Maize Lodging Resistance with Plastic Film Removal, Increased Planting Density, and Cultivars with Different Maturity Periods
Xiyun Zhang,
Jun Xue,
Ming Tian,
Guoqiang Zhang,
Bo Ming,
Keru Wang,
Peng Hou,
Ruizhi Xie,
Qiuxiang Tang,
Shaokun Li
Affiliations
Xiyun Zhang
College of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
Jun Xue
Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Ming Tian
Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Guoqiang Zhang
Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Bo Ming
Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Keru Wang
Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Peng Hou
Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Ruizhi Xie
Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Qiuxiang Tang
College of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
Shaokun Li
Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
While plastic film mulching and proper high-density planting are important methods that can improve maize yield, years of accumulated residual film have created soil pollution and degraded soil, and thus has impeded sustainable agriculture development. Here, we compared the stalk and root lodging resistances of three maize cultivars grown at two planting densities both with (FM) and without (NM) plastic film mulch. Our aim was to provide a theoretical basis that may help assure a future of successful no-film planting with increased planting density. The results showed that, compared with FM, the average dry weight per unit length and bending strength of basal internode decreased for all cultivars at both planting densities in the NM treatment. At 9.0 × 104 plants ha−1, the stalk breaking force (SFC) of Xinyu77, KWS9384, and KWS2030 in the NM treatment decreased by 4%, 21%, and 22%, respectively. At 12.0 × 104 plants ha−1, SFC of Xinyu77 and KWS2030 increased by 14% and 1%, respectively, while KWS9384 decreased by 10%. Additionally, the root diameter, length, volume, width, depth, and the vertical root-pulling force of maize decreased. Although the lodging resistance of maize grown without film mulch was lower than that of maize grown with it, those adverse effects can be mitigated by selecting suitable cultivars and by using proper high-density planting and appropriate cultivation measures.
