Agronomic Performance Research Articles

Polyploidy in maize: from evolution to breeding.

Polyploidy played an important role in the evolution of the three most important crops: wheat, maize and rice, each of them providing a unique model for studying allopolyploidy, segmental alloploidy or paleopolyploidy. However, its genetic and evolutionary role is still vague. The undelying mechanisms and consequences of polyploidy remain fundamental objectives in the study of eukaryotes. Maize is one of the underutilized crops at the polyploid level. This species has no stable natural polyploids, the existing ones being artificially obtained. From the experimental polyploid series of maize, only the tetraploid forms (4n = 40) are of interest. They are characterized by some valuable morphological, physiological and biochemical features, superior to the diploid forms from which they originated, but also by some drawbacks such as: reduced fertility, slower development, longer vegetation period, low productivity and adaptedness. Due to these barriers to using tetraploids in field production, maize tetraploids primarily found utility in scientific studies regarding genetic variability, inbreeding, heterosis and gene dosage effect. Since the first mention of a triploid maize plant to present, many scientists and schools, devoted their efforts to capitalize on the use of polyploidy in maize. Despite its common disadvantages as a crop, significant progress in developing tetraploid maize with good agronomic performance was achieved leading to registered tetraploid maize varieties. In this review we summarize and discuss the different aspects of polyploidy in maize, such as evolutionary context, methods of induction, morphology, fertility issue, inheritance patterns, gene expression and potential use.

Agronomic performance of novel, nitrogen-rich biobased fertilizers across European field trial sites

Context or problemSubstituting mineral fertilizers with novel biobased fertilizers (BBFs) produced from various organic waste and side streams could contribute to a reduction in the environmental and climate impacts of fertilizer production and use and the recycling of otherwise potentially wasted nutrients. For the substitution to be beneficial for farmers, the environment, and food security, the BBFs need to be effective, reliable and safe. However, the agronomic performance of novel, nitrogen (N) rich BBFs has not yet been well studied. Objectives or research questionThe main objective of this study was to determine the agronomic efficiency of N in a relevant range of commercially available BBFs. We hypothesised that they can function as effective substitutes for mineral N fertilizers, independent of the agricultural and geographic settings. MethodsField trials (fully randomized block design) were conducted at four field sites across Europe covering different climates, soil types, and crop sequences. In total 18 BBFs were tested, 7 of which were common BBFs tested at all sites, while the other 11 (2–3 per site) were local BBFs at individual sites. The design included 4–5 increasing levels of mineral N reference. Trials with BBF application were conducted over 2 years, and the agronomic performance (crop yield and N offtake) was determined to estimate 1st year mineral N fertilizer replacement value (NFRV) in both years, while residual NFRV was estimated only in the 2nd year. ResultsThe BBFs showed an average N fertilizer replacement value (NFRV) of 70 % across sites and years, with variations in the agronomic performance between the trial sites and years. Compared with the mineral N fertilizer reference applied at the same total N level, no consistent ranking of BBF and no significant differences in yields were found. The BBFs tended to have a higher NFRV when incorporated compared to surface application. Of the 18 BBFs tested, 8 had a NFRV above 75 %, 6 were in the range 60–75 % and 4 were in the low range of 10–60 %. The residual effect of BBFs in the year after application was not significantly higher for any of the BBFs than that of the mineral N fertilizer. ConclusionsGenerally, the BBFs performed similar to the mineral reference applied at the same total N level. The performance of BBFs was not significantly affected by climate or soil type. The BBFs appeared to have higher agronomic performance when incorporated into the soil compared to surface application. The second year residual effect of BBF was not significantly higher than that of the mineral reference fertilizer. Implications or significanceIn general, most of the investigated BBFs can be considered reasonably effective substitutes for mineral N fertilizers. The results suggest that soil incorporation of BBFs will result in better agronomic performance than surface application.

Agronomic performances, yield and nutritional values of lupin grain varieties at Gircha research center, Gamo Highlands

Agronomic performances, yield and nutritional values of lupin grain varieties at Gircha research center, Gamo Highlands

Optimizing biomass allocation for optimum balance of seed yield and lodging resistance in rapeseed

ContextDense planting can boost achievable yields in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). But it aggravates the lodging risk that is often associated with high–yielding cropping systems. ObjectivesThis research aimed to assess the agronomic performance of rapeseed in terms of yield and lodging related attributes under various planting densities. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of electrical measurements i.e., root capacitance (EC) and impedance (EI) for predicting root morphology and lodging resistance was also evaluated. MethodsThis study comprised two rapeseed varieties (Qinyou7: a lodging susceptible; Shanyou28: a lodging resistant) which were grown in four planting densities (15, 30, 45 and 60 plants m–2) across four site-year environments. Data on various agronomic parameters were recorded including seed yield, root and stem morphology and lodging resistance. Results and conclusionsWith an increase in planting density from 15 to 60 plants m–2, the seed yields of variety Qinyou7 and Shanyou28 were increased by 67 % and 56 %, respectively. However, a tradeoff of seed yield with lodging resistance was evidenced in lodging susceptible variety Qinyou7. It tended to invest more biomass in the siliques to maximize seed yield, which led to reduced stem bending strength (Ss) and weaker root anchorage strength (Sr), thus making plants more prone to lodging (in terms of lower safety factor, SF). Conversely, the lodging resistant Shanyou28 allocated a greater amount of photosynthates to the stems and roots to enhance its lodging resistance by maintaining higher Ss and Sr, thus compromising on a part of its seed yield. Large diameter of the root–soil cone and robust roots can be considered as critical traits for selecting lodging resistant varieties due to their strong correlation with Sr, and other lodging associated root morphological traits. Both EC and EI measurements were closely linked with seed yield, root–related traits, and SF. ImplicationsWe strongly recommend exploiting these electrical measurements as a quick, low–cost, non-destructive, and efficient technique for predicting seed yield and lodging susceptibility of rapeseed.

Agronomic performance and consumer acceptability of improved water yam (Dioscorea alata L.) varieties in the Republic of Benin

White yam (Dioscorea rotundata L.) is widely cultivated, and is a staple food in the Republic of Benin. However, its production is highly sensitive to soil infertility, leading to low yields over the years. In order to address the challenges of land reduction and climate change, it is crucial to introduce more adapted yam varieties to traditional Beninese agriculture. Water yam (Dioscorea alata L.) varieties are viable options, as they need less soil fertility and yield more than D. rotundata, but have a poor culinary performance. The aim of this study is to assess the agronomic and culinary performance of 15 improved water yam genotypes developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) compared to local cultivars. In 2022 and 2023, multilocal trials (4 sites) were performed in the yam-growing areas, and nine villages were selected for culinary evaluation. Linear mixed-effects models and generalized mixed-effects models showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in location, year of experimentation, and certain evaluated agronomic parameters. The improved varieties had a strong likelihood of producing small tubers that could be used as seeds. The agronomic and culinary performance of local water yam accessions has been superior to that of improved varieties. Due to its numerous medium tubers, TDa_1508044 could be introduced for production of yam chips. TDa_1510080, which showed a stable high yield throughout the trial sites, and TDa_1510119, which gave a great number of marketable large-size tubers, showed the best agronomic performance with a yield of more than 25 t/ha. TDa_1510043, TDa_0000194, and TDa_1515030 improved varieties that performed well in both culinary and agronomic ways could be widely adopted by farmers in the yam-growing areas of Benin.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria mitigate drought and salinity stresses, and improve the physiological and agronomic performances in crops: A systematic review

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria mitigate drought and salinity stresses, and improve the physiological and agronomic performances in crops: A systematic review

Agronomic performance and technological quality of sugarcane submitted to different poultry litter dosages

Sugarcane is a central crop for sugar and ethanol production. Investing in sustainable practices can enhance productivity, technological quality, mitigate impacts, and contribute to a cleaner energy future. Among the factors that help increase the productivity of sugarcane, the physical, chemical and biological parameters of the soil are amongst the most important. The use of poultry litter has been an important alternative for soil improvement, as it acts as a soil conditioner. Therefore, this work aimed to verify the best doses of poultry litter for the vegetative, reproductive and technological components of sugarcane. The experiment was carried out at Usina Denusa Destilaria Nova União S/A in the municipality of Jandaia, GO. The experimental design used was a complete randomized block design with four replications: 5 × 4, totaling 20 experimental units. The evaluated factor consisted of four doses of poultry litter plus the control (0 (control), 2, 4, 6 and 8 t ha−1). In this study, were evaluated the number of tillers, lower stem diameter, average stem diameter, upper stem diameter, plant height, stem weight and productivity. The technological variables of total recoverable sugar, recoverable sugar, Brix, fiber, purity and percentage of oligosaccharides were also evaluated. It was observed, within the conditions of this experiment, that the insertion of poultry litter did not interfere significantly in most biometric, productive and technological variables of the sugarcane. But it can also be inferred that there was a statistical trend toward better results when the sugarcane was cultivated with 4 t ha-1 of poultry litter.

On‐farm evaluation of cassava clones using the triadic comparison of technology options approach

AbstractThe triadic comparison of technology options (tricot) approach to participatory varietal selection has been demonstrated to scale out the on‐farm testing of elite candidate crop varieties. In this study, we evaluated elite clones of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) using the tricot approach. We sought to (1) synthesize on‐farm trial data from two cycles evaluating different sets of elite cassava clones; (2) assess the agronomic performance of elite cassava clones considering sociodemographic and climatic factors; and (3) assess the performance of elite cassava clones for both agronomic and food quality traits. The study involved 10 districts in Uganda, two cycles/seasons of evaluation, 20 elite cassava clones, one check variety, and 294 men and 320 women farmers. Our results indicate that the agronomic performance of elite cassava clones was influenced more by geographic than sociodemographic factors. Our analysis identified the number of days with rainfall higher than 20 mm as the most influencing climatic factor over agronomic performance. Further, the study identified superior elite cassava clones UG110164, UGC14170, and UG120193 as promising candidate varieties for release, targeting food products. Overall, our study emphasizes the important contribution of end‐users to crop improvement and provides insights into use of tricot on‐farm testing methodology to evaluate elite cassava clones during cassava variety development in Uganda, which can be used to support decision making for variety release.

Comparative study on agronomic and physiological performance of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) under drip and aggregate wick systems

Aggregate wick system (AWS) or capillary action technique is a kind of sub-surface irrigation system gaining popularity owing to its profound advantages of improved water and nutrient use efficiency resulting in superior plant growth and development. However, its effect on growth and physiology of gerbera crop has not been studied yet. Therefore, an experiment was conducted during 2021–23 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka to assess the effect of aggregate wick system on growth, flowering, vase life, yield and physiological aspects of gerbera var. Arka Nesara as compared to the conventional drip systems. It was apparent from the results that higher overall factor productivity in terms of number of leaves/plant (12.92), earlier first flower harvest (149.80 days) and copious flower production (38.58/plant/year) with enhanced chlorophyll content and optimal starch content were observed with AWS on the soil bed. However, AWS with pots on the ground resulted in extended vase life (9.20 days) with enhanced leaf area (115.31 cm2), chlorophyll-b, reducing sugars and decreased total and non-reducing sugars in leaves. Therefore, it can be concluded that the improved flower yield and vase life of gerbera in aggregate wick systems might be attributed to the greater chlorophyll production and reducing sugars in the leaves, respectively.

Nitrogen Reduction and Organic Fertiliser Application Benefits Growth, Yield, and Economic Return of Cotton

The application of excessive nitrogen fertiliser has been found to have a detrimental impact on the growth and development of cotton in Xinjiang, China. This has resulted in a reduction in cotton yield and economic benefit. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential for reducing the input of inorganic N fertiliser while maintaining the quality and yield formation of cotton. The objective of this study was to examine the growth, photosynthesis, and yield of cotton crops subjected to varying fertiliser treatments. The experiment was conducted in 2021–2022 with eight treatments in the experiment: no fertiliser (CK); conventional application of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser (T0); T1–T3, with 8%, 16%, and 24% reduction in inorganic nitrogen fertiliser application, respectively; and T4–T6, with organic fertilisers replacing the reduced inorganic nitrogen fertiliser application of T1–T3, respectively. In comparison to T0, T5 demonstrated the most notable agronomical performance and yield components across both years. This is attributable to the spatial distribution of cotton bolls, which was more conducive to the net photosynthetic rate and yield formation. This, in turn, led to an augmented photosynthetic capacity, enhanced biomass accumulation, and an elevated harvesting index. The results of the economic benefit analysis demonstrated that in comparison to the control treatment (T0), the net profit of all treatments except T3 increased. In conclusion, the economic benefit reached its maximum in the range of a 9.90–14.10% reduction in nitrogen and a 16.60–17.60% substitution of organic fertiliser.

Evaluation of liquid organic manures as biostimulants on the agronomic performance of spinach

Evaluation of liquid organic manures as biostimulants on the agronomic performance of spinach

Agronomic performance of Ciherang near-isogenic lines for nitrogen use efficiency trait in irrigated lowland paddy field

Abstract Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient that affects plant growth and productivity. The consumption of N fertilizer is continuously increasing with the rapid demand for agricultural production. However, the rise in N fertilizer utilization causes higher production costs and leads to a negative impact on the environment. Improvement in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of rice plants is therefore important for sustainable rice production to reduce N fertilizer consumption while maintaining high grain yield. To improve the NUE of Indonesian elite cultivars, near-isogenic lines (NILs) with Ciherang genetic background have been developed by introducing genes related to N use efficiency, qRL6.1, and actpk1 through backcross breeding. Preliminary yield trials were conducted to evaluate the agronomic performance of CiherangNILqRL6.1 and CiherangNILactpk1 rice lines under optimum N fertilizer conditions in irrigated lowland fields for two seasons, wet season 2021/2022 and dry season 2022. Observations were performed on flowering time, biomass, yield, and yield component of NILs and Ciherang. The result from this preliminary observation indicated that under optimum N fertilizer, the agronomic performance of the NILs was comparable to Ciherang as the genetic background. Some NILs showed higher grain yield compared to Ciherang and were selected for further experiments to evaluate their performance under different N fertilizer conditions.

Agronomic performance under different planting densities of black sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in the Southern Region of Paraguay

La densidad de plantas influye directamente en el crecimiento, desarrollo y productividad de plantas de sésamo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de diferentes densidades de siembra del sésamo negro sobre sus parámetros agronómicos. El trabajo fue realizado en el periodo 2020-2021, en la localidad de Monte Grande, San Pedro del Paraná, Itapúa-Paraguay. Los tratamientos fueron: (D50) con 50.000; (D75) 75.000; (D100) 100.000; (D125) 125.000; (D150) 150.000 y (D175) 175.000 plantas ha-1 respectivamente, dispuestos en un diseño de bloques completos al azar, con cuatro repeticiones. Fueron evaluadas la altura de planta, número de ramas por planta, número de cápsulas por planta, número de granos cápsula, peso de mil granos y rendimiento de granos. Los resultados obtenidos fueron sometidos a Análisis de Varianza (ANOVA) y comparados por Test de Tukey al 5% de probabilidad de error. La densidad de siembra influyó significativamente sobre el número de ramas y cápsulas por planta, peso de mil granos y rendimiento de grano. El tratamiento D50 obtuvo mayor número de ramas (3,2 uds.), y de cápsulas por planta (124,2 uds.), y peso de mil granos (2,8 g). Sin embargo, el tratamiento D100 presentó el mayor rendimiento de grano (1.079 kg ha-1). La densidad de siembra más adecuada del sésamo negro fue de 100.000 plantas ha-1, para las condiciones edafoclimáticas de la Región Sur del país.

SOIL PROPERTIES AND AGRONOMIC EVALUATION OF TOMATO LINES (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.) IN THE NORTHWEST REGION OF GABON

The availability of tomato seeds adapted to local production conditions remains one of the major constraints for a sustainable tomato industry in Gabon. An agro-morphological characterization of ten tomato lines enabled us to assess their potential on the soil of the north-western region of Gabon. At this end, the properties of the soil were analyzed on the one hand, then, agronomic parameters of the tomato lineswere assessed on the other. Univariate and multivariate analyses of agronomic data were carried out using R software. Granulometric analysis revealed that the soil had a silty-sandy structure (29% coarse silt, 28.71% coarse sand). The mineralogical composition shows an assimilable phosphorus content of 15.51ppm and concentrations (in meq/100g) of potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium of 0.41, 0.99, 0.32 and 0.60 respectively. For agronomic results, flowering time ranged from 26 to 36 DAS and first harvests from 70 to 84 DAS. Line L1 was the earliest and L9 the latest. For the yield, lines L4 (26.7 t/ha) and L8 (20.5 t/ha) were the most productive. The fruits with the best sizes were those of lines L2 (87.7 g) and L4 (86.6 g). Lines L1, L4, L5 and L8 were the firmest. The various diseases observed were downy mildew, spoon yellows and apical necrosis, with a moderate severity index (23,08 %) for all lines. These results show the agronomic performance of certain tomato lines on the sandy-loam soils of Gabon and for varietal improvement programs to increase tomatoes productivity in Gabon.

Effects of organic fertilizers on agronomic performance of tomato (Solanum esculentum Mill) and nutrients availability in soils of Central Tanzania

Effects of organic fertilizers on agronomic performance of tomato (Solanum esculentum Mill) and nutrients availability in soils of Central Tanzania

Unraveling popping quality through insights on kernel physical, agro-morphological, and quality traits of diverse popcorn (Zea mays var. everta) inbreds from indigenous and exotic germplasm

Popcorn is a specialty corn with worldwide popularity as a snack. Despite having great market demand, genetic improvement in popping quality is limited, which is caused by the limited germplasm utilization and narrow genetic base. An assortment of diverse germplasm, their effective characterization, and integration into popcorn breeding pipeline is the foundation for an efficient breeding program. Here, kernel characteristics, popping quality traits, and agro-morphological traits were evaluated across three locations on a diverse panel of 48 popcorn inbreds derived from diverse landraces and populations of exotic and indigenous origin. The variations due to genotypes, locations, and genotype × location interaction were highly significant. The popping quality traits recorded wide variation with a high coefficient of genotypic determination. The kernel dimensions, kernel density, test weight, and grain yield were negatively correlated with popping quality traits. Genotypes with rice-type kernels exhibited better popping quality than pearl-type kernels. Analysis of genotype × location (G×L) interaction identified two target locations for the key popping quality trait, popping expansion volume. PMI-PC-175, PMI-PC-187, PMI-PC-188, and PMI-PC-189 were identified as superior genotypes over checks for desirable popping quality, agronomic performance, and high grain yield. The contrasting inbreds for popping quality and flake shape (mushroom vs. butterfly) can be utilized for developing mapping populations to enhance our understanding of molecular aspects of popping quality traits. Further, the promising inbreds can be utilized in the genetic improvement of popcorn and crossed to develop superior popcorn hybrids. The results suggest a potential opportunity to establish an efficient popcorn breeding program.

Combining AMMI and BLUP analysis to select high‐yielding soybean genotypes in Benin

AbstractThirty soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] genotypes, along with three checks, were evaluated over three seasons across five communes in Benin. The experiments were laid out in an alpha lattice design with three replicates. Additive multiplicative mean interaction (AMMI) and best linear unbiased predictor (BLUP) analysis were combined to assess differential agronomic performance and yield stability among genotypes. There was significant variation (p &lt; 0.001) between genotypes for all traits, with highly significant environmental and genotype × environment interaction (GEI) effects on soybean grain yield (p &lt; 0.001). The likelihood ratio test indicated that both genotype and interaction effects were highly significant (p &lt; 0.001). The low R2 (0.21) for GEI reflected the presence of high residual variation in the GEI component, in contrast to the AMMI analysis of variance, which explained a high proportion of the GEI through the first two interaction principal component axes (52%). The very high value of the predictive accuracy (0.89) confirmed the model's reliability in selecting superior genotypes. The low (0.33) genotypic correlation between environments indicated that it was difficult to select superior genotypes for each environment. Based on the superiority index (weighted average absolute scores from BLUP for yield) of BLUP, simultaneous selection led to the identification of Jenguma 2.67 ± 0.06 t ha−1 as the most stable and productive genotype across environments, followed by Favour 2.34 ± 0.08 t ha−1, and Afayak 2.46 ± 0.08 t ha−1. The agronomic performance of soybean in this study suggested great potential for diversifying cotton‐based cropping systems in Benin, thereby improving their sustainability. The effect of these soybean genotypes on the productivity of intercrop combinations and sequences of cash crops, such as cotton, is yet to be investigated.

Characterization of agronomic performance and sterility in triploid and diploid cannabinoid hemp

AbstractCannabinoid hemp is a dioecious crop where pistillate plants are selectively grown to maximize cannabinoid yields. Errant pollination can reduce pistillate flower yields, cannabinoid concentrations, and lead to unmarketable flowers due to the presence of undesirable seeds. We compared pollen sensitivity and agronomic performance of diploid (2n = 2x = 20 chromosomes) and triploid (2n = 3x = 30 chromosomes) cannabinoid hemp in open‐field conditions. The high‐CBD variety Lifter and high‐CBG variety White CBG were evaluated in both their diploid and triploid counterparts in fields with and without pollen. Trials were conducted during the 2021 and 2022 field seasons in Kentucky, New York, and North Carolina (n = 6 site years). Triploids produced taller and wider plants than diploids; however, this did not result in yield differences in the pollen‐free environment. In the presence of pollen, triploid Lifter and White CBG produced 87% and 77% fewer seeds than their diploid counterparts, respectively. Increased seed production in diploids also resulted in a significant reduction of seed‐free biomass and cannabinoid concentrations compared to triploids. In the absence of pollen, we did not find any appreciable differences in seed‐free biomass or cannabinoid concentrations between triploids and diploids. Though not completely pollen‐insensitive, triploidy is an effective means to reduce seed production and improve yields and quality in cannabinoid hemp in the presence of pollen.

A comprehensive network meta-analysis to assess the benefit of starter fertilization on yield, nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency

BackgroundPlaced starter fertilization, a well-established fertilization practice in agriculture, aims to increase fertilizer use efficiency and yield. So far, numerous studies have proven positive effect on yields. However, the impact on nutrient use efficiency and nutrient uptake was not investigated profoundly. Additionally, diverse unidentified edaphic and environmental factors, and fertilization strategies cause a high uncertainty for the outcome under field conditions. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to quantify the impact of a placed starter fertilization on yield, N and P uptake as well as N and P use efficiency. Thereby, the importance of influencing environmental factors and management strategies and the magnitude of their impact should be clarified. MethodsWe performed a network meta-analysis including 1158 observations from 57 peer-reviewed studies and provided a holistic investigation on the effect of placed starter fertilization on yield, nutrient use efficiencies, and aboveground nutrient contents compared to fertilizing without starter fertilization. ResultsThis study revealed that placed starter fertilization significantly increased yield by 9.4 %. Especially in warm, arid climates as well as in warm, hyper-humid climates the fertilizer use efficiency gain was most pronounced. While N uptake and N use efficiency could not benefit significantly from a placed starter fertilization, P uptake and P use efficiency were both enhanced. In the future, combining N and P and using ammonium-based fertilizers can guarantee the effectiveness of a placed starter fertilization. ConclusionsIn summary, placed starter fertilization is a potent strategy to increase yield and improve P use efficiency and P uptake. When applied in the right climate, with the right dosage and N compound, additional advantages of a placed starter fertilization can be exploited. ImplicationsThe current study not only deepens our understanding of the connection of fertilization methods and agronomic performance, but also provides a guideline for improving the efficiency of placed starter fertilization.

Influences of crop diversification on yield, resource use efficiency, and environmental footprint in farmland landscapes in intensive farming

Enhancing crop diversification in intensive fields has the potential to increase crop yield and reduce environmental footprint. However, these relationships at the landscape scale remained unclear in intensive farming. Addressing this gap, this paper aims to elucidate how crop yield, resources use efficiency (RUE), and environmental footprint (EF) vary with crop diversification levels in the North China Plain. Management practices, including crop pattern, field size, and agronomic inputs, were collected for 421 landscapes of 1 × 1 km subplots using Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 images and survey. The results showed that, at the landscape scale, energy and fertilizer contributed over 53 %, and 37 % of the carbon footprint, respectively. N fertilizer constituted >98 % of the nitrogen footprint. P fertilizer accounted for over 80 %, while electricity comprised >13 % of the phosphorus footprint. Compared with simplified landscapes, diversified landscapes exhibited several significant features: 1) 56 % reduction of the area ratio of winter wheat-summer maize double crop pattern (WM), 2) a significant decrease in field size, 3) the decreased use of total NPK fertilizers at 32 %, 30 %, and 30 %, respectively, 4) the increased inputs of irrigation water, diesel, electricity, pesticide and labour at 21 %, 19 %, 21 %, 77 %, and 92 %, respectively. Although yield could be reduced at 33 % when transforming simplified landscapes into moderately diversified ones, they increased with the further promotion of crop diversification. Thus, the diversified landscapes could achieve a balance in yield, RUE, and EF to enhance sustainability, whereas simplified landscapes can similarly achieve a balance to benefit productivity. We emphasize the viable potential of diversified landscapes to enhance sustainable agricultural development by optimizing crop composition. This analysis offers pioneering evidence of landscape-scale agronomic and environmental performances of crop diversification.