Microfluidic-oriented synthesis of enriched iridium nanodots/carbon architecture for robust electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)is considered as a promising candidate to achieve ammonia synthesis because of clean electric energy,moderate reaction condition,safe operating process and harmless by-products.However,the chemical inertness of nitrogen and poor activated capacity on catalyst surface usually produce low ammonia yield and faradic efficiency.Herein,the microfluidic technology is proposed to efficiently fabricate enriched iridium nanodots/carbon architecture.Owing to in-situ co-precipitation reaction and microfluidic manipulation,the iridium nanodots/carbon nanomaterials possess small average size,uniform dispersion,high conductivity and abundant active sites,producing good proton activation and rapid electrons transmission and moderate adsorption/desorption capacity.As a result,the as-prepared iridium nanodots/carbon nanomaterials realize large ammonia yield of 28.73 μg h^(-1) cm^(-2) and faradic efficiency of 9.14%in KOH solution.Moreover,the high ammonia yield of 11.21 μg h^(-1) cm^(-2) and faradic efficiency of 24.30%are also achieved in H_(2)SO_(4) solution.The microfluidic method provides a reference for large-scale fabrication of nano-sized catalyst materials,which may accelerate the progress of electrocatalytic NRR in industrialization field.

Electrostatic Interaction-directed Construction of Hierarchical Nanostructured Carbon Composite with Dual Electrical Conductive Networks for Zinc-ion Hybrid Capacitors with Ultrastability

Metal-organic framework(MOF)-derived carbon composites have been considered as the promising materials for energy storage.However,the construction of MOF-based composites with highly controllable mode via the liquid-liquid synthesis method has a great challenge because of the simultaneous heterogeneous nucleation on substrates and the self-nucleation of individual MOF nanocrystals in the liquid phase.Herein,we report a bidirectional electrostatic generated self-assembly strategy to achieve the precisely controlled coatings of single-layer nanoscale MOFs on a range of substrates,including carbon nanotubes(CNTs),graphene oxide(GO),MXene,layered double hydroxides(LDHs),MOFs,and SiO_(2).The obtained MOF-based nanostructured carbon composite exhibits the hierarchical porosity(V_(meso)/V_(micro)∶2.4),ultrahigh N content of 12.4 at.%and"dual electrical conductive networks."The assembled aqueous zinc-ion hybrid capacitor(ZIC)with the prepared nanocarbon composite as a cathode shows a high specific capacitance of 236 F g^(-1)at 0.5 A g^(-1),great rate performance of 98 F g^(-1)at 100 A g^(-1),and especially,an ultralong cycling stability up to 230000 cycles with the capacitance retention of 90.1%.This work develops a repeatable and general method for the controlled construction of MOF coatings on various functional substrates and further fabricates carbon composites for ZICs with ultrastability.

Effects of nitrogen deposition on the carbon budget and water stress in Central Asia under climate change

Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen(N)plays a significant role in shaping the structure and functioning of various terrestrial ecosystems worldwide.However,the magnitude of N deposition on grassland ecosystems in Central Asia still remains highly uncertain.In this study,a multi-data approach was adopted to analyze the distribution and amplitude of N deposition effects in Central Asia from 1979 to 2014 using a process-based denitrification decomposition(DNDC)model.Results showed that total vegetation carbon(C)in Central Asia was 0.35(±0.09)Pg C/a and the averaged water stress index(WSI)was 0.20(±0.02)for the whole area.Increasing N deposition led to an increase in the vegetation C of 65.56(±83.03)Tg C and slightly decreased water stress in Central Asia.Findings of this study will expand both our understanding and predictive capacity of C characteristics under future increases in N deposition,and also serve as a valuable reference for decision-making regarding water resources management and climate change mitigation in arid and semi-arid areas globally.

Enhanced stability of nitrogen-doped carbon-supported palladium catalyst for oxidative carbonylation of phenol

Enhancing the stability of supported noble metal catalysts emerges is a major challenge in both science and industry.Herein,a heterogeneous Pd catalyst(Pd/NCF)was prepared by supporting Pd ultrafine metal nanoparticles(NPs)on nitrogen-doped carbon;synthesized by using F127 as a stabilizer,as well as chitosan as a carbon and nitrogen source.The Pd/NCF catalyst was efficient and recyclable for oxidative carbonylation of phenol to diphenyl carbonate,exhibiting higher stability than Pd/NC prepared without F127 addition.The hydrogen bond between chitosan(CTS)and F127 was enhanced by F127,which anchored the N in the free amino group,increasing the N content of the carbon material and ensuring that the support could provide sufficient N sites for the deposition of Pd NPs.This process helped to improve metal dispersion.The increased metal-support interaction,which limits the leaching and coarsening of Pd NPs,improves the stability of the Pd/NCF catalyst.Furthermore,density functional theory calculations indicated that pyridine N stabilized the Pd^(2+)species,significantly inhibiting the loss of Pd^(2+)in Pd/NCF during the reaction process.This work provides a promising avenue towards enhancing the stability of nitrogen-doped carbon-supported metal catalysts.

Strong Interaction Between Redox Mediators and Defect-Rich Carbons Enabling Simultaneously Boosted Voltage Windows and Capacitance for Aqueous Supercapacitors

Energy density,the Achilles’heel of aqueous supercapacitors,is simultaneously determined by the voltage window and specific capacitance of the carbon materials,but the strategy of synchronously boosting them has rarely been reported.Herein,we demonstrate that the rational utilization of the interaction between redox mediators(RMs)and carbon electrode materials,especially those with rich intrinsic defects,contributes to extended potential windows and more stored charges concurrently.Using 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxyl(4OH-TEMPO)and intrinsic defect-rich carbons as the RMs and electrode materials,respectively,the potential window and capacitance are increased by 67%and sixfold in a neutral electrolyte.Moreover,this strategy could also be applied to alkaline and acid electrolytes.The first-principle calculation and experimental results demonstrate that the strong interaction between 4OH-TEMPO and defectrich carbons plays a key role as preferential adsorbed RMs may largely prohibit the contact of free water molecules with the electrode materials to terminate the water splitting at elevated potentials.For the RMs offering weaker interaction with the electrode materials,the water splitting still proceeds with a thus sole increase of the stored charges.The results discovered in this work could provide an alternative solution to address the low energy density of aqueous supercapacitors.

Correlation and Pathway Analysis of the Carbon,Nitrogen,and Phosphorus in Soil-Microorganism-Plant with Main Quality Components of Tea(Camellia sinensis)

The contents of carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P)in soil-microorganisms-plant significantly affect tea quality by altering the main quality components of tea,such as tea polyphenols,amino acids,and caffeine.However,few studies have quantified the effects of these factors on the main quality components of tea.The study aimed to explore the interactions of C,N,and P in soil-microorganisms-plants and the effects of these factors on the main quality components of tea by using the path analysis method.The results indicated that(1)The contents of C,N,and P in soil,microorganisms,and tea plants were highly correlated and collinear,and showed significant correlations with the main quality components of tea.(2)Optimal regression equations were established to esti-mate tea polyphenol,amino acid,catechin,caffeine,and water extract content based on C,N,and P contents in soil,microorganisms,and tea plants(R^(2)=0.923,0.726,0.954,0.848,and 0.883,respectively).(3)Pathway analysis showed that microbial biomass phosphorus(MBP),root phosphorus,branch nitrogen,and microbial biomass carbon(MBC)were the largest direct impact factors on tea polyphenol,catechin,water extracts,amino acid,and caffeine content,respectively.Leaf carbon,root phosphorus,and leaf nitrogen were the largest indirect impact factors on tea polyphenol,catechin,and water extract content,respectively.Leaf carbon indirectly affected tea polyphenol content mainly by altering MBP content.Root phosphorus indirectly affected catechin content mainly by altering soil organic carbon content.Leaf nitrogen indirectly affected water extract content mainly by altering branch nitrogen content.The research results provide the scientific basis for reasonable fertilization in tea gardens and tea quality improvement.

Elucidating the role of embedding dispersed cobalt sites in nitrogen-doped carbon frameworks in Si-based anodes for stable and superior storage

Unsatisfactory conductivity and volume effects have hindered the commercial application of siliconbased materials as advanced anode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries. Herein, nitrogen doped carbon silicon matrix composite with atomically dispersed Co sites(Si/Co-N-C) is obtained via the design of the frame structure loaded with nano-components and the multi-element hybrid strategy. Co atoms are uniformly fixed to the N-C frame and tightly packed with nanoscale silicon particles as an activation and protection building block. The mechanism of the N-C framework of loaded metal Co in the Si alloying process is revealed by electrochemical kinetic analysis and ex situ characterization tests.Impressively, the nitrogen-doped Co site activates the intercalation of the outer carbon matrix to supplement the additional capacity. The Co nanoparticles with high conductivity and support enhance the conductivity and structural stability of the composite, accelerating the Li^(+)/Na^(+) diffusion kinetics. Density functional theory(DFT) calculation confirms that the hetero-structure Si/Co-N-C adjusts the electronic structure to obtain good lithium-ion adsorption energy, reduces the Li^(+)/Na^(+) migration energy barrier.This work provides meaningful guidance for the development of high-performance metal/non-metal modified anode materials.

Effects of tree size and organ age on variations in carbon,nitrogen,and phosphorus stoichiometry in Pinus koraiensis

Carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P)are of fundamental importance for growth and nutrient dynamics within plant organs and deserve more attention at regional to global scales.However,our knowledge of how these nutrients vary with tree size,organ age,or root order at the individual level remains limited.We determined C,N,and P contents and their stoichiometric ratios(i.e.,nutrient traits)in needles,branches,and fine roots at different organ ages(0-3-year-old needles and branches)and root orders(1st-4th order roots)from 64 Pinus koraiensis of varying size(Diameter at breast height ranged from 0.3 to 100 cm)in northeast China.Soil factors were also measured.The results show that nutrient traits were regulated by tree size,organ age,or root order rather than soil factors.At a whole-plant level,nutrient traits decreased in needles and fine roots but increased in branches with tree size.At the organ level,age or root order had a negative effect on C,N,and P and a positive effect on stoichiometric ratios.Our results demonstrate that nutrient variations are closely related to organ-specific functions and ecophysiological processes at an individual level.It is suggested that the nutrient acquisition strategy by younger trees and organ fractions with higher nutrient content is for survival.Conversely,nutrient storage strategy in older trees and organ fractions are mainly for steady growth.Our results clarified the nutrient utilization strategies during tree and organ ontogeny and suggest that tree size and organ age or root order should be simultaneously considered to understand the complexities of nutrient variations.

Energetics of carbon and nitrogen impurities and their interactions with vacancy in vanadium

We studied the energetic behaviors of interstitial and substitution carbon （C）/nitrogen （N） impurities as well as their interactions with the vacancy in vanadium by first-principles simulations. Both C and N impurities prefer the octahedral site （O-site）. N exhibits a lower formation energy than C. Due to the hybridization between vanadium-d and N/C-p, the N-p states are located at the energy from -6.00 eV to -5.00 eV, which is much deeper than that from -5.00 eV to -3.00 eV for the C-p states. Two impurities in bulk vanadium, C-C, C-N, and N-N can be paired up at the two neighboring O- sites along the （111） direction and the binding energies of the pairs are 0.227 eV, 0.162 eV, and 0.201 eV, respectively. Further, we find that both C and N do not prefer to stay at the vacancy center and its vicinity, but occupy the O-site off the vacancy in the interstitial lattice in vanadium. The possible physical mechanism is that C/N in the O-site tends to form a carbide/nitride-like structure with its neighboring vanadium atoms, leading to the formation of the strong C/N-vanadium bonding containing a covalent component.

Enhanced photochemical oxidation ability of carbon nitride by π-πstacking interactions with graphene

A one-pot method for the preparation of g-C3N4/reduced graphene oxide（rGO） composite photocatalysts with controllable band structures is presented.The photocatalysts are characterized by Fouirer transform infrared spectroscopy,X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscope,transmission electron microscope,and Mott-Schottky analysis.The valance band（VB） of g-C3N4 exhibits a noticeable positive shift upon hybridizing with rGO,and thus results in a strong photo-oxidation ability.The g-C3N4/rGO composites show a higher photodegradation activity for 2,4-dichlorophenol（2,4-DCP） and rhodamine B（RhB） under visible light irradiation（λ≥420 ran）.The g-C3N4/rGO-1sample exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity,which is 1.49 and 1.52 times higher than that of bulk g-C3N4 for 2,4-DCP and 1.52 times degradation,respectively.The enhanced photocatalytic activity for g-C3N4 originates from the improved visible light usage,enhanced electronic conductivity and photo-oxidation ability by the formed strong π-π stacking interactions with rGO.

Carbon sequestration rate,nitrogen use efficiency and rice yield responses to long-term substitution of chemical fertilizer by organic manure in a rice–rice cropping system

Combined application of chemical fertilizers with organic amendments was recommended as a strategy for improving yield,soil carbon storage,and nutrient use efficiency.However,how the long-term substitution of chemical fertilizer with organic manure affects rice yield,carbon sequestration rate(CSR),and nitrogen use efficiency(NUE)while ensuring environmental safety remains unclear.This study assessed the long-term effect of substituting chemical fertilizer with organic manure on rice yield,CSR,and NUE.It also determined the optimum substitution ratio in the acidic soil of southern China.The treatments were:(i)NPK0,unfertilized control;(ii)NPK1,100%chemical nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium fertilizer;(iii)NPKM1,70%chemical NPK fertilizer and 30%organic manure;(iv)NPKM2,50%chemical NPK fertilizer and 50%organic manure;and(v)NPKM3,30%chemical NPK fertilizer and 70%organic manure.Milk vetch and pig manure were sources of manure for early and late rice seasons,respectively.The result showed that SOC content was higher in NPKM1,NPKM2,and NPKM3 treatments than in NPK0 and NPK1 treatments.The carbon sequestration rate increased by 140,160,and 280%under NPKM1,NPKM2,and NPKM3 treatments,respectively,compared to NPK1 treatment.Grain yield was 86.1,93.1,93.6,and 96.5%higher under NPK1,NPKM1,NPKM2,and NPKM3 treatments,respectively,compared to NPK0 treatment.The NUE in NPKM1,NPKM2,and NPKM3 treatments was higher as compared to NPK1 treatment for both rice seasons.Redundancy analysis revealed close positive relationships of CSR with C input,total N,soil C:N ratio,catalase,and humic acids,whereas NUE was closely related to grain yield,grain N content,and phenol oxidase.Furthermore,CSR and NUE negatively correlated with humin acid and soil C:P and N:P ratios.The technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution(TOPSIS)showed that NPKM3 treatment was the optimum strategy for improving CSR and NUE.Therefore,substituting 70%of chemical fertilizer with organic manure could be the best management option for increasing CSR and NUE in the paddy fields of southern China.

Maize straw application as an interlayer improves organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations in the soil profile: A four-year experiment in a saline soil

Soil salinization is a critical environmental issue restricting agricultural production.Deep return of straw to the soil as an interlayer (at 40 cm depth) has been a popular practice to alleviate salt stress.However,the legacy effects of straw added as an interlayer at different rates on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in saline soils still remain inconclusive.Therefore,a four-year (2015–2018) field experiment was conducted with four levels (i.e.,0,6,12and 18 Mg ha~(–1)) of straw returned as an interlayer.Compared with no straw interlayer (CK),straw addition increased SOC concentration by 14–32 and 11–57%in the 20–40 and 40–60 cm soil layers,respectively.The increases in soil TN concentration (8–22 and 6–34%in the 20–40 and 40–60 cm soil layers,respectively) were lower than that for SOC concentration,which led to increased soil C:N ratio in the 20–60 cm soil depth.Increases in SOC and TN concentrations in the 20–60 cm soil layer with straw addition led to a decrease in stratification ratios (0–20 cm:20–60 cm),which promoted uniform distributions of SOC and TN in the soil profile.Increases in SOC and TN concentrations were associated with soil salinity and moisture regulation and improved sunflower yield.Generally,compared with other treatments,the application of 12 Mg ha~(–1) straw had higher SOC,TN and C:N ratio,and lower soil stratification ratio in the2015–2017 period.The results highlighted that legacy effects of straw application as an interlayer were maintained for at least four years,and demonstrated that deep soil straw application had a great potential for improving subsoil fertility in salt-affected soils.

A Versatile Method for Uniform Dispersion of Nanocarbons in Metal Matrix Based on Electrostatic Interactions

Realizing the uniform dispersion of nanocarbons such as carbon nanotube and graphene in metals, is an essential prerequisite to fully exhibit their enhancement effect in mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of metal matrix composites(MMCs). In this work, we propose an effective method to achieve uniform distribution of nanocarbons in various metal flakes through a slurry-based method. It relies on the electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged nanocarbons and the positively charged metal flakes when mixed in slurry. For case study, flake metal powders(Al, Mg, Ti,Fe, and Cu) were positively charged in aqueous suspension by spontaneous ionization or cationic surface modification. While nanocarbons, given examples as carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes, pristine single-walled carbon nanotube, and carbon nanotube–graphene oxide hybrid were negatively charged by the ionization of oxygen-containing functional groups or anionic surfactant. It was found that through the electrostatic interaction mechanism, all kinds of nanocarbons can be spontaneously and efficiently adsorbed onto the surface of various metal flakes. The development of such a versatile method would provide us great opportunities to fabricate advanced MMCs with appealing properties.

Interactions of Water Management and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Nitrogen Absorption and Utilization in Rice

The interactions of water management and nitrogen fertilizer on nitrogen absorption and utilization were studied in rice with Wuxiangjing9 (japonica). The results showed that the nitrogen uptake and remaining in straw increased and the percentage of nitrogen translocation (PNT) from vegetative organs, nitrogen dry matter production efficiency (NDMPE) and nitrogen grain production efficiency (NGPE) decreased with nitrogen increasing. The nitrogen uptake and NGPE decreased when severe water stressed. However, rice not only decreased the nitrogen uptake but also increased the PNT from vegetative organs, NDMPE and NGPE when mild water stressed. There were obvious interactions between nitrogen fertilizer and water management, such as with water stress increasing the effect of nitrogen on increasing nitrogen uptake was reduced and that on decreasing NDMPE was intensified.

A review of in situ carbon mineralization in basalt

Global warming has greatly threatened the human living environment and carbon capture and storage(CCS)technology is recognized as a promising way to reduce carbon emissions.Mineral storage is considered a reliable option for long-term carbon storage.Basalt rich in alkaline earth elements facilitates rapid and permanent CO_(2) fixation as carbonates.However,the complex CO_(2)-fluid-basalt interaction poses challenges for assessing carbon storage potential.Under different reaction conditions,the carbonation products and carbonation rates vary.Carbon mineralization reactions also induce petrophysical and mechanical responses,which have potential risks for the long-term injectivity and the carbon storage safety in basalt reservoirs.In this paper,recent advances in carbon mineralization storage in basalt based on laboratory research are comprehensively reviewed.The assessment methods for carbon storage potential are introduced and the carbon trapping mechanisms are investigated with the identification of the controlling factors.Changes in pore structure,permeability and mechanical properties in both static reactions and reactive percolation experiments are also discussed.This study could provide insight into challenges as well as perspectives for future research.

Torsional Characteristics of Single Walled Carbon Nanotube with Water Interactions by Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation

The torsional characteristics of single walled carbon nanotube(SWCNT) with water interactions are studied in this work using molecular dynamics simulation method. The torsional properties of carbon nanotubes(CNTs) in a hydrodynamic environment such as water are critical for its key role in determining the lifetime and stability of CNT based nano-fluidic devices. The effect of chirality, defects and the density of water encapsulation is studied by subjecting the SWCNT to torsion. The findings show that the torsional strength of SWCNT decreases due to interaction of water molecules and presence of defects in the SWCNT. Additionally,for the case of water molecules encapsulated inside SWCNT, the torsional response depends on the density of packing of water molecules. Our findings and conclusions obtained from this paper is expected to further compliment the potential applications of CNTs as promising candidates for applications in nano-biological and nano-fluidic devices.

Tuning interface mechanism of FeCo alloy embedded N,S-codoped carbon substrate for rechargeable Zn-air battery

The interface mechanism between catalyst and carbon substrate has been the focus of research.In this paper,the FeCo alloy embedded N,S co-doped carbon substrate bifunctional catalyst(FeCo/S-NC)is obtained by a simple one-step pyrolysis strategy.The experimental results and density functional theory(DFT)calculation show that the formation of FeCo alloy is conducive to promoting electron transfer,and the introduction of S atom can enhance the interaction between FeCo alloy and carbon substrate,thus inhibiting the migration and agglomeration of particles on the surface of carbon material.The FeCo/SNC catalysts show outstanding performance for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER).FeCo/S-NC shows a high half-wave potential(E_(1/2)=0.8823 V)for ORR and a low overpotential at 10 mA cm^(-2)(E_(j=10)=299 mV)for OER.In addition,compared with Pt/C+RuO_(2) assembled Zn-air battery(ZAB),the FeCo/S-NC assembled ZAB exhibits a larger power density(198.8 mW cm^(-2)),a higher specific capacity(786.1 mA h g_(zn)~(-1)),and ultra-stable cycle performance.These results confirm that the optimized composition and the interfacial interaction between catalyst and carbon substrate synergistically enhance the electrochemical performance.

QTL mapping and transcriptome analysis identify candidate genes influencing water–nitrogen interaction in maize

Water and nitrogen fertilization are the key factors limiting maize productivity.The genetic basis of interactions between maize genotype,water,and nitrogen is unclear.A recombinant inbred line(RIL)maize population was evaluated for seven yield and five agronomic traits under four water and nitrogen conditions:water stress and low nitrogen,water stress and high nitrogen,well-watered and low nitrogen,and well-watered and high nitrogen.Respectively eight,six,and six traits varied in response to genotype–water interactions,genotype–nitrogen interactions,and genotype–water–nitrogen interactions.Using a linkage map consisting of 896 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers and multipleenvironmental quantitative-trait locus(QTL)mapping,we identified 31 QTL,including 12 for genotype–water–nitrogen interaction,across the four treatments.A set of 8060 genes were differentially expressed among treatments.Integrating genetic analysis,gene co-expression,and functional annotation revealed two candidate genes controlling genotype–water–nitrogen interactions,affecting both leaf width and grain yield.Genes involved in abscisic acid biosynthesis and bZIP,NAC,and WRKY transcription factors participated in maize response to water and nitrogen conditions.These results represent a step toward understanding the genetic regulatory network of maize that responds to water and nitrogen stress and provide a theoretical basis for the genetic improvement of both water-and nitrogen-use efficiency.

Subsoil tillage enhances wheat productivity,soil organic carbon and available nutrient status in dryland fields

Tillage practices during the fallow period benefit water storage and yield in dryland wheat crops.However,there is currently no clarity on the responses of soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN),and available nutrients to tillage practices within the growing season.This study evaluated the effects of three tillage practices(NT,no tillage;SS,subsoil tillage;DT,deep tillage)over five years on soil physicochemical properties.Soil samples at harvest stage from the fifth year were analyzed to determine the soil aggregate and aggregate-associated C and N fractions.The results indicated that SS and DT improved grain yield,straw biomass and straw carbon return of wheat compared with NT.In contrast to DT and NT,SS favored SOC and TN concentrations and stocks by increasing the soil organic carbon sequestration rate(SOCSR)and soil nitrogen sequestration rate(TNSR)in the 0-40 cm layer.Higher SOC levels under SS and NT were associated with greater aggregate-associated C fractions,while TN was positively associated with soluble organic nitrogen(SON).Compared with DT,the NT and SS treatments improved soil available nutrients in the 0-20 cm layer.These findings suggest that SS is an excellent practice for increasing soil carbon,nitrogen and nutrient availability in dryland wheat fields in North China.

Interactions between cytokinin and nitrogen contribute to grain mass in wheat cultivars by regulating the flag leaf senescence process

Premature senescence after anthesis reduces crop yields.Delaying leaf senescence could maintain photosynthetic activity for a longer period and lead to a higher photosynthetic rate.Recent studies have provided some insights into the interaction between cytokinin and nitrogen(N)in the regulation of plant development.In the present study,foliar application of exogenous 6-benzylaminopurine(6-BA)and lovastatin,an inhibitor of cytokinin synthesis,was combined with three N rates[0 kg ha^(-1)(low nitrogen,LN),240 kg ha^(-1)(normal nitrogen,NN),and 360 kg ha^(-1)(high nitrogen,HN)]in two wheat cultivars,Wennong 6(with a staygreen phenotype)and Jimai 20(with a non-staygreen phenotype).Flag leaf senescence was assessed using a Gompertz growth curve.Grain mass,dry matter accumulation and distribution,total N of flag leaf,and concentrations of zeatin riboside(ZR)and abscisic acid(ABA)were also used to evaluate the functional characteristics of flag leaves.Grain mass was negatively correlated with initial senescence rate(r_0)and duration of rapid chlorophyll loss(Chl_(loss)),whereas it was positively correlated with maximum senescence rate(r_(max)),average senescence rate(r_(aver)),persistence phase(Chl_(per)),total duration of flag leaf(Chl_(total))and inflection point cumulative temperature(M).Compared to Jimai 20,Wennong 6 had larger r_(aver),Chl_(per),and Chl_(total).The concentration of ZR was highest under the 6-BA×NN treatment,followed by the 6-BA×HN and 6-BA×LN treatments.However,the concentration of ABA showed the opposite trend.It was concluded that the staygreen phenotype Wennong 6 was associated with greater grain mass and altered cytokinin metabolism and could be classified as a functional staygreen type.Foliar application of 6-BA interacting with N at the NN level(240 kg ha^(-1))may be a beneficial strategy for improving grain yield of wheat by regulating endogenous hormones and the flag leaf senescence process.Increasing endogenous cytokinin promoted the transport of dry matter to grain.