Effect of Nitrogen Regimes on Grain Yield,Nitrogen Utilization,Radiation Use Efficiency,and Sheath Blight Disease Intensity in Super Hybrid Rice

Poor nitrogen use efficiency in rice production is a critical issue in China. Site-specific N managements （SSNM） such as real-time N management （RTNM） and fixed-time adjustable-dose N management （FTNM） improve fertilizer-N use efficiency of irrigated rice. This study was aimed to compare the different nitrogen （N） rates and application methods （FFP, SSNM, and RTNM methods） under with- and without-fungicide application conditions on grain yield, yield components, solar radiation use efficiency （RUE）, agronomic-nitrogen use efficiency （AEN）, and sheath blight disease intensity. Field experiments were carried out at Liuyang County, Hunan Province, China, during 2006 and 2007. A super hybrid rice Liangyou 293 （LY293） was used as experimental material. The results showed that RTNM and SSNM have great potential for improving agronomic-nitrogen use efficiency without sacrificing the grain yield. There were significant differences in light interception rate, sheath blight disease incidence （DI） and the disease index （ShBI）, and total dry matter among the different nitrogen management methods. The radiation use efficiency was increased in a certain level of applied N. But, the harvest index （HI） decreased with the increase in applied N. There is a quadratic curve relationship between grain yield and applied N rates. With the same N fertilizer rate, different fertilizer-N application methods affected the RUE and grain yield. The fungicide application not only improved the canopy light interception rate, RUE, grain filling, and harvest index, but also reduced the degree of sheath blight disease. The treatment of RTNM under the SPAD threshold value 40 obtained the highest yield. While the treatment of SSNM led to the highest nitrogen agronomic efficiency and higher rice yield, and decreased the infestation of sheath blight disease dramatically as well. Nitrogen application regimes and diseases control in rice caused obvious effects on light interception rate, RUE, and HI. Optimal N rate is helpful to get higher light interception rate, RUE, and HI. Disease control with fungicide application decreased and delayed the negative effects of the high N on rice yield formation. SSNM and RTNM under the proper SPAD threshold value obtained high-yield with high efficiency and could alleviate environmental pollution in rice production.

Nitrogen Nutrition Index and Its Relationship with N Use Efficiency, Tuber Yield, Radiation Use Effi ciency, and Leaf Parameters in Potatoes

Knowledge about crop growth processes in relation to N limitation is necessary to optimize N management in farming system. Plant-based diagnostic method, for instance nitrogen nutrition index （NNI） were used to determine the crop nitrogen status. This study determines the relationship of NNI with agronomic nitrogen use efficiency （AEN）, tuber yield, radiation use efficiency （RUE） and leaf parameters including leaf area index （LAI）, areal leaf N content （NJ and leaf N concentration （N0. Potatoes were grown in field at three N levels： no N （N 1）, 150 kg N ha^-1 （N2）, 300 kg N ha^-1 （N3）. N deficiency was quantified by NNI and RUE was generally calculated by estimating of the light absorbance on leaf area. NNI was used to evaluate the N effect on tuber yield, RUE, LAI, NAL, and NL. The results showed that NNI was negatively correlated with AEN, N deficiencies （NNI〈 1） which occurred for N 1 and N2 significantly reduced LAI, NL and tuber yield; whereas the N deficiencies had a relative small effect on NAL and RUE. To remove any effect other than N on these parameters, the actual ratio to maximum values were calculated for each developmental linear relationships were obtained between NNI and tuber RUE to NNI. stage of potatoes. When the NNI ranged from 0.4 to 1, positive yield, LAI, NL, while a nonlinear regression fitted the response of

Biochar Application Enhanced Post-Heading Radiation Use Efficiency in Field-Grown Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

It has been shown that adding biochar to soil can improve nitrogen(N)uptake and utilization in rice(Oryza sativa L.).However,there is a lack of research on the physiological alterations of rice as a result of the changes in nitrogen uptake due to the addition of biochar.This study conducted field experiments in 2015 and 2016 with the goal of testing the hypothesis that the application of biochar would enhance radiation use efficiency(RUE)of rice by improving the plant’s ability to take in and utilize nitrogen.Our results demonstrated that the application of biochar(20 t ha−1)induced no significant effects on pre-heading specific leaf weight(SLW),nitrogen uptake(NUpre),and leaf area index(LAI)at heading,the ratios of LAI/NUpre and SLW/Nupre,or pre-heading RUE.How-ever,biochar application significantly increased post-heading nitrogen uptake(NUpost),ratios of NUpost/SLWand NUpost/LAI,and post-heading RUE.These results indicate that the application of biochar can improve the plant’s nitrogen uptake and RUE in field-grown rice during the post-heading period,which confirms our hypothesis.

Radiation Use Efficiency of Cotton in Contrasting Environments

Crop growth and yield varies among locations due to differences in environmental parameters, such as temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation and vapor pressure deficit. Previous research has shown that increasing vapor pressure deficit has a negative effect on radiation use efficiency of many crops. In this study, the radiation use efficiency of cot-ton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown in two contrasting production environments, Arkansas and California, was evaluated for two years, in 2006 and 2007. Temperature, relative humidity, vapor pressure deficit and photosyntheti-cally active radiation were recorded at both locations. Although the crop in California accumulated more dry matter during the period of the study, the radiation use efficiency was found to be lower compared to Arkansas. Radiation use efficiency for the Arkansas and California locations was estimated at 2.060 and 1.518 g?MJ–1 of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation, respectively. The higher productivity observed in California can be attributed to larger amounts of incident and intercepted radiation in this location. Radiation use efficiency of cotton was estimated to decrease with increasing vapor pressure deficit by a slope of –0.47 g?MJ–1?kPa–1.

Cultivar selection can increase yield potential and resource use efficiency of spring maize to adapt to climate change in Northeast China

Northeast China (NEC) is one of the major maize production areas in China.Agro-climatic resources have obviously changed,which will seriously affect crop growth and development in this region.It is important to investigate the contribution of climate change adaptation measures to the yield and resource use efficiency to improve our understanding of how we can effectively ensure high yield and high efficiency in the future.In this study,we divided the study area into five accumulated temperature zones (ATZs) based on growing degree days (GDD).Based on the meteorological data,maize data (from agrometeorological stations) and the validated APSIM-Maize Model,we first investigated the spatial distributions and temporal trends of maize potential yield of actual planted cultivars,and revealed the radiation use efficiency (RUE) and heat resource use efficiency (HUE) from 1981 to 2017.Then according to the potential growing seasons and actual growing seasons,we identified the utilization percentages of radiation (P_R) resource and heat resource (P_H) for each ATZ under potential production from 1981 to 2017.Finally,we quantified the contributions of cultivar changings to yield,P_R and P_H of maize.The results showed that during the past 37 years,the estimated mean potential yield of actual planted cultivars was 13 649 kg ha^(–1),ranged from 11 205 to 15 257 kg ha^(–1),and increased by 140 kg ha^(–1) per decade.For potential production,the mean values of RUE and HUE for the actual planted maize cultivars were 1.22 g MJ^(–1) and 8.58 kg (℃ d)^(–1) ha^(–1).RUE showed an increasing tendency,while HUE showed a decreasing tendency.The lengths of the potential growing season and actual growing season were 158 and 123 d,and increased by 2 and 1 d per decade.P_R and P_H under potential production were 82 and 86%,respectively and showed a decreasing tendency during the past 37 years.This indicates that actual planted cultivars failed to make full use of climate resources.However,results from the adaptation assessments indicate that,adoption of cultivars with growing season increased by 2–11 d among ATZs caused increase in yield,P_R and P_H of 0.6–1.7%,1.1–7.6% and 1.5–8.9%,respectively.Therefore,introduction of cultivars with longer growing season can effectively increase the radiation and heat utilization percentages and potential yield.

Effect of Growth Stage-Based Irrigation Schedules on Biomass Accumulation and Resource Use Efficiency of Wheat Cultivars

Climate and weather conditions greatly affect the performance of new wheat cultivars for yield and resource use efficiency. In order to know the effect of irrigation schedules based on growth stage (the most vital criterion in the region) on growth, yield and radiation use efficiency of wheat cultivars in Faisalabad conditions, a study was planned at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during 2009-2010. Split plot design with irrigation levels in main plots and cultivars in sub-plots was implied. Irrigation levels were: IT = irrigation at tillering stage, ITS = irrigation at tillering and stem elongation stage, ISB = irrigation at stem elongation and booting stage and ITSBG = irrigation at tillering, stem elongation, booting and grain filling stage. Cultivars selected were: Faisalabad-2008, Lasani-2008, Miraj-2008, Shafaq-2006 and Chakwal-97. Irrigation treatment ITSBG gave higher grain yield (4.23 t·ha-1) followed by ISB (3.60 t·ha-1), however ITSBG was statistically similar to ISB in radiation use efficiency (RUE) for grain yield (RUEGY). Similarly the two treatments were statistically at par in maximum leaf area index, total dry matter (TDM) accumulation, cumulative photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and RUETDM. Hence where less numbers of irrigations are available, irrigation at stem elongation and booting stage is suitable for achieving economic yield. Lasani-2008 produced maximum grain yield (4.37 t·ha-1) compared to other cultivars but it was statistically at par with Shafaq-2006 in plant height, TDM production and RUETDM. Depending on the availability, the two cultivars may be chosen under irrigated conditions of Faisalabad.

Grain Yield Differences of Soybean Cultivars Due to Solar Radiation Interception

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] growth rate and grain yield are modified by the interception and solar radiation use efficiency. Thus, it is desirable that the most of plant photosynthetic structures intercepting solar radiation in order to have increment in carbon fixation and reflection on growth and yield. The goal of this study was to assess if soybean cultivars differ in grain yield in relation to solar radiation interception. Four soybean cultivars were evaluated at stages V6, V9, R2, R4, R6 and R8. To determine the photosynthetically active radiation interception by the canopy, the plants were divided into two parts (upper and lower strata). For grain yield components, the plants were divided into three parts (upper, middle and lower thirds). Of the photosynthetically active radiation intercepted by the vegetative canopy at the reproductive stages, the maximum observed intercept was 5.2% in the lower stratum of the plants. The number of infertile nodes increased in the lower third of plants due to low interception of solar radiation in this plant region. Thus, the soybean cultivars more efficient in intercepting photosynthetically active radiation inside the vegetative canopy showed higher grain yields.

Solar Radiation Interception, Dry Matter Production and Yield among Different Plant Densities of <i>Arachis spp</i>. in Ibadan, Nigeria

The production of grain legumes is becoming a popular practice in the humid south western Nigeria. Apart from the decreasing trends observed in rainfall amount and duration as a result of climate change, solar radiation interception also constitutes a limitation to crop production because of persistent cloud cover. A trial was conducted at the University of Ibadan experimental site to determine the effect of different plant densities of Arachis spp. on solar radiation interception, dry matter production and yield in Ibadan, Nigeria with the aim of ascertaining the best practice for groundnut production in the zone. The treatments were three plant spacings (60 cm×20 cm,75 cm×20 cmand75 cm×40 cm), and three Arachis varieties (Samnut 10, Samnut 21 and Pintoi) arranged in a split plot, randomized complete block design with Arachis varieties as the main plot while plant densities formed the subplot and replicated three times. Growth parameters (number of leaves, dry leaf weight and dry stem weight) were measured at two weeks interval while yield parameters (number of pods, dry pod weight, dry seed weight and total dry matter) were determined at harvest. Intercepted radiation by plants (PAR) was also taken along with the growth parameters. The highest light interception from 42 - 105 days after planting (DAP) among the Arachis spp. was recorded by Samnut 10, while at 42 - 87 DAP, plant density of75 cm×20 cmhad the highest light interception. Dry matter production increased with light interception and was highest at 105 DAP when light interception was between 55% and 60% for all Arachis varieties and all plant densities. In terms of pod weight and grain yield, Samnut 10 performed better than Samnut 21 and also recorded the highest Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE) for pod, seed and total dry matter. However, Arachis pintoi, a sterile and forage plant with slower growth rate served as a cover crop capable of replenishing soil nutrients and physical properties.

华南双季稻主栽品种的光能利用效率及聚类分析

水稻品种的光能利用效率(RUE)是影响华南双季稻产量的重要因素之一。目前,关于品种的RUE特性及其与农艺性状间关系的研究鲜有报道。为此,本研究以华南双季稻区36个水稻主栽品种为供试材料,探讨了不同品种的RUE及其与产量等主要农艺性状的关系,并进行品种RUE类群的划分。结果表明,水稻的RUE在品种间和季节间的差异均达极显著水平;早、晚季的RUE均与稻谷产量、收获指数及千粒重等呈极显著正相关;早季的RUE与生物量呈极显著正相关、与生育期呈极显著负相关,晚季的则相关不显著。主成分分析结果表明,早季水稻品种特征主要由产量光能效率因子、穗粒因子、生育期粒重因子和结实率因子等4个主成分构成;晚季则主要由产量光能效率因子、穗粒因子、生物量因子、生育期粒重因子和结实率因子等5个主成分构成。通过系统聚类分析将华南双季稻品种划分为低光效型、中光效型和高光效型3个类群。早季低光效型、中光效型和高光效型的品种数分别占供试品种数的50.0%、38.9%和11.1%;晚季的依次分别为27.8%、47.2%和25.0%。其中,‘Y两优143’‘特优524’‘天优3301’和‘特优3301’等4个品种被划分为早季高光效型品种,‘五优308’‘天优3618’‘五优163’‘五优376’‘天优998’‘天优华占’‘天优3301’‘广8优188’和‘Y两优305’9个品种被划分为晚季高光效型品种。本研究结果将对水稻种植区域的品种布局、高RUE品种的选育及其高效利用具有重要指导意义。

不同种植密度下两种穗型小麦叶片光合特性的变化

为给小麦栽培提供群体优化方面的依据,在3个种植密度条件下,对多穗型品种济麦20和大穗型品种维麦8号植株不同部位叶片的光合特性进行了测定分析。结果表明,随着种植密度的增加,植株旗叶的日光合总量和蒸腾总量没有显著变化,而倒3叶和倒5叶的日光合总量和日蒸腾总量显著下降,并且多穗型品种济麦20的下降幅度大于大穗型品种维麦8号,济麦20的日光合总量明显小于维麦8号,日蒸腾总量明显大于维麦8号;植株各部位叶片的水分利用效率(WUE)和辐射利用效率(RUE)均表现为多穗型品种济麦20显著低于大穗型品种维麦8号。随种植密度的增加,旗叶的WUE增加,倒3叶和倒5叶的WUE降低,两个穗型品种变化趋势一致。植株同一部位叶片的胞间CO2浓度(Ci)在品种间和种植密度之间均没有明显差异,但其气孔限值(Ls)均表现为多穗型品种济麦20低于大穗型品种维麦8号。

不同粮食作物光能利用效率研究

作物产量高低主要取决于作物的光能利用效率,明确不同作物光合、光截获能力与光能利用效率的差异性,对提高作物资源利用效率和种植结构调整有重要意义。该研究以吉林省梨树县玉米、春小麦、大豆、谷子和马铃薯5种主要粮食作物为研究对象,通过2 a田间试验,分析研究了不同作物不同生育阶段的光合特性、光截获能力和光能利用效率。结果表明:玉米和谷子在营养及生殖生长阶段的最大净光合速率均不低于28.34μmol/(m^2·s),高于其他作物,且光合作用适宜光强范围较其他作物更宽。对比作物光合有效辐射截获能力可知,玉米、大豆和谷子的光截获能力明显优于其他作物,但基于光截获能力分析需适当减小种植密度,避免种植密度过大影响作物中下部叶片发育;马铃薯和小麦则可在充分考虑水分、肥料等限制条件后适当增加种植密度来提升作物群体光截获能力;作物上部最大光截获由营养生长阶段向生殖生长阶段的过渡时期最高,对作物光能利用率的提高有重要影响。马铃薯、玉米及谷子的全生长季光能利用率显著高于小麦和大豆;马铃薯、玉米及谷子在营养生长到生殖生长过渡时期的光能利用率较其他生育期高。仅考虑产量最高,吉林梨树县优先种植玉米、马铃薯和谷子。

Exploring the influence of environmental factors in partitioning evapotranspiration along an elevation gradient on Mount Gongga, eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Platea, China

Evapotranspiration(ET) is a crucial part of the global hydrological cycle, and quantifying ET components is significant for understanding the global water cycle and energy balance. However, there is no consensus on the value of ET components, especially in topographic abrupt change zone, such as eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Platea, where values of ET changes along the altitudinal gradients. Our aim is to explore the influencing factors in partitioning evapotranspiration and how ET components change with increasing elevations. A novel approach was proposed to estimate ET components by adding net solar radiation(Rn) instead of the vapor pressure deficit(VPD) into the underlying water use efficiency(u WUE) model based on one-year continuous measurements of flux data along the elevation gradient on Mount Gongga. Correlation analysis shows that the u WUE model's performance can be improved significantly by considering Rn instead of VPD, with correlation coefficients increasing by 35%-64%. The ratios of transpiration(T) to ET(T/ET) were 0.47, 0.48, 0.50 and 0.35 for the deciduous broadleaf forest(BF), mixed coniferous and deciduous broadleaf forest(MF), evergreen needle forest(ENF) and shrub land(SL), respectively. Leaf area index(LAI) and air temperature(Ta) were the two main controlling factors in determining T/ET during the growing season and at an annual scale, while Rn and Ta played more important roles during the dormant season. This study highlights the importance of incorporating Rn in partitioning evapotranspiration by using the water use efficiency(WUE) method in a humid mountainous region, which can improve the estimation of T/ET on a global scale.

Recognizing production options for pearl millet in Pakistan under changing climate scenarios

Climate change is making the lands a harsher environment all over the world including Pakistan. It is expected to oppose us with three main challenges： increase in temperature up to 2-5℃ （heat stress）, increasing water stress and severe malnourishment due to climate change. It has been foreseen that there will be a 10% increase of dryland areas with climate change in the world, with more variability and incidences of short periods of extreme events （drought and heat stress）. Pearl millet is a hardy, climate smart grain crop, idyllic for environments prone to drought and heat stresses. The crop continues to produce highly nutritious grain sustainably, thereby encouraging the fight against poverty and food insecurity due to its resilience. The crop is more responsive to good production options （planting time, planting density, inter/intra row spacing, nitrogen application and irrigation）. It has high crop growth rate, large leaf area index and high radiation use efficiency that confers its high potential yield. In most of the cases, pearl millet is remained our agricultural answer to the climate calamity that we are facing, because it is selected as water saving, drought tolerant and climate change complaint crop. In view of circumstances, pearl millet cultivation must be retrieved by recognizing production options in context to changing climate scenarios of Pakistan using crop modeling techniques.

Adaptability of High-Yielding Rice Cultivars in Relation to Biomass Productivity under Moderately Water Stressed Upland Conditions

Recent studies have focused on the improvement of rice productivity under aerobic conditions for times when water resources and food production are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the adaptability of high-yielding rice cultivars to moderately water-stressed upland conditions in order to contribute breeding. A three-year field experiment in the temperate climate of Kyoto, Japan, indicated that the decrease in yield was mainly derived from a decrease in above-ground total dry matter (TDM) rather than a decrease in harvest index (HI). Although the decrease in TDM was mostly caused by a decrease in radiation use efficiency (RUE), we determined that the key to adapting high-yielding cultivars to upland conditions is intercepted radiation per day (IRPD), governed by leaf area index (LAI). Although the effect was not robust, LAI growth under upland conditions was associated with root length density. RUE was dependent on leaf water potential (LWP), indicating that a plant’s ability to maintain LWP under water-stressed conditions is important. The results also suggest the necessity of a canopy analyzer to evaluate LAI, as well as an infrared radiation thermometer to evaluate RUE. Performing such measurements during breeding efforts allows us to select for genotypes that are suitable for less stressed aerobic conditions.