Egidi & Ondřej Cudlín & Renata Včeláková & Radek Plch & Pavel Cudlín, 2019. "Envisioning Present and Future Land-Use Change under Varying Ecological Regimes and Their Influence on Landscape Stability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-24, August.
    7. James J Elser & Timothy J Elser & Stephen R Carpenter & William A Brock, 2014. "Regime Shift in Fertilizer Commodities Indicates More Turbulence Ahead for Food Security," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(5), pages 1-7, May.
    8. Vogel, Everton & Martinelli, Gabrielli & Artuzo, Felipe Dalzotto, 2021. "Environmental and economic performance of paddy field-based crop-livestock systems in Southern Brazil," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    9. Abdulai, Issaka & Hoffmann, Munir P. & Jassogne, Laurence & Asare, Richard & Graefe, Sophie & Tao, Hsiao-Hang & Muilerman, Sander & Vaast, Philippe & Van Asten, Piet & Läderach, Peter & Rötter, Reimun, 2020. "Variations in yield gaps of smallholder cocoa systems and the main determining factors along a climate gradient in Ghana," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    10. Heider, Katharina & Quaranta, Emanuele & García Avilés, José María & Rodriguez Lopez, Juan Miguel & Balbo, Andrea L. & Scheffran, Jürgen, 2022. "Reinventing the wheel – The preservation and potential of traditional water wheels in the terraced irrigated landscapes of the Ricote Valley, southeast Spain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    11. Jeong, Hanseok & Kim, Hakkwan & Jang, Taeil & Park, Seungwoo, 2016. "Assessing the effects of indirect wastewater reuse on paddy irrigation in the Osan River watershed in Korea using the SWAT model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 393-402.
    12. Ethan Gordon & Federico Davila & Chris Riedy, 2022. "Transforming landscapes and mindscapes through regenerative agriculture," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(2), pages 809-826, June.
    13. Peter Scarborough & Paul Appleby & Anja Mizdrak & Adam Briggs & Ruth Travis & Kathryn Bradbury & Timothy Key, 2014. "Dietary greenhouse gas emissions of meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians and vegans in the UK," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 125(2), pages 179-192, July.
    14. La Notte, Luca & Giordano, Lorena & Calabrò, Emanuele & Bedini, Roberto & Colla, Giuseppe & Puglisi, Giovanni & Reale, Andrea, 2020. "Hybrid and organic photovoltaics for greenhouse applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    15. Hampf, Anna C. & Carauta, Marcelo & Latynskiy, Evgeny & Libera, Affonso A.D. & Monteiro, Leonardo & Sentelhas, Paulo & Troost, Christian & Berger, Thomas & Nendel, Claas, 2018. "The biophysical and socio-economic dimension of yield gaps in the southern Amazon – A bio-economic modelling approach," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 1-13.
    16. Thorn, Alexandra M. & Baker, Michael J. & Peters, Christian J., 2021. "Estimating biological capacity for grass-finished ruminant meat production in New England and New York," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    17. David Font Vivanco & Ranran Wang & Sebastiaan Deetman & Edgar Hertwich, 2019. "Unraveling the Nexus: Exploring the Pathways to Combined Resource Use," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 241-252, February.
    18. Quintero-Angel, Mauricio & Coles, Ashley & Duque-Nivia, Andrés A., 2021. "A historical perspective of landscape appropriation and land use transitions in the Colombian South Pacific," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    19. Xiukang Wang, 2022. "Managing Land Carrying Capacity: Key to Achieving Sustainable Production Systems for Food Security," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-21, March.
    20. Hamani, Abdoul Kader Mounkaila & Liu, Junming & Si, Zhuanyun & Kpalari, Djifa Fidele & Wang, Guangshuai & Gao, Yang & Ju, Xiaotang, 2024. "The relationship of δD and δ18O in soil water and its implications for soil evaporation across distinct rainfall years in winter wheat field in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2021:i:1:p:7-:d:708699. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.