Crop Yield and Quality Response to Cultivation Practices

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Innovative Cropping Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 20705

Special Issue Editor

College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Interests: crop cultivation; rice; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The international journal Agronomy (IF 3.417) (ISSN 2073-4395) is currently running a Special Issue entitled “Crop Yield and Quality Response to Cultivation Practices”. We kindly invite you to consider submitting your full paper to this Special Issue covering the following scientific issues:

  1. The effect of cultivation practices on crop yields and grain quality;
  2. The response of crop yields and grain quality to climate change;
  3. Adaptive practices to climate change for high crop yield and grain quality.

The global demand for crop production is expected to roughly double by 2050. Meanwhile, the demand for high grain quality also increases as living standards improve. Therefore, sustainable intensification of cropping systems requires increasing yields as well as high quality. However, climate-related impacts are already reducing crop yields and food quality in some parts of the world. And the risk of yield impacts increases depending on the level of climate change (e.g. CO2 enrichment, warming, drought, heat). For this Special Issue, we welcome scientific outcomes of research works on coordination of crop yield and quality in the current and future climate scenarios all over the world.

Prof. Dr. Ganghua Li
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1642 KiB  
Article
Leaf Color Chart (LCC)-Based Precision Nitrogen Management for Assessing Phenology, Agrometeorological Indices and Sustainable Yield of Hybrid Maize Genotypes under Temperate Climate
by Suhail Fayaz, Raihana Habib Kanth, Tauseef Ahmad Bhat, Mohammad Valipour, Rashid Iqbal, Awais Munir, Aijaz Nazir, Mohd Salim Mir, Shafat Ahmad Ahanger, Ibrahim Al-Ashkar and Ayman El Sabagh
Agronomy 2022, 12(12), 2981; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12122981 - 27 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2559
Abstract
Excessive nitrogenous fertilization in years resulted in larger nitrogen and profit losses. This problem can be reduced by using need-based and time-specific nitrogen management. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out during the Kharif season of 2019 and 2020 in order to evaluate [...] Read more.
Excessive nitrogenous fertilization in years resulted in larger nitrogen and profit losses. This problem can be reduced by using need-based and time-specific nitrogen management. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out during the Kharif season of 2019 and 2020 in order to evaluate the impact of precision nitrogen management on the phenology, yield and agrometeorological indices of hybrid maize genotypes at the Agronomy Research Farm, FoA Wadura, Sopore, SKUAST-Kashmir. The experiment was carried out in split-plot design consisting of maize hybrids (Shalimar Maize Hybrid-2 Vivek-45 and Kanchan-517) as main plot treatments and precision nitrogen management (T1: Control, T2: Recommended N, T3: 25% N as basal ≤ LCC 3@20 kg N ha−1, T4: 25% N as basal ≤ LCC 3@30 kg N ha−1, T5: 25% N as basal ≤ LCC 4@20 kg N ha−1, T6: 25% N as basal ≤ LCC 4@30 kg N ha−1, T7: 25% N as basal ≤ LCC 5@20 kg N ha−1 and T8: 25% N as basal ≤ LCC 5@30 kg N ha−1) as sub-plot treatments. Results demonstrated that maize hybrids showed a non-significant difference in attaining different phenophases during both years. However, Shalimar Maize Hybrid-2 demonstrated higher grain (62.35 and 60.65 q ha−1) and biological yield (170.26 and 165.86 q ha−1), a higher number of days to attain different phenological stages in comparison to Vivek-45 and Kanchan-517 thereby achieved higher heat units, PTUs, HTUs, PTI. The application of nitrogen through LCC ≤ 5@30 kg N ha−1 noted higher grain yield (61.27 and 59.13 q ha−1) and biological yield (171.30 and 166.13 q ha−1) during 2019 and 2020 respectively. Higher values of Growing degree days (GDD), Heliothermal units (HTU), Photothermal units (PTU), Phenothermal index (PTI), heat use efficiency (HUE) and radiation use efficiency (RUE) were observed in the application of nitrogen through LCC ≤ 5@30 kg N ha−1 and required the highest number of days to reach different phenophases than other treatments during crop growing seasons of 2019 and 2020. The results demonstrated that Nitrogen application based on LCC ≤ 5@30 proved effective and should be adopted in maize hybrids especially in Shalimar Maize Hybrid-2 to attain higher yield under the temperate climate of Kashmir Valley. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Yield and Quality Response to Cultivation Practices)
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13 pages, 2716 KiB  
Article
Screening Soybean for Adaptation to Relay Intercropping Systems: Associations between Reproductive Organ Abscission and Yield
by Qing Du, Ping Chen, Benchuan Zheng, Yongchun Hu, Wenyu Yang and Taiwen Yong
Agronomy 2022, 12(10), 2379; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12102379 - 01 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1458
Abstract
The flower and pod abscission is one of the characteristics of soybean that severely limits yield, especially when intercropped with maize. Therefore, suitable soybean cultivars for intercropping are urgently needed to improve farmland productivity. We conducted a two-year field experiment to evaluate the [...] Read more.
The flower and pod abscission is one of the characteristics of soybean that severely limits yield, especially when intercropped with maize. Therefore, suitable soybean cultivars for intercropping are urgently needed to improve farmland productivity. We conducted a two-year field experiment to evaluate the flower and pod abscission, dry matter production, and yield advantages of 15 soybean cultivars. The results of the principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) showed that 15 soybean cultivars were classified into three groups, i.e., high-yielding group (HYG), mid-yielding cultivars (MYG), and low-yielding cultivars (LYG). In the HYG group, ND12 and GX3 had characteristics of more flowers and pods and less abscission of flowers and pods. Moreover, the net assimilation rate (NAR) and relative growth rate (RGR) of HYG were significantly higher than the other. The HYG obtained a considerably higher partition ratio of 53% from biomass to seed than the other. Therefore, selecting and breeding cultivars with the characteristics of more flowers and pods and less abscission of flowers and pods can help to increase soybean yield in intercropping. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Yield and Quality Response to Cultivation Practices)
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16 pages, 3458 KiB  
Article
Yield Potential of Machine-Transplanted Rice and Correlation of Crop-Growing Rate during Grain-Filling Stage
by Chao Ding, Xuhui Zhu, Congshan Xu, Elidio Cambula, Bo Lu, Xikun Luo, Qiong Wu, Qiuyi Zhong, Xia Xu, Zhenghui Liu, Yanfeng Ding, Jie Yang and Ganghua Li
Agronomy 2022, 12(10), 2299; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12102299 - 25 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1255
Abstract
Not enough attention has been paid to the comparison in yield performance and N responsiveness between hybrid rice and inbred rice using the large number of new cultivars released after 2000 under machine transplanting. Field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018; 48 [...] Read more.
Not enough attention has been paid to the comparison in yield performance and N responsiveness between hybrid rice and inbred rice using the large number of new cultivars released after 2000 under machine transplanting. Field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018; 48 widely planted rice cultivars included four groups, namely indica hybrids (IHs), japonica inbreds (JIs), indica-japonica hybrids (IJHs), and indica inbreds (IIs) that were transplanted by machine with three nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 150, 300 kg ha−1). The average yield of the hybrids (IHs, IJHs) was higher than that of JIs or IIs with a higher crop-growing rate (CGR) during the total growth duration, regardless of the N application level; moreover, longer total growth duration was responsible for the higher yield in IJHs than in IHs. The IHs had a large gap yield which mainly came from the genetic improvement in the CGR during the grain-filling stage. The yield gap was relatively small in JIs, and longer growth duration combined with optimal daily mean temperature during the grain-filling stage was the critical factor for high yield. The JIs or IJHs had higher yield under the N300 level, while the response of IHs to nitrogen varied with different cultivars. Cultivars with higher CGR during the grain-filling stage had higher yield under the N300 level. In conclusion, this study suggests that high CGR during the grain-filling stage may be a vital trait for the development of rice with high yield and high N responsiveness at machine transplanting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Yield and Quality Response to Cultivation Practices)
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31 pages, 2972 KiB  
Article
Integrating Tillage and Mulching Practices as an Avenue to Promote Soil Water Storage, Growth, Production, and Water Productivity of Wheat under Deficit Irrigation in Arid Countries
by Bazel Alsamin, Salah El-Hendawy, Yahya Refay, ElKamil Tola, Mohamed A. Mattar and Samy Marey
Agronomy 2022, 12(9), 2235; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12092235 - 19 Sep 2022
Viewed by 3234
Abstract
Ensuring food security with limited water resources in arid countries requires urgent development of innovative water-saving strategies. This study aimed to investigate the effects of various tillage and mulching practices on soil water storage (SWS), growth, production, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and [...] Read more.
Ensuring food security with limited water resources in arid countries requires urgent development of innovative water-saving strategies. This study aimed to investigate the effects of various tillage and mulching practices on soil water storage (SWS), growth, production, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and water productivity (WP) of wheat under full (FL) and limited (LM) irrigation regimes in a typical arid country. The tillage practices comprised the conventional tillage (CT) and reduced tillage (RT), each with five mulching treatments (MT), including non-mulched (NM), plastic film mulch (PFM), wheat straw mulch (WSM), palm residues mulch (PRM), and a mixture of wheat straw and palm residues at 50/50 ratio (MM). Results showed higher SWS at different measured time points in CT than RT at 20–40 cm, 40–60 cm, and 0–60 cm soil depth under FL regime, and at 40–60 cm under LM regime, while the opposite was observed at 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil depth under LM regime. SWS at different soil depths under MT, in most cases, followed the order of PFM > PRM ≈ MM > WSM > NM under FL, and PFM ≈ PRM > MM > WSM > NM under LM regimes. No significant differences were observed for traits related to growth between CT and RT, but RT increased the traits related to yield, IWUE, and WP by 5.9–11.6% than did CT. PFM and PRM or PRM and MM showed the highest values for traits related to growth or yield, IWUE, and WP, respectively. No significant differences in all traits between CT and RT under the FL regime were observed, however, RT increased all traits by 8.0–18.8% than did CT under the LM regime. The yield response factor (Ky) based on plant dry weight (KyPDW) and grain yield (KyGY) under RT was acceptable for four MT, while KyGY under CT was acceptable only for PRM, as the Ky values in these treatments were <1 under the LM regime. The interrelationships of plant dry weight (PDW), grain yield (GY), IWUE, and WP with evapotranspiration (ET), and of WP and IWUE with PDW and GY were best described by a second-order polynomial. SWS measured before irrigation exhibited strong linear relationships with PDW and GY (R2 range 0.57 to 0.92), while they exhibited a second order polynomial and moderate correlation with IWUE and WP (R2 range 0.29 to 0.54). Overall, combining RT with plant residue mulching, particularly using the readily available palm residues in sufficient amount is a feasible and sustainable water-saving strategy for enhancing wheat yield and WP in irrigated arid countries, such as Saudi Arabia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Yield and Quality Response to Cultivation Practices)
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16 pages, 1910 KiB  
Article
Delayed Sowing Date Improves Rice Cooking and Taste Quality by Regulating the Quantity and Quality of Grains Located on Secondary Branches
by Congshan Xu, Bo Lu, Limin Liang, Fei Yang, Chao Ding, Feiyu Yan, Yan Zhou, Zhengrong Jiang, Zhenghui Liu, Yanfeng Ding, Weiwei Li and Ganghua Li
Agronomy 2022, 12(6), 1316; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12061316 - 30 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1515
Abstract
Grains located on different positions of the panicle differed in grain weight and quality performance, however, the comprehensive effect of sowing dates on physiological and quantitative characteristics of grains located on different positions still remains unclear. In this study, a field experiment was [...] Read more.
Grains located on different positions of the panicle differed in grain weight and quality performance, however, the comprehensive effect of sowing dates on physiological and quantitative characteristics of grains located on different positions still remains unclear. In this study, a field experiment was conducted with two japonica rice cultivars, Nanjing 9108 and Ningjing 7, under 3 sowing dates (S1, 30th April; S2, 30th May; S3, 30th June). Delayed sowing treatments increased before-heading mean temperature (Tmean), day temperature (Tday), night temperature (Tnight) and mean solar radiation (Smean) for 0.94 °C, 0.99 °C, 1.23 °C, and 1.04 MJ, respectively, while decreased growth duration (GD) for 13.4 days, with 30 days delaying sowing date. Elevated before heading thermal resources and shortened GD contributed to enlarged panicle size via enhancing number of grains on secondary branches (SG) and led to higher ratio of SG per unit area (SG%). Meanwhile, delayed sowing decreased after heading Tmean, Tday, Tnight and Smean by 0.84 °C, 1.23 °C, 1.13 °C, and 2.12 MJ, respectively, with 30 days delaying sowing, and further enhanced rice stickiness (ST), peak viscosity (PKV) and breakdown (BD), but suppressed hardness (HD), amylose content (AC), cold pasting viscosity (CPV), hot pasting viscosity (HPV) and setback (SB) of SG, whilst grains on primary branches (PG) di no significant differences. Elevated taste and cooking quality of SG under delayed sowing was regulated by slower grain filling rate, which is largely regulated by AGPase and GBSS. Compared to PG, SG has better physiochemical, texture properties and RVA profiles due to its slower starch biosynthesis. The above results suggested that physiological (starch biosynthesis of SG) and quantitative parameters (amount of SG) of the rice population should be referred simultaneously to improve rice cooking and taste quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Yield and Quality Response to Cultivation Practices)
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26 pages, 3994 KiB  
Article
Combining Planting Patterns with Mulching Bolsters the Soil Water Content, Growth, Yield, and Water Use Efficiency of Spring Wheat under Limited Water Supply in Arid Regions
by Salah El-Hendawy, Bazel Alsamin, Nabil Mohammed, Nasser Al-Suhaibani, Yahya Refay, Majed Alotaibi, ElKamil Tola and Mohamed A. Mattar
Agronomy 2022, 12(6), 1298; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12061298 - 29 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1772
Abstract
Innovations in water-saving cultivation strategies are urgently needed to achieve high yield and elevated water use efficiency (WUE) simultaneously in arid regions with limited water resources. Here, we conducted a two-year field study to compare the impacts of eight combinations of planting patterns [...] Read more.
Innovations in water-saving cultivation strategies are urgently needed to achieve high yield and elevated water use efficiency (WUE) simultaneously in arid regions with limited water resources. Here, we conducted a two-year field study to compare the impacts of eight combinations of planting patterns (PPs) and mulching on the soil water content (SWC) in the top 60 cm soil layer, the growth, the yield, and the WUE of wheat under two irrigation rates (1.00 and 0.50 ET). These combinations included three conventional flat planting (CF) patterns, including CF without mulch (CFNM), with plastic film (CFPM), and with wheat straw mulch (CFSM); three raised-bed planting (RB) patterns, including RB without mulch (RBNM), with plastic film (RBPM), and wheat straw (RBSM) mulch; and two ridge–furrow planting (RF) patterns, including RF without mulch (RFNM) and with plastic film mulch (RFPM). The results showed that the tested treatments affected the SWC at different depths under both irrigation rates. Compared with the two non-mulched treatments under 0.50 ET, the SWC of the three PPs with plastic film and the two PPs with wheat straw mulching were significantly higher before irrigation by 14.4–22.0% and 6.9–17.2% at 0–20 cm soil depth, 16.4–29.0% and 6.6–14.9% at 20–40 cm soil depth, and 3.3–34.8% and 3.4–14.5% at 40–60 cm soil depth, respectively. All measured wheat parameters, except harvest index, were significantly affected by the interaction between irrigation rate and PPs. The highest values for plant dry weight (PDW), yield components, grain yield (GY), and WUE under 1.00 ET were obtained in the two PPs with wheat straw mulch, while the three PPs with plastic film showed the highest values of these parameters under 0.50 ET. The yield response factor (Ky) based on PDW was acceptable for all PPs mulched with plastic film and wheat straw as well as for RFNM, while Ky based on GY was acceptable only for the PPs mulched with plastic film and for RFNM, as the Ky values of these PPs were less than 1 under 0.50 ET. The SWC at different depths exhibited quadratic and nonsignificant relationships with all parameters under 1.00 ET, while these relationships were linear and strong under 0.50 ET, with a few exceptions. Overall, we conclude that combining any PPs with plastic film mulching could be used as a feasible and effective strategy for obtaining high wheat yield and WUE in the irrigated and arid agroecosystem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Yield and Quality Response to Cultivation Practices)
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11 pages, 826 KiB  
Article
Response of Maize, Cotton, and Soybean to Increased Crop Density in Heterogeneous Planting Arrangements
by Sandra R. Ethridge, Anna M. Locke, Wesley J. Everman, David L. Jordan and Ramon G. Leon
Agronomy 2022, 12(5), 1238; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12051238 - 23 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1842
Abstract
The reduction of row spacing and increase of crop population density are important tools for maximizing crop yield. For this strategy to be effective, the crop population should not create intraspecific crop competition that penalizes yield. Thus, planting arrangements that increase light interception [...] Read more.
The reduction of row spacing and increase of crop population density are important tools for maximizing crop yield. For this strategy to be effective, the crop population should not create intraspecific crop competition that penalizes yield. Thus, planting arrangements that increase light interception throughout the canopy without increasing row spacing might be needed to maintain yield. In this study, heterogeneous planting arrangements on evenly spaced rows were analyzed for maize (Zea mays L.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Each crop had four planting arrangements: (1) normal density in all rows, considered the control, (2) doubled density in all rows, (3) a sequential arrangement of normal and tripled densities (each in every other row; NTNT), and (4) normal-tripled-tripled-normal (NTTN). Maize and cotton did not exhibit changes in growth and architecture when comparing uniform and variable planting arrangements. Soybeans were more adaptable and increased biomass production by 44% to 45% in variable arrangements. None of the crops showed differences in yield due to planting arrangement, so the use of rows with different densities might not be needed when using high densities to maximize yield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Yield and Quality Response to Cultivation Practices)
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19 pages, 3012 KiB  
Article
Quantifying the Impact of Reduced Nitrogen Rates on Grain Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in the Wheat and Rice Rotation System of the Yangtze River Region
by Muhammad Yousaf Nadeem, Jianwei Zhang, Yan Zhou, Sajjad Ahmad, Yanfeng Ding and Ganghua Li
Agronomy 2022, 12(4), 920; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12040920 - 12 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1976
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) plays a vital role in plant growth; however, the yield response to N fertilizer is regularly declining in the major cropping systems due to overuse and the upper limit of yields. Heavy losses of N are also documented due to its [...] Read more.
Nitrogen (N) plays a vital role in plant growth; however, the yield response to N fertilizer is regularly declining in the major cropping systems due to overuse and the upper limit of yields. Heavy losses of N are also documented due to its excessive use in the rice-wheat rotation system, resulting in low nitrogen-use efficiencies (NUE) and environmental problems. Therefore, a three-year field experiment was performed with different N managements to investigate the impact of reduced N input rates in this exhaustive cropping system. Reducing the N application rates did not affect the wheat and rice yields significantly, only during the second wheat season was the yield slightly reduced as compared to higher N input treatments. Decreasing the N input rates in the prior crop and present crop, and the interactions of both rice and wheat seasons (R × W) did not influence the yields of either crop. A reduction in N fertilizer had a considerable impact on dry matter production during the wheat seasons but demonstrated no effect during the rice season. The accumulation of N was significantly reduced during both crop seasons by lowering the rate of N application. In addition, the NUE indices were significantly influenced by N fertilizer application rates. In conclusion, N fertilizer input rates for both rice and wheat crops can be lowered as compared to present fertilization rates without any risk of yield decline. Lowering the N input increases the NUE and effectively reduces N losses, and soil N status can also be maintained. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Yield and Quality Response to Cultivation Practices)
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17 pages, 2836 KiB  
Article
Study on the Nutrient Optimal Management Strategy of High and Stable Annual Yield in the Rice–Wheat System: A 10-Year Term Experiment
by Guofa Zhang, Jianwei Zhang, Lei Xu, Yan Zhou, Pengfu Hou, Fei Yang, Weiwei Li, Zhenghui Liu, Yanfeng Ding and Ganghua Li
Agronomy 2022, 12(3), 698; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12030698 - 14 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1758
Abstract
What strategy of nutrient management can maintain the high and stable annual yield in rice–wheat systems under climate change? A 10-year term experiment was conducted in the rice–wheat system to investigate the effect of optimal nutrient management on crop yield and meteorological drivers [...] Read more.
What strategy of nutrient management can maintain the high and stable annual yield in rice–wheat systems under climate change? A 10-year term experiment was conducted in the rice–wheat system to investigate the effect of optimal nutrient management on crop yield and meteorological drivers of year-to-year fluctuations in rice and wheat yield. Treatments were as follows: conventional fertilization (CF, as control), fertilizer postponing (FP, with the same amount fertilization as CF and increasing rate and times of panicle fertilizer) with/without straw incorporation (including only straw returned in rice (W) or wheat (R) season, and both straw incorporation (WS), RFP (reducing amount based on FP) with/without organic fertilizer. Results showed that FP with/without straw incorporation increased 10-year average yields of rice, wheat, and annual by 4.5~6.5%, 3.8~7.2%, and 4.8~6.8%, respectively, while RFP with/without organic fertilizer did not markedly reduce wheat yield, compared with CF. Effect of optimal treatments on wheat and rice yield stability was different; among the annual yield stability in FP + WRS was the greatest due to increasing and a stable number of spikelets and dry matter accumulation (DMA) after heading. Furthermore, the coefficient of variation (CV) of DMA during rice jointing-heading (21.6~30.0%) and heading-maturity stage (20.1~27.9%) was higher than before jointing (13.9~16.7%), which were affected by day photosynthetically active radiation (explain: 26%) and the number of rainy days (explain: 34%), respectively, using Stepwise regression; in contrast, in wheat season, the fluctuation of DMA before jointing was the highest (CV: 83.8~109.9% (before jointing) vs. 61.1~97.4% (heading-mature stage) vs. 33.7~46.3% (jointing-heading period), 55% of its variations was impacted by day-night temperature differences, the number of rainy days and photosynthetically active radiation accumulation. Our finding suggested that nutrient management to increase and stable the DMA after rice jointing and before wheat jointing could maintain the high and stable annual yield in rice–wheat systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Yield and Quality Response to Cultivation Practices)
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12 pages, 1954 KiB  
Article
Border Effect on Ratoon Crop Yield in a Mechanized Rice Ratooning System
by Yongjin Zhou, Chang Zheng, Gang Chen, Run Hu, Yalan Ji, Youzun Xu and Wenge Wu
Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 262; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12020262 - 20 Jan 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2118
Abstract
Yield loss of ratoon crops caused by the rolling damage to the left stubble from mechanically harvesting main crops has been reported in previous studies. However, limited attention has been paid to identify the effect of the mechanical harvesting of the main crop [...] Read more.
Yield loss of ratoon crops caused by the rolling damage to the left stubble from mechanically harvesting main crops has been reported in previous studies. However, limited attention has been paid to identify the effect of the mechanical harvesting of the main crop on the yield of a non-rolled zone (NRZ) of a ratoon crop. A two-year field experiment on ratoon rice with two harvest methods (mechanical harvesting: MEH; manual harvesting: MAH) of a main crop was conducted to identify whether there is a border effect on the yield of the NRZ, and to evaluate whether the border effect will compensate for the yield loss of the ratoon crop. On average, MEH reduced the grain yield of the ratoon crop by 17.6% compared with MAH. The yield of the rolled zone (RZ) in MEH was 66.1–70.3% lower than that of MAH, which was attributed to the lower panicle m−2, grain filling percentage, total dry weight, and harvest index. In contrast, the yield of the NRZ in MEH was 2.7–10.8% higher than that of MAH. The yield differences of the non-rolled single row (R1), side row (R2), and middle row (R3) in the NRZ compared with MAH were 22.9%, 8.5%, and −10.1%, respectively, which were mainly explained by the panicle m−2, spikelets m−2, total dry weight, and regeneration rate. These results suggest that rolling during the mechanical harvesting of the main crop induced a border effect on the yield of the NRZ, which reduced the yield loss of the ratoon crop. The yield gain of the NRZ was attributed to the increased yield of R1 and R2 rather than R3. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Yield and Quality Response to Cultivation Practices)
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