Optimized canopy structure improves maize grain yield and resource use efficiency

Canopy structure is vital for dense planting maize. Optimizing canopy structure by changing plant type can significantly improve light distribution and increase light interception in the canopy, grain yield, and resource use efficiency under high plant density. AbstractImproved canopy structure was instrumental in setting maize yield records, and yet it has rarely been examined in China. At Qitai Farm in Xinjiang, we conducted a 4-year field experiment using China's six highest-yielding maize hybrids sorted into three yield level groups that were grown at similar growth durations and at optimum densities. The average yield of high-yield level (HL, 22.3  Mg ha−1) was 7.2% and 24.6% higher than that of medium-yield level (ML) and low-yield level (LL), respectively. For each yield level, we measured morphological traits that influence canopy structure and yield. They included plant height, ear height, ear ratio, internode length, leaf numbers, leaf angle, LOV, leaf area, and spatial density of leaf area. Among the preceding morphological traits of the three yield levels, HL ’s best optimized the canopy structure, as shown by improved light distribution (19.0% light transmission at the ear) and increased light interception per unit leaf area per day (LIPA, 51.7 MJ m−2 day−1) in the canopy. In comparison, light transmission was 12.2% and 15.9% at the ear and the total LIPAs were 37.2 and 29.0  MJ m−2 day−1 at silking for ML and LL, respectively. HL had signific...

Source: Food and Energy Security - February 10, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Guangzhou Liu, Yunshan Yang, Wanmao Liu, Xiaoxia Guo, Ruizhi Xie, Bo Ming, Jun Xue, Guoqiang Zhang, Rongfa Li, Keru Wang, Peng Hou, Shaokun Li Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research