How does increasing planting density regulate biomass production, allocation, and remobilization of maize temporally and spatially: A global meta-analysis

Hui Shao, Xuebing Wu, Jiahui Duan, Fengbo Zhu, Haihang Chi, Junhui Liu, Wenjun Shi, Yi Xu, Zhibiao Wei*, Guohua Mi*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Context: Increasing maize planting density is a major agronomic practice to enhance population grain yield, however, canopy shadowing at high density limits plant growth and per-plant grain yield. Dry mass (DM) accumulation, allocation, and remobilization are crucial factors determining grain yield. However, there is limited understanding regarding these processes in response to increasing planting density. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate how planting density affects DM accumulation, allocation, and remobilization, as affected by plant architecture, nitrogen (N) rates, N fertilization frequency, and water management. Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted, involving 2363 observations from 253 peer-reviewed studies. Results: Globally, population grain yield increased by 11.2 %, which was attributable to increases in a population pre-silking DM (PrS-DM) accumulation of 22.9 % and remobilization efficiency of 12.6 %. Temporally, under a high planting density, per plant DM production showed a decrease (8.3–16.0 %) during the pre-silking stage, but a greater reduction (24.0–25.4 %) during the post-silking stage. DM allocation to roots was greatly reduced, with a decline of 22.1–25.1 % in the root-to-shoot ratio (R/S), and a dropping rate of 5.2 % in harvest index (HI). Compact plant architecture showed a 12.2 % increase in grain yield and a reduction of 3.4 % in HI. Appropriate N rates coupled with splitting-N applications showed an increase in grain yield (up to 13.9 %) and PrS-DM (up to 27.1 %), but a decline in post-silking DM (PoS-DM) (up to 9.7 %) and HI (up to 9.0 %). Efficient water management, i.e., fertigation increased the grain yield (up to 16.9 %). Conclusion: Increasing planting density increases grain yield mainly by efficiently utilizing light resources during the vegetative stage to increase population PrS-DM production and its remobilization to grain. In addition, less biomass is allocated to the root so that more assimilation is used for shoot growth. Implications: Field management practices and breeding efforts should focus on facilitating early plant growth to increase population PrS-DM accumulation and developing sound root systems to increase efficiency and canopy-lodging resistance.

Original languageEnglish
Article number109430
JournalField Crops Research
Volume315
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2024

Keywords

  • Biomass accumulation
  • Biomass allocation
  • Biomass remobilization
  • Maize
  • Plant density

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