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Drip Fertigation with Relatively Low Water and N Input Achieved Higher Grain Yield of Maize by Improving Pre- and Post-Silking Dry Matter Accumulation

Author

Listed:
  • Dong Guo

    (College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
    Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Chuanyong Chen

    (Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture & Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Baoyuan Zhou

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

  • Di Ma

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

  • William D. Batchelor

    (Biosystems Engineering Department, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA)

  • Xiao Han

    (Business School, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA)

  • Zaisong Ding

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

  • Mei Du

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

  • Ming Zhao

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

  • Ming Li

    (College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China)

  • Wei Ma

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

Abstract

Appropriate irrigation and nitrogen (N) management strategies are necessary to achieve a sustainable yield of maize with relatively low water and N inputs. Here, a 2-year field experiment with two irrigation methods (drip irrigation and flood irrigation) and five N application rates (0, 225, 300, 375, and 450 kg N ha −1 ) was conducted to evaluate maize yield and water and N use efficiency in the North China Plain (NCP). Compared with flood fertigation (FF), drip fertigation (DF) improved the soil water content (SWC) in the 0 to 40 cm soil layer and maintained a greater soil mineral N content (N min ) of that soil layer. This resulted in increased soil N min in the 0 to 40 cm soil layer for the 375 kg ha −1 (N3) under DF compared with the 450 kg N ha −1 (N4) treatment under FF during both pre- and post-silking of maize. The maize crop accumulated greater N at both pre- and post-silking compared using N3 under DF compared to N4 under FF. Greater pre-silking N accumulation increased both leaf area and plant growth rate, leading to more dry matter (DM) accumulation and develop more kernels, while sufficient post-silking N accumulation maintained high leaf area to produce more DM post-silking and promote maize ability to support grain filling. As a result, maximum maize yield (10.4 Mg ha −1 ) was achieved due to increased kernel number and kernel weight for N3 (375 kg N ha −1 ) under DF with a 20% reduction in N fertilizer input compared with the N4 (450 kg N ha −1 ) treatment under FF. Due to greater grain yield and N uptake and less water consumption, the agronomic N efficiency (AE N ), N partial factor productivity (PFP N ), water use efficiency (WUE) and net income for the N3 treatment under DF increased by 30.4%, 28.6%, 58.3% and 11.0% averaged over two years, respectively, compared to the N4 treatment under FF. Therefore, drip fertilization could improve maize grain yield with a relatively lower water consumption and N application rate compared with flood irrigation with higher N fertilization, as well as increase the economic benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Dong Guo & Chuanyong Chen & Baoyuan Zhou & Di Ma & William D. Batchelor & Xiao Han & Zaisong Ding & Mei Du & Ming Zhao & Ming Li & Wei Ma, 2022. "Drip Fertigation with Relatively Low Water and N Input Achieved Higher Grain Yield of Maize by Improving Pre- and Post-Silking Dry Matter Accumulation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:7850-:d:849395
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    References listed on IDEAS

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