Impact of straw and its derivatives on lodging resistance and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) under rainfed areas

Abstract

Addressing the negative impacts of lodging on crops is a global topic, but it is not clear whether and how straw and its derivatives positively affect the lodging resistance, yield, and quality of spring maize in rainfed areas. Therefore, a field experiment with three organic amendments, straw (at 9000 kg ha−1), cattle manure (at 7140 kg ha−1), and biogas residue (at 6554.52 kg ha−1), was set up in a typical rainfed area with film mulching. The results showed that straw and its derivatives significantly improved the mechanical properties of the third internode by improving the cellulose and lignin contents and their related synthase activities, which resulted in a significant increase in the stalk lodging-resistant index by 3.65∼7.23% (P < 0.05); contributed to a deeper and longer root system that significantly improved root pulling force by 1.41∼4.75%, further enhancing the positive correlation between root in the secondary zone and root lodging resistance; and improved the 1000- kernel weight, content of crude fat and crude protein by constructing a lush above-ground population, which significantly increased the grain yield by 5.95∼13.22%. Among them, the performance of biogas residue fermented by both anaerobic and composting was better than that of other treatments, which provided an informative organic solution for synchronizing the spring maize lodging resistance and yield increase.