Synergistic effects of planting density and nitrogen fertilization on chlorophyll degradation and leaf senescence after silking in maize

Regulating planting density and nitrogen(N)fertilization could delay chlorophyll(Chl)degradation and leaf senescence in maize cultivars.This study measured changes in ear leaf green area(GLA_(ear)),Chl content,the activities of Chl a-degrading enzymes after silking,and the post-silking dry matter accumulation and grain yield under multiple planting densities and N fertilization rates.The dynamic change of GLA_(ear)after silking fitted to the logistic model,and the GLA_(ear) duration and the GLAearat 42 d after silking were affected mainly by the duration of the initial senescence period(T_(1))which was a key factor of the leaf senescence.The average chlorophyllase(CLH)activity was 8.3 times higher than pheophytinase activity and contributed most to the Chl content,indicating that CLH is a key enzyme for degrading Chl a in maize.Increasing density increased the CLH activity and decreased the Chl content,T1,GLAear,and GLA_(ear) duration.Under high density,appropriate N application reduced CLH activity,increased Chl content,prolonged T1,alleviated high-density-induced leaf senescence,and increased post-silking dry matter accumulation and grain yield.

Grain-filling characteristics and yield differences of maize cultivars with contrasting nitrogen efficiencies

To investigate the effect of nitrogen management on the grain-filling characteristics and yield formation of maize cultivars with contrasting nitrogen efficiencies,and to identify differences in grain-filling characteristics and yield of maize cultivars in response to nitrogen management,a two-year field experiment was conducted in southwest China in2015–2016.The grain-filling rate and duration of the N-inefficient cultivar XY 508 were higher than those of the N-efficient cultivar ZH 311.The 100-kernel weight of XY 508 was significantly higher than that of ZH 311.The kernel number per ear of ZH 311 was significantly higher than that of XY 508,making the population filling rate of ZH 311 significantly higher than that of XY 508.The higher population filling rate of the N-efficient maize cultivar led to a significant yield advantage over the N-inefficient maize cultivar.Nitrogen management effectively improved maize grain yield,but the response of maize cultivars with contrasting nitrogen efficiencies to nitrogen management was inconsistent.A basal fertilizer ratio 60.43%with a topdressing ratio 39.57%effectively increased grainfilling rate,delayed the time to maximum filling rate,prolonged the active filling period and effective grain-filling time,increased the 100-kernel weight,and maintained higher kernels per ear,thereby improving the population filling rate and maximizing the yield advantage of the N-efficient cultivar.A 100%basal fertilizer ratio not only increased the number of kernels per ear,but also maintained high grain filling characteristics to obtain a higher 100-kernel weight and increased the population filling rate,leading to a high grain yield in the N-inefficient cultivar.Thus,the 100%basal fertilizer ratio partially compensated for the deficient grain yield of the N-inefficient cultivar.