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Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 November 2018) | Viewed by 61241

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Frederick E. Below

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Guest Editor

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, USA
Interests: maize and soybean high-yield management; crop physiology; crop production; nitrogen use efficiency

Ms. Juliann R. Seebauer

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Guest Editor

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, USA
Interests: maize and soybean physiology; grain development, physiology, and quality; in vitro kernel culturing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Agricultural production must increase substantially to meet the increasing per capita demand for food, feed, fuel, and fiber of a rising human census. The amount of arable land is limited due to soil type, weather, and ecosystem considerations; therefore, it is necessary to increase yields on current fields. To obtain the greatest maize (Zea mays L.) yield, a farmer needs to nurture the crop as much as possible. Weather and nitrogen availability are well- known as two factors that normally have the greatest influence on maize yields and grain quality. Some management factors a producer may need to consider while growing a maize crop are mineral fertilization, genotype, plant population, and protection from insects and diseases. Additionally, there are numerous biological and chemical compounds that can stimulate plant growth, such as in-furrow mixes and foliar fungicides. Field management also plays a role in final grain yield, including crop rotation, tillage, soil pH and nutrient levels, weed control, and drainage.

This Special Issue will focus on weather and other maize crop management factors and their relative independent and/or interactive influence on maize growth and yield. We welcome novel research and reviews relating to improved crop management for the greatest maize yields.

Prof. Frederick E. Below
Ms. Juliann R. Seebauer
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Crop production
Maize high-yield
Crop management
Crop fertilization
Maize rotation
Crop protection
Population density

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 848 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Soybean and Maize Rotation on Soil Microbial Community Structure

by Peng Zhang, Jiying Sun, Lijun Li, Xinxin Wang, Xiaoting Li and Jiahui Qu

Agronomy 2019, 9(2), 42; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy9020042 - 22 Jan 2019

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4208

Abstract

Examining the soil microbiome structure has great significance in terms of exploring the mechanism behind plant growth changes due to maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max Merr.) crop rotation. This study explored the effects of soil microbial community structure after soybean and maize crop rotation by designing nine treatments combining three crop rotations (continuous cropping maize or soybean; and maize after soybean) with three fertility treatments (organic compound fertilizer, chemical fertilizer, or without fertilizer). Soil was sampled to 30 cm depth the second year at approximately the middle of the growing season, and was analyzed for physical, chemical, and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles. Bacteria was found to be the predominant component of soil microorganisms, which mainly contained the PLFAs 16:0. Crop rotation with organic compound fertilizer application reduced the percentage of fungi in the soil by 24% compared to continuous maize and soybean with the same fertilizer application. The combination of crop rotation with organic fertilizer can reduce the percentage of fungi/bacteria to the greatest degree. In addition, the content of soil aggregate and organic matter had great influence on Gram-positive bacteria and actinomyces. In conclusion, soybean and maize crop rotation improve the soil nutrient content primarily by influencing the composition of bacterial community, especially the Gram-positive bacteria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield)

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15 pages, 631 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Weather During Key Growth Stages Explains Grain Quality and Yield of Maize

by Carrie J. Butts-Wilmsmeyer, Juliann R. Seebauer, Lee Singleton and Frederick E. Below

Agronomy 2019, 9(1), 16; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy9010016 - 02 Jan 2019

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 7065

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield and compositional quality are interrelated and are highly influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, total precipitation, and soil water storage. Our aim was to develop a regression model to account for this relationship among grain yield and compositional quality traits across a large geographical region. Three key growth periods were used to develop algorithms based on the week of emergence, the week of 50% silking, and the week of maturity that enabled collection and modeling of the effect of weather and climatic variables across the major maize growing region of the United States. Principal component analysis (PCA), stepwise linear regression models, and hierarchical clustering analyses were used to evaluate the multivariate relationship between weather, grain quality, and yield. Two PCAs were found that could identify superior grain compositional quality as a result of ideal environmental factors as opposed to low-yielding conditions. Above-average grain protein and oil levels were favored by less nitrogen leaching during early vegetative growth and higher temperatures at flowering, while greater oil than protein concentrations resulted from lower temperatures during flowering and grain fill. Water availability during flowering and grain fill was highly explanatory of grain yield and compositional quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield)

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18 pages, 917 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Maize Canopy Photosynthetic Efficiency, Plant Growth, and Yield Responses to Tillage Depth

by Jiying Sun, Julin Gao, Zhigang Wang, Shuping Hu, Fengjie Zhang, Haizhu Bao and Yafang Fan

Agronomy 2019, 9(1), 3; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy9010003 - 21 Dec 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5335

Abstract

Subsoil tillage loosens compacted soil for better plant growth, but promotes water loss, which is a concern in areas that are commonly irrigated. Therefore, our objective was to determine the physiological responses of high yield spring maize (Zea mays L.) to subsoil tillage depth when grown in the Western plain irrigation area of Inner Mongolia, China. Our experiment during 2014 and 2015 used Zhengdan958 (Hybrid of Zheng58 × Chang7-2, produced by Henan academy of agricultural sciences of China, with the characteristics of tight plant type and high yield) and Xianyu335 (Hybrid of PH6WC × PH4CV, produced by Pioneer Corp of USA, with the characteristic of high yield and suitable of machine-harvesting) with three differing subsoil tillage depths (30, 40, or 50 cm) as the trial factor and shallow rotary tillage as a control. The results indicated that subsoil tillage increased shoot dry matter accumulation, leading to a greater shoot/root ratio. Subsoil tillage helped retain a greater leaf area index in each growth stage, increased the leaf area duration, net assimilation rate, and relative growth rate, and effectively delayed the aging of the blade. On average, compared with shallow rotary, the grain yields and water use efficiency increased by 0.7–8.9% and 1.93–18.49% in subsoil tillage treatment, respectively, resulting in the net income being increased by 2.24% to 6.97%. Additionally, the grain yield, water use efficiency, and net income were the highest under the treatment of a subsoil tillage depth of 50 cm. The results provided a theoretical basis for determining the suitable chiseling depth for high-yielding spring corn in the Western irrigation plains of Inner Mongolia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield)

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12 pages, 475 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Variability for Nitrogen Management in Genetically-Distant Maize (Zea mays L.) Lines: Impact of Post-Silking Nitrogen Limiting Conditions

by Isabelle Quilleré, Céline Dargel-Graffin, Peter J. Lea and Bertrand Hirel

Agronomy 2018, 8(12), 309; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy8120309 - 19 Dec 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2897

Abstract

The impact of nitrogen (N)-limiting conditions after silking on kernel yield (KY)-related traits and whole plant N management was investigated using fifteen maize lines representative of plant genetic diversity in Europe and America. A large level of genetic variability of these traits was observed in the different lines when post-silking fertilization of N was strongly reduced. Under such N-fertilization conditions, four different groups of lines were identified on the basis of KY and kernel N content. Although the pattern of N management, including N uptake and N use was variable in the four groups of lines, a number of them were able to maintain both a high yield and a high kernel N content by increasing shoot N remobilization. No obvious relationship between the genetic background of the lines and their mode of N management was found. When N was limiting after silking, N remobilization appeared to be a good predictive marker for identifying maize lines that were able to maintain a high yield and a high kernel N content irrespective of their female flowering date. The use of N remobilization as a trait to select maize genotypes adapted to low N input is discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield)

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14 pages, 2907 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbohydrate Dynamics in Maize Leaves and Developing Ears in Response to Nitrogen Application

by Peng Ning, Yunfeng Peng and Felix B. Fritschi

Agronomy 2018, 8(12), 302; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy8120302 - 15 Dec 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4220

Abstract

Maize grain yield is considered to be highly associated with ear and leaf carbohydrate dynamics during the critical period bracketing silking and during the fast grain filling phase. However, a full understanding of how differences in N availability/plant N status influence carbohydrate dynamics and processes underlying yield formation remains elusive. Two field experiments were conducted to examine maize ear development, grain yield and the dynamics of carbohydrates in maize ear leaves and developing ears in response to differences in N availability. Increasing N availability stimulated ear growth during the critical two weeks bracketing silking and during the fast grain-filling phase, consequently resulting in greater maize grain yield. In ear leaves, sucrose and starch concentrations exhibited an obvious diurnal pattern at both silking and 20 days after silking, and N fertilization led to more carbon flux to sucrose biosynthesis than to starch accumulation. The elevated transcript abundance of key genes involved in starch biosynthesis and maltose export, as well as the sugar transporters (SWEETs) important for phloem loading, indicated greater starch turnover and sucrose export from leaves under N-fertilized conditions. In developing ears, N fertilization likely enhanced the cleavage of sucrose to glucose and fructose in the cob prior to and at silking and the synthesis from glucose and fructose to sucrose in the kernels after silking, and thus increasing kernel setting and filling. At the end, we propose a source-sink carbon partitioning framework to illustrates how N application influences carbon assimilation in leaves, transport, and conversions in developing reproductive tissues, ultimately leading to greater yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield)

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19 pages, 256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combining Ability of Sixteen USA Maize Inbred Lines and Their Outbreeding Prospects in China

by Ji-ying Sun, Ju-lin Gao, Xiao-fang Yu, Jian Liu, Zhi-jun Su, Ye Feng and Dong Wang

Agronomy 2018, 8(12), 281; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy8120281 - 27 Nov 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3536

Abstract

In China, there is an increasing need for greater genetic diversity in maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm and hybrids appropriate for mechanical harvesting. In order to test and distinguish American maize inbred lines with exceptional combining ability, four Chinese maize inbred lines (Chang7-2, Zheng 58, four-144 and four-287) were used to judge the combining ability and heterosis of 16 USA inbred lines by a NCII genetic mating method. The results showed that among the American inbred lines, 6M502A, LH208, NL001, LH212Ht, PHW51, FBLA and LH181 expressed good GCA for yield characteristics; while RS710, PHP76, FBLA, and PHJ89 showed excellent GCA for machine harvesting characteristics. Five hybrids (NL001 × Chang7-2, LH212Ht × Chang7-2, FBLA × four-144, LH181 × four-287, PHK93 × four-287) had better SCA values for yield characteristics, at 1.69, 1.07, 1.48, 1.84 and 1.05, respectively; while NL001 × Chang 7-2, 6M502A × Chang7-2, LH212Ht × Chang7-2, LH181 × four-287, PHW51 × Chang7-2 had better TCA values for yield characteristics, at 3.03, 2.80, 2.41, 2.19 and 1.91, respectively; NL001 × Chang7-2, 6M502A × Chang7-2, LH212Ht × Chang7-2, LH181 × four-287, PHW51 × Chang7-2 showed excellent Control Heterosis values, with 21.48%, 19.64%, 15.93%, 14.05% and 11.60% increases, respectively, compared to the check and potential for future utilization in Inner Mongolian corn production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield)

15 pages, 2904 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Structural Carbohydrate Metabolism, Growth, and Productivity of Maize by Increasing Plant Density

by Jairo O. Cazetta and Marcos D. Revoredo

Agronomy 2018, 8(11), 243; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy8110243 - 02 Nov 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3505

Abstract

Increasing plant density seems to improve the productivity of maize crops, and the understanding of how the metabolism of non-structural carbohydrates is affected in plants under high crop density is critical. Thus, with the objective of further clarifying this issue, maize plants were subjected to densities from 30,000 to 90,000 plants ha⁻¹, and the plant growth, soluble sugars and starch contents, invertase and sucrose synthase activities, and plant production were evaluated. We found that the stalk is more sensitive to the increasing plant density than leaves and kernels. The dry weight of the stalk and leaves per single plant decreased more drastically from low to intermediate plant densities, while grain production was reduced linearly in all plant density ranges, leading to higher values of harvest index in intermediate plant densities. The sucrose concentration did not change in leaves, stalk, or kernels of plants subjected to increasing plant densities at the R4 stage. Also, the specific activity of soluble invertase, bound invertase, and sucrose synthase did not change in leaf, stalk, or kernels of plants subjected to increased plant density. The productivity was increased with the increase in plant density, using narrow row (0.45 m) spacing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield)

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15 pages, 430 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hybrid Selection and Agronomic Management to Lessen the Continuous Corn Yield Penalty

by Alison M. Vogel and Frederick E. Below

Agronomy 2018, 8(10), 228; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy8100228 - 16 Oct 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3276

Abstract

Yield reductions occur when corn (Zea mays L.) is continuously grown compared to when it is rotated with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]; primarily due to soil nitrogen availability, corn residue accumulation, and the weather. This study was conducted to determine if a combination of agronomic practices could help overcome these causative factors of the continuous corn yield penalty (CCYP) to obtain increased corn yields. Field experiments conducted during 2014 and 2015 at Champaign, IL, U.S.A. assessed the yield penalty associated with continuous corn verses long-term corn following soybean. Agronomic management was assessed at a standard level receiving only a base rate of nitrogen fertilizer, and compared to an intensive level, which consisted of additional N, P, K, S, Zn, and B fertility at planting, sidedressed nitrogen fertilizer, and a foliar fungicide application. Two levels of plant population (79,000 verses 111,000 plants ha⁻¹) and eight different commercially-available hybrids were evaluated each year. Across all treatments, the CCYP was 1.53 and 2.72 Mg ha⁻¹ in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Intensive agronomic management improved grain yield across rotations (2.17 Mg ha⁻¹ in 2014 and 2.28 Mg ha⁻¹ in 2015), and there was a 40 to 60% greater yield response to intensive management in continuous corn verses the corn-soybean rotation, suggesting intensified management as a method to mitigate the CCYP. With select hybrids, intensive management reduced the CCYP by 30 to 80%. Agronomic management and hybrid selection helped alleviate the CCYP demonstrating continuous corn can be managed for better productivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield)

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16 pages, 2473 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Polyaspartic Acid Improves Maize (Zea mays L.) Seedling Nitrogen Assimilation Mainly by Enhancing Nitrate Reductase Activity

by Qingyan Wang, Huihui Tang, Guangyan Li, Hui Dong, Xuerui Dong, Yanli Xu and Zhiqiang Dong

Agronomy 2018, 8(9), 188; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy8090188 - 13 Sep 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4415

Abstract

Improvement of nitrogen use efficiency is of great importance in maize (Zea mays L.) production. In the present study, an eco-friendly growth substance, polyaspartic acid (PASP), was applied to maize seedlings grown with different nitrate (NO₃⁻) doses by foliar spraying, aimed at evaluating its effects on maize nitrogen assimilation at both the physiological and molecular level. The results showed that PASP promoted biomass and nitrogen accumulation in maize seedlings, especially under low NO₃⁻ doses. Among different NO₃⁻ conditions, the most noticeable increase in plant biomass by PASP addition was observed in seedlings grown with 1 mmol L⁻¹ NO₃⁻, which was a little less than the optimum concentration (2 mmol L⁻¹) for plant growth. Furthermore, the total nitrogen accumulation increased greatly with additions of PASP to plants grown under suboptimal NO₃⁻ conditions. The promotion of nitrogen assimilation was mostly due to the increase of nitrate reductase (NR) activities. The NR activities in seedlings grown under low NO₃⁻ doses (0.5 and 1.0 mmol L⁻¹) were extremely increased by PASP, while the activities of glutamine synthetase (GS), aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT), and alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) were slightly changed. Moreover, the regulation of PASP on NR activity was most probably due to the promotion of the protein accumulation rather than gene expression. Accumulation of NR protein was similarly affected as NR activity, which was markedly increased by PASP treatment. In conclusion, the present study provides insights into the promotion by PASP of nitrogen assimilation and identifies candidate regulatory enzymatic mechanisms, which warrant further investigation with the use of PASP in promoting nitrogen utilization in crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield)

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16 pages, 276 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agronomic Comparisons of Conventional and Organic Maize during the Transition to an Organic Cropping System

by William J. Cox and Jerome H. Cherney

Agronomy 2018, 8(7), 113; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy8070113 - 05 Jul 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6075

Abstract

Maize producers transitioning to an organic cropping system must grow crops organically without price premiums for 36 months before certification. We evaluated conventional and organic maize with recommended and high seeding and N rates in New York to identify the best organic management practices during the transition. Conventional versus organic maize management differences included a treated (fungicide/insecticide) Genetically Modified (GM) hybrid versus a non-treated non-GM isoline; side-dressed synthetic N versus pre-plow composted manure; and Glyphosate versus mechanical weed control, respectively. Organic versus conventional maize yielded 32% lower as the entry crop (no previous green manure crop). Grain N% and weed densities explained 72% of yield variability. Organic and conventional maize, following wheat/red clover in the second year, yielded similarly. Organic maize with high inputs following wheat/red clover and conventional maize with high inputs following soybean in the third year yielded the highest. Grain N% and maize densities explained 54% of yield variability. Grain crop producers in the Northeast USA who do not have on-farm manure and forage equipment should plant maize after wheat/red clover with additional N (~56 kg N/ha) at higher seeding rates (~7%) during the transition to insure adequate N status and to offset maize density reductions from mechanical weed control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield)

17 pages, 1634 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genotype-by-Environment Interaction and Yield Stability of Maize Single Cross Hybrids Developed from Tropical Inbred Lines

by Hortense Noëlle Apala Mafouasson, Vernon Gracen, Martin Agyei Yeboah, Godswill Ntsomboh-Ntsefong, Liliane Ngoune Tandzi and Charles Shelton Mutengwa

Agronomy 2018, 8(5), 62; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy8050062 - 01 May 2018

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 6813

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important nutrients required for high productivity of the maize plant. In most farmers’ fields in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), there is low availability of N in the soil mainly due to continuous cultivation of the land, crop residues removal, little or no application of fertilizers and rapid leaching. There is a need to develop low N tolerant and adapted maize genotypes. Evaluation of maize genotypes under different nitrogen conditions would therefore be useful in identifying genotypes that combine stability with high yield potential for both stress and non-stress environment. Eighty maize hybrids were evaluated at Mbalmayo and Nkolbisson in Cameroon, during 2012 and 2013 minor and major cropping seasons across 11 environments under low and high N conditions. The objectives of the study were: (i) to determine the effect of genotype x environment interaction (G × E) on grain yield and yield stability of single cross maize hybrids across low N and optimum N environments and (ii) to identify genotypes to recommend for further use in the breeding program. Yield data of 80 hybrids were analyzed initially and the analysis of 20 best performing genotypes was further performed for a better visualization and interpretation of the results. Combined analysis of variance showed highly significant G × E effects for grain yield. The GGE biplot analysis divided the study area into three mega environments: one related to the major cropping season while the two others were related to the minor cropping season. The grain yield of the 20 highest yielding hybrids ranged from 4484.7 to 5198.3 kg ha⁻¹. Hybrid 1368 × 87036 was the highest yielding in the minor season while the most outstanding hybrid, TL-11-A-1642-5 × 87036 was the best for the major season. The latter hybrid showed the potential for production across environments and should therefore be further tested in multiple environments to confirm consistency of its high yield performance and stability, and to facilitate its release as a commercial hybrid. High yielding but not stable hybrids across environments could be recommended for the specific environments where they performed well. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield)

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Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 914 KiB

Open AccessReview

Breeding Maize for Tolerance to Acidic Soils: A Review

by Liliane Ngoune Tandzi, Charles Shelton Mutengwa, Eddy Léonard Mangaptche Ngonkeu and Vernon Gracen

Agronomy 2018, 8(6), 84; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy8060084 - 29 May 2018

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 8530

Abstract

Acidic soils hamper maize (Zea mays L.) production, causing yield losses of up to 69%. Low pH acidic soils can lead to aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), or iron (Fe) toxicities. Genetic variability for tolerance to low soil pH exists among maize genotypes, which can be exploited in developing high-yielding acid-tolerant maize genotypes. In this paper, we review some of the most recent applications of conventional and molecular breeding approaches for improving maize yield under acidic soils. The gaps in breeding maize for tolerance to low soil pH are highlighted and an emphasis is placed on promoting the adoption of the numerous existing acid soil-tolerant genotypes. While progress has been made in breeding for tolerance to Al toxicity, little has been done on Mn and Fe toxicities. More research inputs are therefore required in: (1) developing screening methods for tolerance to manganese and iron toxicities; (2) elucidating the mechanisms of maize tolerance to Mn and Fe toxicities; and, (3) identifying the quantitative trait loci (QTL) responsible for Mn and Fe tolerance in maize cultivars. There is also a need to raise farmers’ and other stakeholders’ awareness of the problem of Al, Mn, and Fe soil toxicities to improve the adoption rate of the available acid-tolerant maize genotypes. Maize breeders should work more closely with farmers at the early stages of the release process of a new variety to facilitate its adoption level. Researchers are encouraged to strengthen their collaboration and exchange low soil pH-tolerant maize germplasm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Management Factor Contributions to Maize Yield)

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