Abstract
This paper examined impacts of drought on both physiological and dry matter characteristics of spring maize grown in Liaoning, China in 2016. We compared responses of dry matters of various parts, yield components, leaf photosynthesis, and transpiration to four drought levels: RD (no drought treatment), D1 (drought treatment between the 38th and 65th day after sowing), D2 (drought treatment between the 38th and 79th day after sowing), and D3 (drought treatment between the 53rd and 93rd day after sowing). Results indicate that the long-term drought in either jointing period or tasseling period had a severer impact on the dry matters and yield components than the short-term drought in jointing period. Moreover, the dry matters and the corresponding partitioning coefficients of different parts were distinct. The yield reduction was caused by the decreases of ear length and bald tip ratio during the short-term drought at jointing period, while it was caused by the reductions of ear length, ear diameter, and grain number per spike during the long-term drought in jointing and tasseling periods. Responses of leaf photosynthesis and transpiration to drought were lagging, but reactions of tasseling drought were faster. Leaf photosynthesis and transpiration after a short-term drought in jointing period could recover to an average level but that after the long-term drought in either jointing or tasseling period could not, after irrigation.
Highlights
Drought is one the most significant factors hindering agricultural development and environmental sustainability [1,2,3,4]
For the drought in early jointing period, it almost generated no impact on the biomass production
Maize has been a significant cereal of many nations, playing important roles in food security
Summary
Drought is one the most significant factors hindering agricultural development and environmental sustainability [1,2,3,4]. Maize is extremely sensitive to drought suffering 20–30% or even higher yields [5]. Northeast China with its cultivated area of six million hectares contributes significantly to food production in China [6]. Northeast China has witnessed frequent and intensified drought since 1990s. It is projected that water scarcity will be dramatically aggravated, which means impacts of drought on spring maize will be further exacerbated [7]. To accurately assess drought-induced decrease of maize production and well-informed farmers with reasonable maize production suggestions, it is essential to conduct studies on the impacts of drought on spring maize production in Northeast China
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