Combined application of organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer alleviates the kernel position effect in summer maize by promoting post-silking nitrogen uptake and dry matter accumulation

Adjusting agronomic measures to alleviate the kernel position effect in maize is important for ensuring high yields.In order to clarify whether the combined application of organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer(CAOFCF)can alleviate the kernel position effect of summer maize,field experiments were conducted during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons,and five treatments were assessed:CF,100%chemical fertilizer;OFCF1,15%organic fertilizer+85%chemical fertilizer;OFCF2,30%organic fertilizer+70%chemical fertilizer;OFCF3,45%organic fertilizer+55%chemical fertilizer;and OFCF4,60%organic fertilizer+40%chemical fertilizer.Compared with the CF treatment,the OFCF1 and OFCF2 treatments significantly alleviated the kernel position effect by increasing the weight ratio of inferior kernels to superior kernels and reducing the weight gap between the superior and inferior kernels.These effects were largely due to the improved filling and starch accumulation of inferior kernels.However,there were no obvious differences in the kernel position effect among plants treated with CF,OFCF3,or OFCF4 in most cases.Leaf area indexes,post-silking photosynthetic rates,and net assimilation rates were higher in plants treated with OFCF1 or OFCF2 than in those treated with CF,reflecting an enhanced photosynthetic capacity and improved postsilking dry matter accumulation(DMA)in the plants treated with OFCF1 or OFCF2.Compared with the CF treatment,the OFCF1 and OFCF2 treatments increased post-silking N uptake by 66.3 and 75.5%,respectively,which was the major factor driving post-silking photosynthetic capacity and DMA.Moreover,the increases in root DMA and zeatin riboside content observed following the OFCF1 and OFCF2 treatments resulted in reduced root senescence,which is associated with an increased post-silking N uptake.Analyses showed that post-silking N uptake,DMA,and grain yield in summer maize were negatively correlated with the kernel position effect.In conclusion,the combined application of 15-30%organic fertilizer and 70-85%chemical fertilizer alleviated the kernel position effect in summer maize by improving post-silking N uptake and DMA.These results provide new insights into how CAOFCF can be used to improve maize productivity.

Kernel position effects of grain morphological characteristics by X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT)

Grain size and shape are important factors for yield and quality.The difference in grain phenotypic characteristics in the same maize hybrid is related to its position in the ear.This study aimed to clarify the distribution characteristics of grain morphological characteristics in the ear and to provide guidance for research of grain phenotype and kernel position effects.Three maize hybrids were used in the experiment,namely,Denghai 618(DH618),KX3564,and Xianyu 335(XY335),and the kernel number per row were 40,40,and 36,respectively.The X-rayμCT was applied to obtain five kernel morphological indicators,including grain length,width,thickness,volume,surface area.Grain sphericity,length-width ratio,specific surface area,and volume coefficient were further calculated.The results showed that there were three types of maize ear morphological indicators trends:grain length,width,volume,and surface area were parabolic;thickness and sphericity were inverted parabolic;length-to-width ratio and specific surface area were irregular.The volume coefficient of grain at different parts of the ear,namely the relation coefficient between grain volume and grain length,width,and thickness,was determined.The average value of the middle grains morphological indicators of the ear was taken to select kernels representing stable characteristics of the variety.Within the range of 5%deviation from the morphological mean value of the middle grains of the ear,the grains in the middle part accounted for 26.39%of the total ear,about 10 grains extending from the 14th grain at the base of the ear to the top.Within the range of 10%deviation,the middle accounted for 47.22%,about 18 grains extending from the 12th grain at the base of the ear to the top.This study found that grain morphological indicators were greatly different at different positions of the maize ear,and showed different change rules as extend from the base to the top of the ear.Therefore,there were different grain volume coefficients at different positions of maize ear.And the representative sampling range on maize ear was determined based on the comprehensive analysis of different morphological indexes variation of grain.