Effects of Increased Planting Density with ReducedNitrogen Application on Yield Formation and NitrogenUtilization of Autumn Maize

With the change of cropping system in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River,the planting area of autumn maize is gradually increasing.However,the cultivation techniques are still under improvement for higher yield and nitrogen efficiency of autumn maize.Increase in planting density with reduced nitrogen fertilizer application is one of the important paths to achieve high yield and high nitrogen utilization efficiency.Meanwhile,the effect needs to be verified for autumn maize.The semi-compact autumn maize variety Qinyu 58 was planted under different planting densities and nitrogen fertilizer amounts with the split plot design.Different nitrogen application rates were arranged in the main plots,including the conventional nitrogen application(N300,300 kg/hm^2),30%reduction from the conventional treatment(N210,210 kg/hm^2)and no nitrogen application(N0).Different planting densities were arranged in the sub-split plots,including the conventional planting density(D60,60000 plants/hm2),medium density(D78,78000 plants/hm^2)and high density(D93,93000 plants/hm2).The effects of nitrogen fertilizer,planting density and their interaction effects on canopy structure,dry matter accumulation,yield and nitrogen use efficiency of autumn maize were studied.The nitrogen application rate and planting density had obvious interaction effects on the yield formation of autumn maize.Compared with the conventional cultivation(N300D60),increasing the planting density with 30%reduction in nitrogen application(N210)can obviously increase the canopy light interception rate,LAI,dry matter accumulation and yield.However,there was no significant change in canopy light interception rate,LAI,dry matter accumulation,grain weight and yield between D93 and D78.Compared with N300D60,nitrogen translocation efficiency and nitrogen contribution proportion to grain nitrogen did not change significantly in autumn maize grown under N210 and D78 treatments,whereas nitrogen partial productivity,nitrogen agronomic efficiency and recovery and utilization efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer increased significantly.Moreover,high density(D93)planting at N210 plots significantly improved nitrogen transport efficiency and utilization efficiency in autumn maize.Therefore,the suitable planting density of the autumn maize variety Qinyu 58 in Hubei Province is recommended a value of 78000 plants/hm^2,with the nitrogen application rate of 210 kg/hm2,which can achieve the target of higher yield by increasing density and reducing nitrogen.

Effect of planting date and nitrogen fertilization on photosynthesis and soluble carbohydrate contents of cotton in relation to silverleaf whitefly （Bemisia tabaci biotype “B”） populations

The impacts of planting date and nitrogen fertilization on cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） photosynthesis and soluble carbohydrate contents in relation to silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci （Gennadius） biotype “B”, populations were examined in field experiments. Cotton planted in late April and early June was treated with 0, 112, 168 and 224 kg/N hectare in soil using urea fertilizer. The mean photosynthetic rate of April-planted cotton was 4%-20% higher than that of June-planted cotton early in the season, but 10%- 18% lower than that of June-planted cotton late in the season. The photosynthetic rates for both planting dates were positively correlated with levels of added nitrogen. While levels of glucose for both planting dates were positively correlated with nitrogen levels, fructose and sucrose levels were not. The mean levels of fructose were up to 40% lower, while that of sucrose were up to 59% higher, in April-planted cotton than in June-planted cotton. Levels of photosynthetic rate or stomatal conductance were not correlated with adult whitefly densities for either planting date. Levels of glucose and fructose were positively correlated with whitefly densities only for June-planted cotton late in the season.