Optimum Water and Nitrogen Management Increases Grain Yield and Resource Use Efficiency by Optimizing Canopy Structure in Wheat

Yang Liu; Mao Yang; Chunsheng Yao; Xiaonan Zhou; Wei Li; Zhen Zhang; Yanmei Gao; Zhencai Sun; Zhimin Wang; Yinghua Zhang

doi:10.3390/agronomy11030441

Agronomy (Feb 2021)

Optimum Water and Nitrogen Management Increases Grain Yield and Resource Use Efficiency by Optimizing Canopy Structure in Wheat

Yang Liu,
Mao Yang,
Chunsheng Yao,
Xiaonan Zhou,
Wei Li,
Zhen Zhang,
Yanmei Gao,
Zhencai Sun,
Zhimin Wang,
Yinghua Zhang

Affiliations

Yang Liu: College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Mao Yang: College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Chunsheng Yao: College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Xiaonan Zhou: College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Wei Li: College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Zhen Zhang: College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Yanmei Gao: College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Zhencai Sun: College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Zhimin Wang: College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Yinghua Zhang: College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11030441
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 3
p. 441

Abstract

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Excessive nitrogen (N) application rates and serious over-exploitation of groundwater under farmer practice threatens the sustainable use of resources in the North China Plain (NCP). Crop canopy structure affects light distribution between leaves, which is important to determine crop growth. A field experiment conducted from October 2016 to June 2019 in the NCP was designed to examine whether optimum water and nitrogen management could optimize canopy characteristics to improve yield and resource use efficiency. Field treatments included: (1) an example of local farming practices, which include the addition of 330 kg N ha−1 and irrigated twice (FP), (2) a reduced N rate of 270 kg N ha−1 and irrigated twice (T1), (3) a reduced rate of N rate of 210 kg N ha−1 and irrigated once (T2), and (4) no N applied (0 kg N ha−1) and irrigated once (T3). Results showed that the highest yield was in T1 treatment during 3 years’ winter wheat growing seasons. Water use efficiency (WUE), N use efficiency (NUtE), and N partial factor productivity (PFPN) were significantly higher in T2 treatment than in FP, and the three-year average yield was 9.4% higher than that at FP. Optimum crop management practice (T1 and T2) improved canopy structure characteristics, with less relative photosynthetically active photon flux density (PPFD) penetrated of canopy and higher population uniformity as well as leaf area index, to coordinate the distribution of light within the canopy and maximize canopy light interception, resulting in higher yield and resource use efficiency. Leaf area index (LAI) and specific leaf area (SLA) were closely correlated with grain yield and WUE, while PPFD penetrated of canopy was negatively and significantly correlated with grain yield and WUE. The results indicate that canopy structure characteristics, especially PPFD and population uniformity are good indicators of yield and resource use efficiency.

Published in Agronomy

ISSN: 2073-4395 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Agriculture
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy

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