Increased Maize Yield Research Articles

Weed Management Effects on Weed Dynamics, Yield and Economics of Spring Maize at Dang, Nepal

Weeds pose a significant challenge in maize fields in the Dang district, leading to a substantial 52% reduction in yield. Hence, this study was conducted in Satbariya village of Dang, Nepal, in 2023 to evaluate the impact of various weed management practices on weed dynamics, growth, and yield of spring maize. The experiment included seven treatments: a weedy check, weed-free plot, pre-emergence application of atrazine at 1.25 a.i. kg/ha (AtPrE), post-emergence application of atrazine at 1.25 a.i. kg/ha (AtPoE), manual weeding at 30 DAS, mini-tiller at 30 DAS, and LaPoE (tembotrione 42% SC + atrazine 50% WP) applied as post-emergence. The Subarna variety of maize was chosen for the study. Fifteen weed species from seven different families were identified in the experimental area. Specific morphological and phenological parameters, such as plant height and days to tasseling and silking, were not significantly influenced by the weed control methods. However, significantly lower weed density and biomass were observed in the weed-free plot and LaPoE. Similarly, weed-free plots and LaPoE exhibited significantly higher weed control efficiency (WCE) and weed control index at both 45 and 60 DAS, leading to a lower weed index (0.00–16.71%) and more effective weed control. Concerning the yield parameters, cob length, number of kernels per row, and 1000-grain weight were significantly higher in weed-free plots, followed by LaPOE, and the highest grain and biological yield were observed in weed-free plot (6.14–15.18 tons/ha) and LaPoE (5.12–13.32 tons/ha). Moreover, the benefit-cost ratio and net return were observed to be highest with LaPoE. This study suggests that LaPoE can be an effective and economical weed management strategy for increasing maize yield and profitability. Further research could explore the long-term effects of using LaPoE on weed control and crop productivity.

Ammonium Polyphosphate Promotes Maize Growth and Phosphorus Uptake by Altering Root Properties

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for maize growth, significantly affecting both yield and quality. Despite the typically high concentration of available P in black soils, the efficiency of crop uptake and utilization remains relatively low. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different P fertilizers on maize yield, root growth parameters, and P use efficiency to identify strategies for optimizing P management in black soil regions. Field experiment results indicated that the combination of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) with other P fertilizers led to variations in yield and P fertilizer absorption efficiency. Various P fertilizers were tested, including diammonium phosphate (DAP), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), fused calcium magnesium phosphate (FCMP), a combination of DAP and FCMP (DAP+FCMP), and a control with no phosphate (CK). The results indicated that P application significantly increased maize yield, with APP (171.8 g/plant) outperforming other P application treatments. Different P fertilizer types significantly affect soil P content and the composition of P fractions. APP significantly increased both the total P (TP) and the proportion of inorganic P (Pi). Furthermore, APP application significantly improved root length (RL), surface area (SAR), and root activity (RA) compared to CK, leading to enhanced nutrient absorption. APP also significantly increased P uptake and utilization (REp, FPp, AEp, PHI, and PAC). In summary, by optimizing plant biomass and P uptake, APP can directly and indirectly influence maize yield. Improving rhizosphere properties through the selection of suitable fertilizer types can enhance fertilizer use efficiency and increase maize production.

Effects of PBAT/PLA biodegradable film mulching on greenhouse gas emissions in rain-fed maize farmland of Northeast China

Plastic film mulching can effectively increase soil temperature, retain moisture, and enhance crop yield and quality. However, long-term application might pose risks of increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and residual film pollution. Biodegradable film provides a crucial solution to alleviate farmland plastic pollution, but it remains unclear whether biodegradable film can simultaneously enhance crop yields and reduce GHG emissions. Thus, a two-year field experiment was conducted in rain-fed maize farmland of Northeast China. This field experiment included four treatments: BM1 (0.006 mm-thick biodegradable film), BM2 (0.010 mm-thick biodegradable film), PM (0.010 mm-thick traditional plastic film), and CK (non-mulching control). Results indicated that film mulching increased cumulative CO2 emissions by improving soil temperature and moisture. BM1 and BM2 achieved lower cumulative CO2 emissions than PM. N2O emissions were mainly concentrated in the emergence and jointing stages, whose peaks and cumulative values were reduced by film mulching. BM1 and BM2, however, had higher cumulative N2O emissions than PM. All treatments were CH4 sinks, and mulching treatments showed low soil CH4 absorption compared to CK. Additionally, mulching treatments increased maize yield, GWP and GHGI by 4.19 % to 15.89 %, 8.52 % to 52.20 % and − 0.06 % to 45.93 %, respectively, compared to CK. PM showed the highest GWP and GHGI. All mulching treatments improved the net ecosystem economic budget, with increases of 3.03–3.08 thousand CNY ha−1 and 0.35–1.39 thousand CNY ha−1 in 2022 and 2023, respectively, compared to CK. Biodegradable film treatments had higher net ecosystem economic budgets than traditional plastic film treatment. Overall, the biodegradable film can be used to replace traditional plastic film to enhance maize yield while minimizing residual film pollution and GHG emissions in the experimental region.

Logistic and Structural Equation Fitting Analyses of the Effect of Slow-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Rates on the Nitrogen Accumulation and Yield Formation Mechanism in Maize

The purpose of this study is to clarify the differential effects of the application rate of slow-release nitrogen fertilizer (SRFN) on the nitrogen (N) accumulation dynamics, nutrient organ N distribution and transportation, yield, and N utilization efficiency of maize harvested using grain-type machines. This has significant implications for the scientific application of SRFN, as well as for reducing its application rate and improving its efficiency, in the agro-pastoral transitional zone of northern China. In a long-term positioning experiment that began in 2018, five treatments consisting of different SRFN application rates were set up, namely, N120 (120 kg ha−1), N180 (180 kg ha−1), N240 (240 kg ha−1), N300 (300 kg ha−1), and N360 (360 kg ha−1), with no fertilization during the growth period used as control (CK) treatment. To explore the characteristics of nitrogen accumulation dynamics in maize populations and the main factors affecting maize yield formation under the different SRFN application rate treatments, this study adopted a combination of quantitative analyses and model fitting, including logistic models, principal component analysis, and structural equation modeling. The research results show that SRFN application increased the aboveground N accumulation of the maize population, and the fitting effect of the logistic models was significant. The maximum rate of N accumulation in both years showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase in the SRFN application rate. Compared with CK, SRFN application reduced the proportion of N distribution in the nutrient organs during the R6 stage, and it increased the N transport from the nutrient organs to the grains after the VT-R1 stage. With the increase in the SRFN application rate, both the economic yield and biological yield showed a single peak curve change and were maximized in the N240 treatment. The economic yield reached 15,342.07 kg ha−1 in 2020 and 16,323.51 kg ha−1 in 2021, increasing by 36.2% and 61.7% compared with CK, respectively. The apparent N fertilizer recovery rate, N uptake efficiency, N agronomic efficiency, and N fertilizer partial productivity all gradually decreased with the increase in the SRFN application rate. In maize populations, an appropriate SRFN application rate can adjust the characteristic parameters during the aboveground N accumulation rapid growth period, increase the N accumulation amount in aboveground parts, promote the transport of N from nutrient organs to grains, and improve yield. An application of 180–240 kg ha−1 SRFN is recommended for maize cultivation in the agro-pastoral transitional zone of northern China, as it is beneficial for stabilizing and increasing maize yield, as well as reducing the rate and improving the efficiency of N fertilizer.

The indispensable function of agricultural cooperatives in South Sudan

AbstractMost of South Sudan's rural population ekes out a living from farming in a fragile context characterized by compounding and interrelated shocks. The productivity of maize, a key staple, has remained comparatively low. South Sudan is currently transforming its agricultural sector to be at the centre of its economic activity. Programming has zoomed in on seed‐related interventions. Cooperatives, which are longstanding and widespread in the country, are leveraged to distribute seed and, by mitigating production risk, could contribute to resilient development. To shed light on the key functions of cooperatives and how their role can be enhanced, we analysed recent data from 1247 maize‐producing households and 126 agricultural cooperatives from South Sudan. We find that through their services cooperatives contribute to both increasing maize yields and reducing their variability. Yield increases associated with seed production and/or distribution services are substantial but exclusive to members. Managerial capital in the form of a hired manager instead also generates spillover effects to the broader community. Our findings point to the relevance of cooperatives as indispensable stakeholders for the resilient development of the country and the need for investments to strengthen their managerial capital and enhance the provision of services related to seed production and/or distribution.

Drip Fertigation Improves Maize Yield, Resource Utilization, and Economic Benefits by Increasing Light Interception Under Dense Planting in Southwest China

ABSTRACTSeasonal drought and traditional water‐fertilizer management limit the increase in the grain yield of summer maize in Southwest China. Drip fertigation mode (HM) can effectively improve crop yields. However, research on drip fertigation has not been conducted in Southwest China. A 2‐year field experiment about HM was carried out with the traditional water‐fertilizer management mode (FM) as control. The plant densities were 5.25 × 104 plants ha−1 and 8.25 × 104 plants ha−1 in 2022 and 6.00 × 104 plants ha−1 and 9.00 × 104 plants ha−1 in 2023. The effects of HM on the aboveground biomass, leaf area index, yield, and resource utilization rate of summer maize were studied. Compared with the FM treatment, the HM treatment significantly increased the yield (25.18%), aboveground biomass (25.58%), leaf area index (34.87%), and leaf area duration (29.60%). HM optimized the canopy structure with an 11.05% improvement in light transmission at the top and a significant 61.32% increase in cumulative light radiation interception per unit area at the bottom of the canopy. The nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP), radiation utilization efficiency (RUE), heat utilization efficiency (HUE), and economic benefits of the HM treatment significantly increased by 39.58%, 49.45%, 25.92%, and 32.53%, respectively. In addition, dense planting increased the irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) by 14.25%. In summary, drip irrigation combined with water and fertilizer can significantly improve maize grain yield, resource utilization efficiency, and economic benefits by increasing light interception in Southwest China. This study will lay a theoretical foundation for filling the relevant research gap in the region.

Impacts of multivalued interventions on maize farmers’ welfare: Evidence from SIPMA development project in Ghana

Recent research has highlighted the significance of agricultural development programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa for enhancing production, food security, and farmer welfare. However, these studies frequently investigate the effects of a single intervention rather than a combination of interventions. This study examines the impact of three interventions (credit access, structured market, and entrepreneurial training) on maize yield, food security, food expenditure and non-food expenditure in Ghana. We utilized multivalued inverse probability weighted regression correction, and propensity score matching with data from the Smallholder Inclusive Productivity and Market Access (SIPMA) agricultural development programme on 477 maize farmers. Participation in SIPMA interventions significantly increased maize yields, farm income, food spending, and non-food spending. For smallholder farmers, participation in a combination of input credit provision, structured market, and entrepreneurial training results in the highest yield, farm income, and non-food expenditures, while participation in entrepreneurial training alone results in a lower yield. Our empirical evidence suggests that the interventions should be expanded to other communities because the project's characteristics are distinctive in terms of fostering community engagement and collaboration with local/regional institutions.

Boron availability and fertilizer response of maize in soils from sub‐Saharan Africa

AbstractBackground and aimsLow boron (B) availability is associated with strongly weathered, coarse‐textured, and low organic matter soils, widespread in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). It is unknown to what extent B fertilization can increase maize yields in SSA. This study aims to understand the soil properties controlling B availability to field‐grown maize.MethodsBoron fertilizer omission trials with maize were executed at 15 sites in Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Yield, B uptake, and soil parameters potentially relevant for B availability, including extractable soil B (hot water, 0.01 M CaCl2, and 0.43 M HNO3), were determined.ResultsSoil B pools were strongly intercorrelated and were positively correlated with organic carbon, suggesting the relevance of organic matter for soil B availability. Soil parameters described limited variation in B uptake and the yield response to B fertilization. Boron fertilization did not increase yields in any of the 15 sites but increased uptake in 11 sites. Yields were reduced through B fertilization in five sites, likely because B application induced toxicity. No clear critical soil or plant B concentrations indicating deficiency could be derived, but positive yield responses to B fertilization were absent with hot water B levels above 0.69 mg kg−1.ConclusionAssessing B fertilizer needs in maize grown in tropical soils based on soil or plant tissue concentrations remains challenging. Improving soil organic matter status could potentially alleviate B deficiency in crops when present. Recommendations are given to overcome the identified challenges associated with studying B availability in tropical soils.

Short-Term Effects of Incorporation Depth of Straw Combined with Manure During the Fallow Season on Maize Production, Water Efficiency, and Nutrient Utilization in Rainfed Regions

Diminishing soil fertility and crop productivity due to traditional intensive cultivation has prompted the use of straw and manure to improve soil health in Northeast China. However, few comparative studies have explored the influence of varying straw and manure incorporation depths on crop growth. A field experiment in the rainfed black soil regions of Gongzhuling and Keshan assessed the effects of deep (30 cm) and shallow (15 cm) incorporations of straw and manure on soil fertility, maize root growth, and maize productivity. Deep incorporations, via subsoiling tillage (DST) and deep-plow (DDT) tillage, enhanced soil water storage of 30–100 cm soil layer during periods of low rainfall, improved the availability of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) and soil organic matter content, especially in deeper soil, compared to shallow incorporation using rotary tillage (SRT). Both DST and DDT induced a larger rooting depth and a higher fine root (diameter class 0–0.5 mm) length density by 31.0% and 28.9%, respectively, accompanied by reduced root turnover. Furthermore, the sub-surface foraging strategies of roots under the DST and DDT treatments boosted the total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium uptake (6.5–17.9%) and achieved a higher dry mass accumulation during the later growth period, thus leading to notable improvements in the 100-kernel weight and yield (16.1–19.7%) and enhancing water- and nutrient-use efficiencies by 2.5–20.5%. Overall, compared to shallow incorporation, deep incorporation of straw and manure significantly enhances root growth and spatial distribution of soil water and nutrients, which has great potential for increasing maize yield in rainfed agricultural areas.

Enhancing Water Use Efficiency and Carbon Profitability Through the Long-Term Impact of Sustainable Farming Systems

This study aims to enhance water use efficiency, maximize productivity, and minimize environmental impact through the implementation of sustainable agricultural systems using drip irrigation systems. It investigates the effects of biodynamic farming compared to those of organic and conventional methods over a six-year period and focuses on soil properties, water use efficiency, crop yield, and environmental and economic perspectives. Using a biodynamic farming system resulted in an average increase in water use efficiency of 1.96 and 10.67% for maize and 3.62 and 10.68% for faba bean and an increase in maize yield of 1.68 and 0.99%, while the faba bean yield reached 3.25 and 1.57% compared to the organic and conventional farming systems, respectively. The biodynamic system sequestered the highest average soil carbon of 6.16 tons/ha (which is equivalent to 22.45 tons/ha of CO2 emissions), representing a 13% increase compared to the organic system. Additionally, the biodynamic system yielded an increase in total net profit of 5.70 and 21.66% for the maize crop and 6.72 and 22.19% for the faba bean crop compared to the organic and conventional farming systems, respectively. The farming system significantly influenced the soil carbon sequestration and organic carbon.

Straw return can increase maize yield by regulating soil bacteria and improving soil properties in arid and semi-arid areas

Straw return has been found to benefit soil fertility and crop yield, however, by which it affects microbial communities to mediate soil factors driving crop yields under maize continuous cropping systems in dryland areas is still unclear. To fill this gap, a 6-year field experiment was established with five straw return amounts (T0, T1, T2, T3, and T4, representing 0, 3000, 6000, 9000, and 12,000 kg ha−1 of straw, respectively), and investigated the effects of on soil properties, enzymes, bacterial community composition and diversity, and crop yields. Our analysis showed that soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) contents significantly increased by 1–8 %, 5–25 %, and 2–9 % under straw return treatments, respectively, compared to the T0, and soil catalase, urease, and alkaline phosphatase activities increased by at least 34.00 %. Additionally, crop yield significantly increased by 4.23–12.00 % under T1-T4 treatments, and showed highly significant relationships with SOC, TN, and TP. Importantly, we found straw return significantly altered the community of bacteria involved in the carbon and nitrogen cycle, and their abundance of strong responses depending on the amounts of straw return. For example, straw input increased the abundance of Proteobacteria (+2.64–5.57 %), Acidobacteria (+3.82–13.83 %), and Bacteroidetes (+15.37–30.49 %). Similarly, the amount of straw application increased the bacterial diversity indexes (Shannon, 2.65–10.93 %; Chao1, 13.47–18.50 %), and had significant positive correlations with SOC, TN, and TP contents. Structural equation models (SEM) revealed that straw return management practice had positive and indirect effects on crop yields by influencing soil properties or the bacteria community. In conclusion, our findings revealed common associations and variations of bacterial community diversity with soil factors and crop yields at different straw return rates, and these findings provide insights and options for the development of better straw return strategies and sustainable agriculture in semi-arid regions.

The effect of aeration and irrigation on the improvement of soil environment and yield in dryland maize.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of long-term aerated seepage irrigation technology on soil fertility changes and maize yield under continuous maize cropping system in red loam soil, and to explain the mechanism of maize yield increase under this technology, which can provide theoretical basis for crop quality improvement and yield increase under aerated irrigation (AI) technology. Therefore, this research was conducted for four field seasons in 2020-2023 at the National Soil Quality Observation Experimental Station, Zhanjiang, China. Soil aeration, soil fertility, root growth, physiological traits, and yield indicators were evaluated by conventional underground drip irrigation (CK) and AI. Our results showed that AI treatment significantly improved soil aeration and soil fertility. Increases in soil oxygen content, soil respiration rate, soil bacterial biomass, and soil urease activity were observed, corresponding to increases from 3.08% to 21.34%, 1.90% to 24.71%, 26.37% to 0.09%, and 12.35% to 100.96%, respectively. The effect of AI on maize indicators increased year by year. Based on improvements in soil aeration and fertility, root length, root surface area, and root dry weight under AI treatment were enhanced by 15.56% to 53.79%, 30.13% to 62.31%, and 19.23% to 35.64% (p < 0.05) compared to the CK group. In addition, maize agronomic traits and physiological characteristics showed improved performance; in particular, over 1.16% to 14.42% increases were identified in maize yield by AI treatment. Further analysis using a structural equation model (SEM) demonstrated that the AI technology significantly promotes the improvement of root indicators by enhancing soil aeration and soil fertility. As a result, maize yield could be increased significantly and indirectly.

Cow Dung Liquid Mulch Improves Maize Yields: Beneficial Microorganisms Are Enriched and Environmental Risks Are Reduced and Nutrient Cycling Is Promoted

Cow dung liquid mulch (CDLM), which uses cow dung as a raw material, has a good degradability and is a potential alternative to traditional plastic agricultural mulch, but there is a lack of research on the effects of CDLM on rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties, rhizosphere soil microbial functions, and crop yields. In this study, the link between maize yield, environmental factors, and functional genes as well as the responses of microbial community functions to CDLM and polyethylene mulch (PE) were studied using metagenomic sequencing. Functional annotation was also performed on clusters of orthologous groups of proteins, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and carbohydrate-active enzyme sequencing data. The results showed that CDLM significantly increased maize yield by 30.9% compared to CK while maintaining lower soil microplastic levels. CDLM promotes the enrichment of beneficial microorganisms such as Mycolicibacterium and Pseudomonas. The relative abundance of functional genes related to microbial metabolism, soil element cycling pathways, and organic matter degradation was significantly higher in CDLM than in CK. Microbial functional genes were positively correlated with maize yield and environmental factors such as soil nutrients. These results suggested that CDLM can improve maize yield by enriching beneficial microorganisms, reducing rhizosphere soil environmental risks, and enhancing rhizosphere soil microbial function. Rhizosphere soil nutrients and microbial functional genes together mediated the positive response of maize yield to CDLM. This study can provide a scientific basis and data support for the safe use of mulch in the future.

Liquid bio-slurry enhances the productivity of N-fertilized maize under field conditions in Ethiopia

Enhancing maize production and productivity is critical for ensuring small-scale farmers' food security. Yet, declining soil fertility poses a substantial challenge to cereal production, including maize, in developing countries. Farmers are currently finding liquid bio-slurry to be a valuable organic amendment because it improves maize productivity and food security by altering the physicochemical properties of the soil. However, extensive research on liquid bio-slurry as an organic amendment in Ethiopia is still limited. Hence, a field experiment was conducted at two sites to identify the optimal combination of inorganic nitrogen (N) and liquid bio-slurry to improve maize productivity. The trial involved the application of two mineral N fertilizers and five different rates of liquid bio-slurry in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that the main effects of mineral N and liquid bio-slurry were significant (p&lt; 0.05) on most of the parameters examined. The interaction between mineral N x liquid bio-slurry had a significant (p&lt; 0.05) effect on plant height, ear length, number of rows ear-1, number of kernels ear-1, above-ground dry biomass yield, hundred-grain weight, grain yield, and straw yield. The highest grain yield (8,220 kg ha-1) was achieved by combining 46 kg N ha-1 with 18 t liquid bio-slurry ha-1. Therefore, 46 kg N ha-1 with 18 t liquid bio-slurry ha-1 is highly recommended for increasing maize yield in the study sites and other areas with similar agroecological zones.

Optimum management strategy for improving maize water productivity and partial factor productivity for nitrogen in China: A meta-analysis

China’s agricultural production suffers significant constraints due to low water productivity (WP) and partial factor productivity for nitrogen (PFPN). The pivotal solution to enhance maize yield, WP, and PFPN is through optimizing field management practices. However, previous studies primarily focused on the effects of individual or coupled field management practices on maize yield, WP, or PFPN in an area or land mass, so it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various field management practices on maize yield, WP, and PFPN at the national scale. In this study, we compiled 286 studies encompassing 6959 pairs of experimental data spanning from 1990 to 2023. Meta-analysis was conducted to observe the variations in maize yield, WP, and PFPN across diverse field management practices (straw returning, nitrogen fertilizer application, irrigation practice, and tillage practice) on a national scale. The results showed that nitrogen fertilizer application (215 kg N ha−1) was the most effective in enhancing maize yield and WP by 68.1 % and 54.8 %, respectively. Additionally, irrigation had the most substantial impact on PFPN, enhancing 16.8 %. Straw mulching, application of slow and controlled release fertilizers, drip irrigation, and subsoiling were identified as the most effective practices in increasing maize yield, WP, and PFPN by Random forest model. Maize straw returning could reduce nitrogen fertilizer application by 20 kg ha−1, while increasing WP and PFPN by 4.2 % and 11.6 %, respectively. Moreover, straw returning could reduce water consumption by 23–60 mm, while increasing WP and PFPN by 2.9 % and 6.8 %, respectively. These findings can provide a reference for the formulation of comprehensive management strategies for sustainable maize production in China and globally.

Maize/soybean intercropping with nitrogen supply levels increases maize yield and nitrogen uptake by influencing the rhizosphere bacterial diversity of soil.

Intercropping practices play a crucial role in enhancing and maintaining the biodiversity and resiliency of agroecosystems, as well as promoting stable and high crop yields. Yet the relationships between soil nitrogen, microbes, and yield in maize cultivated under maize/soybean intercropping systems remain unclear. To fill that knowledge gap, here we collected maize rhizosphere soil at the staminate stage after 6 consecutive years of maize/soybean intercropping, to investigate how intercropping and nitrogen application rates affected nitrogen utilization by crops and soil microbial community composition and function. We also examined correlations of those responses with yields, to clarify the main ways that yield is enhanced via intercropping and by nitrogenous fertilizer gradient changes generated by different nitrogen application rates. The amount of applied fertilizer was 240 kg N ha-1 was best for obtaining a high maize yield and also led to the greatest nitrogen-use efficiency and bacterial diversity. Under the same N application rate, intercropping increased the maize yield by 31.17% and soil nitrogen (total, ammonium and nitrate nitrogen) by 14.53%, on average, in comparison to monocropping. The enrichment of Gemmatimonas and Bradyrhizobium significantly increased the soil nitrogen content, and a greater relative abundance of Sphingomonas and Gemmatimonas increased the maize yield, whereas enrichment of Candidatus_Udaeobacter and Bradyrhizobium decreased it. The benefits of intercropping mainly arise from augmenting the abundance of beneficial microorganisms and enhancing the efficiency of N use by crop plants. This study's findings are of key importance to bolster the stability of agro-ecosystems, to guide the scientific rational use of nitrogen fertilizers, and to provide a sound theoretical basis for achieving the optimalmanagement of intensive crop-planting patterns and green sustainable development.

Enhancing Maize Yield and Nutrient Utilization through Improved Soil Quality under Reduced Fertilizer Use: The Efficacy of Organic–Inorganic Compound Fertilizer

Objectives: The substitution of chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives presents a viable strategy for enhancing soil quality and boosting agricultural productivity. However, the question remains whether organic–inorganic compound fertilizers (COIFs) can sustain improved soil quality and crop yields while reducing chemical fertilizer use. The underlying mechanisms of COIF’s impact still warrant further exploration. Methods: In this study, a long-term fertilization trial was conducted from 2020 to 2023 at two sites with different soil textures and types in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China. The experiment involved three fertilization treatments, each replicated three times: (1) LCF (conventional fertilizer treatment); (2) COIF1 (COIF applied at 90% of the recommended rate); and (3) COIF2 (COIF applied at 80% of the recommended rate). The objective was to assess the effects of COIF on summer maize growth, grain yield, nutrient uptake and utilization, and soil quality. Results: Compared to LCF, COIF1 in Yantai and Dezhou increased biomass by 6.4% and 8.1%, grain yield by 5.9% and 4.12%, PFP (N, P, and K) by 17.6% and 15.7%, and soil quality by 563.6% and 462.5%, respectively. No significant differences in biomass and grain yield were observed between COIF2 and LCF, yet COIF1 in Yantai and Dezhou enhanced PFP (N, P, and K) by 19.7% and 18.6%, and soil quality by 109.1% and 175.0%, respectively. In conclusion, COIF improved soil quality by enhancing soil organic matter (SOM), available nutrients, pH, and other soil indices. It promoted summer maize growth, increased grain yield, and improved nutrient utilization. COIF was a practical and effective measure to reduce chemical fertilizer use, enhance field soil quality, and ultimately increase maize yield and nutrient utilization.

Maize yields have stagnated in sub-Sahara Africa: a possible transgenic solution to weed, pathogen and insect constraints.

Despite major breeding efforts by various national and international agencies, yields for the ~40 million hectares of maize, the major food crop in sub-Saharan Africa, have stagnated at <2 tons/ha/year for the past decade, one-third the global average. Breeders have succeeded in breeding increased yield with a modicum of tolerance to some single-weed or pathogen stresses. There has been minimal adoption of these varieties because introgressing polygenic yield and tolerance traits into locally adapted material is very challenging. Multiple traits to deal with pests (weeds, pathogens, and insects) are needed for farmer acceptance, because African fields typically encounter multiple pest constraints. Also, maize has no inherent resistance to some of these pest constraints, rendering them intractable to traditional breeding. The proposed solution is to simultaneously engineer multiple traits into one genetic locus. The dominantly inherited multi-pest resistance trait single locus can be bred simply into locally adapted, elite high-yielding material, and would be valuable for farmers, vastly increasing maize yields, and allowing for more than regional maize sufficiency. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Straw Incorporation on Maize Yield and Water Use Efficiency in China under Different Production Conditions

Maize plays a crucial role in China’s grain production, with a cultivation area reaching 44.22 million hectares and an annual yield of 289 million tons in 2023. However, the challenge remains on how to further increase maize yield and water use efficiency (WUE) without adding to the environmental burden. To systematically evaluate the impact of straw incorporation under varying production conditions on maize yield and WUE, this study collected experimental data from multiple locations across China. A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effects of straw incorporation versus no incorporation, and the main influencing factors were identified using correlation analysis and a random forest model. The results indicate that straw incorporation significantly enhances both maize yield and WUE, with the most pronounced improvements observed under conditions of an average growing season temperature of 19–23 °C, soil pH of 6.5–7.5, low initial soil organic matter content, and deep plowing for straw incorporation. Additionally, moderate nitrogen application rates and straw incorporation amounts (9000–15,000 kg·ha−2) also significantly boost maize yield and WUE. Field management practices and meteorological conditions are identified as the primary factors affecting maize yield and WUE under straw incorporation conditions. Therefore, straw incorporation stands out as an effective agricultural practice for achieving high maize yields and efficient resource utilization. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for global food security and the sustainable development of agriculture.

Maize-Soybean Rotation and Intercropping Increase Maize Yield by Influencing the Structure and Function of Rhizosphere Soil Fungal Communities.

Soil-borne diseases are exacerbated by continuous cropping and negatively impact maize health and yields. We conducted a long-term (11-year) field experiment in the black soil region of Northeast China to analyze the effects of different cropping systems on maize yield and rhizosphere soil fungal community structure and function. The experiment included three cropping systems: continuous maize cropping (CMC), maize-soybean rotation (MSR), and maize-soybean intercropping (MSI). MSI and MSR resulted in a 3.30-16.26% lower ear height coefficient and a 7.43-12.37% higher maize yield compared to CMC. The richness and diversity of rhizosphere soil fungi were 7.75-20.26% lower in MSI and MSR than in CMC. The relative abundances of Tausonia and Mortierella were associated with increased maize yield, whereas the relative abundance of Solicoccozyma was associated with decreased maize yield. MSI and MSR had higher proportions of wood saprotrophs and lower proportions of plant pathogens than CMC. Furthermore, our findings indicate that crop rotation is more effective than intercropping for enhancing maize yield and mitigating soil-borne diseases in the black soil zone of Northeast China. This study offers valuable insights for the development of sustainable agroecosystems.