Radiation Use Efficiency Of Maize Research Articles

Light interception and radiation use efficiency (RUE) in maize (Zea mays. L) intercropping with greengram (Vigna radiata L.)

Intercropping is growing two or more crop species simultaneously, different canopy architectures by row configuration, changing light interception, radiation utilisation, and increased yield. The present study aimed to evaluate different intercropping systems affected light interception per cent and radiation use efficiency in maize (Zea mays L.) intercropping with greengram (Vigna radiata L.) different ratios. Field experiments were conducted for Kharif 2022 and Rabi 2022-2023 seasons, which were laid out in a split-plot design and replicated three times. Three Nitrogen levels viz., N1 - 75 % RDN (Recommended dose of Nitrogen), N2 – 100% RDN, N3-125% RDN had taken as the main plot and three intercropping treatments were taken as subplot viz., M2G2- replacement series (two row of maize and two row of Greengram), M4G2- replacement series (four rows of maize and two row of Greengram), M2G3-paired row system (two rows of maize and three rows of Greengram), and sole maize. Both light interception and radiation use efficiency were significantly affected by intercropping systems. Light interception per cent of the main crop (maize) was significantly higher (69.0, 75.5 and 71.0 % during Kharif and 60.1, 78.1 and 76.6 during rabi) at vegetative, flowering and maturity phases, respectively. The Kharif 2022 and Rabi 2022-2023 maximum Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE) of Maize intercropping with green gram (maize + greengram) was higher in T12 (M2G3 paired row with 125 % Recommended Dose of Nitrogen) recorded as 2.46 (Kharif) and 1.43 (rabi). The outcome might be utilised to optimise the row configuration of intercropping design, explain the mechanism of intercropping on light utilisation, and improve radiation use efficiency.

Radiation use efficiency in maize as a function of sowing dates and plant densities

The objective of this work was to evaluate the radiation use efficiency (RUE) for the accumulated biomass and for grain yield in the irrigated maize crop according to sowing dates (SOW) and plant densities (D) in Rio Largo, state of Alagoas, Brazil, in the year 2013. SOW were SOW 1 (6/28/13), SOW 2 (7/8/13), SOW 3 (7/18/13), SOW 4 (7/28/13) and the plant densities were D1 = 125,000, D2 = 87,500, D3 = 50,000, D4 = 37,500 plants ha-1. Sowing dates and the interaction of these dates with plant densities did not have significant effects on grain yield and RUE, but plant densities were significant. The highest average grain yield (6067.3 kg ha-1) occurred in D3, decreasing in the highest densities. RUE increased from 2.98 g MJ-1 in low density (D4) to 4.72 g MJ-1 in higher density (D1). The maize plants with higher densities showed a higher index of leaf area and dry biomass. At low plant density, the solar radiation incident is less intercept because the leaf area index is poorly distributed among the plant lines. The effect of plant density on RUE for the accumulation of biomass was the opposite to that of the RUE for grain yield (RUEy), so that lower RUEy was found at lower densities.

Soil water dynamics, water productivity and radiation use efficiency of maize under multi-year conservation agriculture during contrasting rainfall events

Increasing resource degradation (soil) and resource scarcity (water) in Indo Gangetic Planes (IGP) had popularized the concept of conservation agriculture (CA). CA practices can alter the soil hydraulic properties by improving soil physical environment and hence water productivity (WP). Since CA practices are highly site-specific in nature, its worthiness under different cropping systems, soil types and agro-climatic zones must be studied. In the context of above-mentioned scenario of crop management practices, Hydrus-2D model was used to evaluate most suitable CA-based practice for north western (NW) IGP to understand the process of water transport. The experiment had 3-tillage and crop establishment practices [ZT-zero tillage; PB-permanent raised bed and CT-conventional tillage] in main plot and 4-cropping systems [MWMb-maize-wheat-mungbean; MCS-maize-chickpea-Sesbania; MMuMb-maize-mustard-mungbean and MMS-maize-maize-Sesbania] in sub-plot. The validation of Hydrus-2D showed that nRMSE was observed between 0.19-0.25 and R2 value between 0.80-0.87 at P<0.01. This indicates model is performing efficiently. The R2 value (0.87) was observed highest and RMSE (0.03) and nRMSE (0.15) was observed least in the CA-based PB plots. CA-based plots had 23%–37% less evaporation than CT plots. Cumulative root water uptake (CRWU) under PB was 11% and 15% lower, whereas CRWU under ZT was 20% and 30% higher than CT plots in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Cumulative deep drainage (CDD) in 2013 in PB was higher by 3.64 and 5.88 cm than ZT and CT, respectively. With 10-cm higher rainfall during 2013, variability in the soil water content (SWC) was increased by 22% in CT and 2% in ZT plots. PB had 14–35% and 30–36% higher water productivity than ZT and CT plots, respectively. Radiation use efficiency (RUE) for dry-matter was observed higher under CA based plots. However, RUE for grain yield was observed similar among CA and CT plots during 2012, but in 2013, ZT outperformed than CT plots. The outcome of this study is, the higher rainfall during 2013 mainly contributed to more CDD. Highly variable SWC was observed in the CT plots. With lesser deep drainage in ZT, root water uptake (RWU) was higher and WP was lower, whereas PB plots had comparatively less-moist soil profile and per unit of RWU + evaporation, a proportionately higher dry-matter was produced. In a well-drained soil profile of PB plots frequent and light irrigation may be advocated, whereas in ZT with better profile storage and lesser variability of SWC during both the year irrigation may be required less frequently. Therefore, adoption of CA-based practices leads to higher crop productivity and resource use efficiency, because of favorable soil hydrological propertywith less fluctuation in soil water content in maize under diversified cropping systems of IGP of south Asia.

Narrow‐wide‐row planting pattern increases the radiation use efficiency and seed yield of intercrop species in relay‐intercropping system

AbstractPlanting arrangements affect radiation use efficiency (RUE) and competitiveness of intercrop species in intercropping systems. Here, we reveal that narrow‐wide‐row planting arrangement in maize‐soybean relay‐intercropping system increases the dry matter and competitiveness of soybean, increased the RUE of maize and soybean, and compensates the yield loss of maize by substantially increasing the yield of soybean. In this field study, maize was planted with soybean in different planting arrangements (P1, 20:180, P2, 40:160; P3, 60:140, and P4, 80:120) of relay intercropping, all the relay‐intercropping treatments were compared with sole crops of maize (SM) and soybean (SS). Results showed that P1 improved the total RUE 3.26 g/MJ (maize RUE + soybean RUE) of maize and soybean in relay‐intercropping system. Compared to P4, treatment P1 increased the soybean competition ratio (CR) values (by 55%) but reduced the maize CR values (by 29%), which in turn significantly improved the yield of soybean by maintaining the maize yield. Generally, in P1, soybean produced 82% of SS yield, and maize produced 88% of SM yield, and it achieved the land equivalent ratio of 1.7. These results suggest that by maintaining the appropriate planting distances between maize and soybean we can improve the competitiveness and yield of intercrop species in relay‐intercropping system.

Towards Remote Estimation of Radiation Use Efficiency in Maize Using UAV-Based Low-Cost Camera Imagery

Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE) defines the productivity with which absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) is converted to plant biomass. Readily used in crop growth models to predict dry matter accumulation, RUE is commonly determined by elaborate static sensor measurements in the field. Different definitions are used, based on total absorbed PAR (RUEtotal) or PAR absorbed by the photosynthetically active leaf tissue only (RUEgreen). Previous studies have shown that the fraction of PAR absorbed (fAPAR), which supports the assessment of RUE, can be reliably estimated via remote sensing (RS), but unfortunately at spatial resolutions too coarse for experimental agriculture. UAV-based RS offers the possibility to cover plant reflectance at very high spatial and temporal resolution, possibly covering several experimental plots in little time. We investigated if (a) UAV-based low-cost camera imagery allowed estimating RUEs in different experimental plots where maize was cultivated in the growing season of 2016, (b) those values were different from the ones previously reported in literature and (c) there was a difference between RUEtotal and RUEgreen. We determined fractional cover and canopy reflectance based on the RS imagery. Our study found that RUEtotal ranges between 4.05 and 4.59, and RUEgreen between 4.11 and 4.65. These values are higher than those published in other research articles, but not outside the range of plausibility. The difference between RUEtotal and RUEgreen was minimal, possibly due to prolonged canopy greenness induced by the stay-green trait of the cultivar grown. The procedure presented here makes time-consuming APAR measurements for determining RUE especially in large experiments superfluous.

Evaluation of economical yield and radiation use efficiency of maize and cotton in sole and ‎intercropping systems as affected by different levels of Nitrogen

Evaluation of economical yield and radiation use efficiency of maize and cotton in sole and ‎intercropping systems as affected by different levels of Nitrogen

PAR Interception and Utilization in Different Maize and Soybean Intercropping Patterns.

The crop intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and radiation use efficiency (RUE) vary markedly in different intercropping systems. The HHLA (horizontally homogeneous leaf area) and ERCRT (extended row crop radiation transmission) models have been established to calculate the intercepted PAR for intercrops. However, there is still a lack of study on the intercepted PAR and RUE under different intercropping configurations using different models. To evaluate the intercepted PAR and RUE in maize and soybean under different intercropping systems, we tested different strip intercropping configurations (SI1, SI2, and SI3 based on ERCRT model) and a row intercropping configurations (RI based on HHLA model) in comparison to monoculture. Our results showed that the intercepted PAR and RUE of intercropping systems were all higher than those of monoculture. The soybean intercepted PAR in strip intercropping was 1.35 times greater than that in row intercropping. In row intercropping (RI), the lack of soybean intercepted PAR resulted in a significant reduction of soybean dry matter. Therefore, it is not the recommended configuration for soybean. In strip intercropping patterns, with the distance between maize strip increased by 0.2 m, the intercepted PAR of soybean increased by 20%. The SI2 (maize row spacing at 0.4 m and the distance between maize strip at 1.6 m) was the recommended configuration to achieve the highest value of intercepted PAR and RUE among tested strip intercropping configurations. The method of dry matter estimation using intercepted PAR and RUE is useful in simulated experiments. The simulated value was verified in comparison with experimental data, which confirmed the credibility of the simulation model. Moreover, it also provides help in the development of functional-structural plant model (FSPM).

The effect of nutrients shortage on plant’s efficiency to capture solar radiations under semi-arid environments

Radiation use efficiency (RUE) is considered critical for calculation of crop yield. The crop productivity can be improved by increasing the interception of solar radiation and maintaining higher RUE for plants. Irrigation water and nitrogen (N) supply are the main limiting factors for RUE in maize (Zea mays L.) across the semi-arid environments. Field experiments were conducted during two consecutive growing seasons (2009-2010) to optimize RUE in relation to N application timings and rates with varying irrigation water management practices. In experiment 1, three N application timings were made, while in experiment 2, three possible water management practices were used. In both experiments, five N rates (100, 150, 200, 250, and 300kgNha-1) were applied to evaluate the effects of irrigation water and N on cumulative photosynthetic active radiation (PARi), dry matter RUE (RUEDM), and grain yield RUE (RUEGY). The results demonstrated that cumulative PARi and RUEs were not constant during the plant growth under varying the nutrients. The water and N significantly influenced cumulative PARi and RUEs during the both growing seasons. In experiment 1, the maximum cumulative PARi was observed by application of 250kgNha-1 in three splits (1/3 N at V2, 1/3 N at V16, and 1/3 N at R1 stage), and the highest RUEDM was achieved by the application of 300kgNha-1. However, the highest RUEGY was observed by application of 250kgNha-1. In experiment 2, the maximum cumulative PARi was attained at normal irrigation regime with 250kgNha-1, while the highest RUEDM and RUEGY were recorded at normal irrigation regime with the application of 300kgNha-1. The regression analysis showed significant and positive correlation of RUEGY with grain yield. Therefore, optimum water and N doses are important for attaining higher RUE, which may enhance maize grain yield semi-arid environment; this may be considered in formulating good agricultural practices for the environmental conditions resembling to those of this study.

Radiation Use Efficiency in Different Row Orientation of Maize (Zea mays L.)

An experiment was conducted at the Field Laboratory of Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh to evaluate the radiation use efficiency (RUE) in different row orientation of maize, to determine parameters affecting RUE and to make a comparison of results of the study with previous results observed at different location of the world. The dry weight was taken at 7 days interval by destruction of five plants and kept them oven drier at 80oC for 48 hours and it was expressed as gm 2 . Dry matter accumulation values at different dates of sampling were regressed with the corresponding cumulative intercepted PAR values and the slope of the regression line was then taken as RUE. The efficiency of radiation utilization varies throughout the crop life cycle. Radiation use efficiency (RUE) was positively correlated to leaf area index (LAI), leaf chlorophyll content, extinction coefficient (k), incident radiation and total solar period of crops and negatively correlated to water stress and light reflection. RUE was highest in vegetative stage, where RUE was higher (0.89 gMJ -1 PAR) in N-S row orientation than E-W row orientation (0.75 gMJ -1 PAR), after that RUE decreased gradually in tasseling stage. Again RUE was slightly increased during maturity. RUE of maize was almost similar with the findings of other researchers and it ranged from 0.85 to 1.5 gMJ -1 , it was due to similar plant architecture and stand duration. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v7i1.22142 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 7(1): 41-46 2014

Variability of light interception and radiation use efficiency in maize and soybean

Variability of light interception and its derivatives are poorly understood at the field-scale in maize ( Zea mays L.) and soybean [ Glyine max (L.) Merr.]. Quantifying variability can provide reliable estimates of field-scale processes and reliable methodology. A field study was conducted during the 2005 growing season in a 31 ha maize and 23 ha soybean field rotated annually near Ames, IA to measure variability of cumulatively intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (CI-PAR) and radiation use efficiency (RUE) by deploying eight line quantum sensors in each field. Cumulative mean PAR interception for soybean was 575 MJ m −2 ending on day of the year (DOY) 249 compared with 687 MJ m −2 in maize ending on DOY 244. Soybean standard error ( s X) for a single sensor was 4.48% and with six sensors was 1.83% of the final CI-PAR. Maize s X for a single sensor was 5.29% and with eight sensors was 1.87% of the final CI-PAR. Crop biomass was quantified weekly by collecting four 1 m 2 samples. Soybean RUE using all sensors was 1.44 ± 0.06 g MJ PAR −1. The highest CI-PAR from a single sensor had RUE of 1.32 and the lowest was 1.55 g MJ PAR −1. Maize RUE using all sensors was 3.35 ± 0.09. The highest CI-PAR from a single sensor had RUE of 2.87 and the lowest was 3.70 g MJ PAR −1. Reliable transmitted PAR and RUE estimates are obtainable at the field-scale in maize and soybean with four and three sensors, respectively, assuming that crop biomass is accurately measured.

Maize Radiation Use Efficiency under Optimal Growth Conditions

Accurate measurement of crop growth and radiation use efficiency (RUE) under optimal growth conditions is required to predict plant dry matter accumulation and grain yield near the genetic growth potential. Research was conducted to quantify the biomass and leaf area index (LAI) accumulation, extinction coefficient, and RUE of maize (Zea mays L.) under conditions of optimal growth. Maize was grown in two environments over five growing seasons (1998–2002). Total aboveground biomass at maturity ranged from 2257 g m−2 in 1998 to 2916 g m−2 in 2001; values that are considerably greater than the biomass achieved in most previous studies on RUE in maize. Peak LAI ranged from 4.8 to 7.8. Maize extinction coefficients during vegetative growth (k) were within the range of recently published values (0.49 ± 0.03), with no clear pattern of differences in k among years. Seasonal changes in interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) were similar across all but one year. Estimates of RUE were obtained using the short‐interval crop growth rate method and the cumulative biomass and absorbed PAR (APAR) method. Values of RUE obtained using the two methods were 3.74 (±0.20) g MJ−1 APAR and 3.84 (±0.08) g MJ−1 APAR, respectively, and did not vary among years. This compares to a published mean RUE for maize of 3.3 g MJ−1 of intercepted PAR (Mitchell et al., 1998). Moreover, RUE did not decline during grain filling. Differences in biomass accumulation among years were attributed in part to differences in observed radiation interception, which varied primarily due to differences in LAI. Maize simulation models that rely on RUE for biomass accumulation should use an RUE of 3.8 g MJ−1 APAR for predicting optimum yields without growth limitations.

Radiation use efficiency increases when the diffuse component of incident radiation is enhanced under shade

Theoretical analyses have shown the radiation use efficiency of maize, soybean, and peanut to increase with a decrease in the level of incident radiation and an increase in the proportion of diffuse radiation. This study compared the growth and radiation use efficiency of Panicum maximum cv. Petrie (green panic) and Bothriochloa insculpta cv. Bisset (creeping bluegrass) beneath shading treatments (birdguard and solarweave shadecloths) with that in full sunlight. A level of incident radiation reduced by 25% under birdguard shadecloth decreased final yield and final leaf area index,but increased canopy leaf nitrogen concentration and radiation use efficiency (19-14%) (compared withthe full sun treatment). A similar level of reduced incident radiation under solarweave shadecloth (which provided an increased proportion of diffiuse radiation), increased final yield and radiation use efficiency (46-50%). An understanding of the effects of composition of incident radiation on radiation use efficiency of tropical grasses enables more accurate estimation of potential pasture growth in shaded environments. It also has impact upon crop production in glasshouses and greenhouses.

Temperature affects radiation use efficiency in maize

Abstract The objective of this work was to study, under field conditions, the effect of temperature on radiation use efficiency (RUE) of maize. Field evidence of the negative effect of low temperature on this variable is lacking. Experiments with different sowing dates and five years of experimentation with October plantings provided a range of average temperatures during the vegetative period from 15.8 to 20.9°C. Delaying the sowing time from September to November produced a highly significant increase in RUE. There was a positive association between RUE and mean temperature from emergence to flowering. Efficiencies varied from 2.27 to 3.17 g of dry matter per MJ of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation for October plantings of five different years. With these data, a positive and significant association between RUE and mean temperature during the November–December vegetative period was found. Across years and planting dates, RUE and mean temperature during the vegetative period were closely correlated (r = 0.87). The regression equation was RUE = −1.8 + 0.07 T. Based on this evidence, it was concluded that low temperatures reduce RUE in maize.

Radiation use efficiency of maize grown in a cool area

The objective of this work was to check the validity of the model that assumes a linear relationship between intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and maize dry matter production in a region characterized by a cool spring. Percent solar radiation interception was measured periodically and was used to calculate total radiation intercepted by the crop. Sequential dry matter production was estimated by collecting above-ground plant samples. Radiation use efficiency (RUE) was calculated as the slope of the relationship between cumulative biomass and cumulative intercepted PAR. Radiation use efficiency varied between 2.27 and 2.96 g of dry weight per MJ of intercepted PAR. These values did not decline after anthesis and were lower than those reported in the literature for warmer regions. These observations are discussed with respect to the information presented in the literature.