Evaluation of Nitrogen Yield-Forming Efficiency in the Cultivation of Maize (Zea mays L.) under Different Nutrient Management Systems

Piotr Szulc,Barbara Stachowiak,Katarzyna Ambroży-Deręgowska,Przemysław Kardasz,Waldemar Zielewicz,Stanisław Grześ,Iwona Mejza

doi:10.3390/su131910917

Abstract

Failure to adjust the fertilization system to quantitative needs, and especially to the dynamics of mineral demand, causes plant metabolism disorders, low mineral utilization by the plant, and an increased risk of environmental pollution. Additionally, unbalanced mineral fertilization may reduce the assimilation surface actively involved in photosynthesis, which determines the yield potential of individual varieties. The aim of the strict field experiment was to determine the responses of two types of maize varieties (Zea mays L.) to treatments with different nutrient management systems, as expressed by the growth analysis of active organs during photosynthesis, SPAD (soil and plant analysis development) leaf greenness index, green mass yield, and unit nitrogen productivity from PFPFN mineral fertilization (partial factor productivity fertilizer nitrogen). It was demonstrated that the total area of leaf blades of a single plant and the LAI (leaf area index) value were significantly higher in the “stay-green” hybrid compared to the traditional variety. The analysis of leaf morphological structure of the “stay-green” hybrid, based on SLA (specific leaf area), indicated a highly effective utilization of nitrogen, leading to faster leaf production with a larger assimilation area, which formed the basis for effective absorption of solar radiation. The selection of “stay-green” varieties for silage cultivation guarantees high green mass yields. The risk of lower maize biomass intended for ensilage can only be reduced by applying balanced mineral fertilization of all nutrients. The omission of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the mineral fertilization dose, regardless of the variety tested, was a factor reducing the yield of maize biomass intended for ensilage and a lower partial factor productivity of nitrogen fertilizer compared to the treatment optimally balanced with respect to the nitrogen dose.

Highlights

Plant productivity depends on photosynthetic production, i.e., the amount of assimilates generated during the process of photosynthesis [1,2]
It was noted that application of only nitrogen (A3) or of a combination of nitrogen with magnesium (A4), sulfur (A5), phosphorus (A6), potassium (A7), or magnesium and sulfur (A8) did not significantly increase the number of leaves per plant compared with the control (A1)
The temperature and humidity conditions in the maize growing seasons determined the structure of maize canopy, plant assimilation surface, value of the SPAD leaf greenness index, Partial Factor Productivity of Fertilizer Nitrogen (PFPFN), and the green mass yield of maize harvested for silage

Summary

Introduction

Plant productivity depends on photosynthetic production, i.e., the amount of assimilates generated during the process of photosynthesis [1,2]. The structure of maize canopy has a great influence on the rate and intensity of photosynthesis [3]. The efficiency of this physiological phenomenon would increase by about. Typical of most species in our climate zone, maize begins to assimilate C4 at higher air temperatures and high light intensity, doubling the photosynthesis efficiency. It combines two carbon dioxide molecules in one series [5,6]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion