Scientia Agricultura Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (12): 2538-2546.doi: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2021.12.005

• TILLAGE & CULTIVATION·PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY·AGRICULTURE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Increasing Planting Density on Grain Yield, Leaf Area Index and Photosynthetic Rate of Maize in China

HOU JiaMin(),LUO Ning,WANG Su,MENG QingFeng(),WANG Pu   

  1. College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193
  • Received:2020-08-10 Accepted:2020-09-24 Online:2021-06-16 Published:2021-06-24
  • Contact: QingFeng MENG E-mail:hhhjm2468@163.com;mengqf@cau.edu.cn

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Abstract:

【Objective】This study aimed to explore the change of the above-ground canopy structure and function together with increasing planting density of maize in China, so as to provide a theoretical basis for reasonable density in maize production.【Method】In this paper, a total of 82 publicly published academic articles were collected, and a total of 1 338 sets of yield-density data were obtained, including 1 200 sets of maximum leaf area index (LAImax) -density data, and 475 sets of maximum leaf photosynthesis rate (Pnmax) -density data. According to the date of sowing, the total samples were divided into two groups: spring and summer maize. Comprehensive analysis of the relationship between maize yield, planting density and photosynthetic characteristics was carried out by using boundary line analysis and various curve fitting methods. 【Result】(1) The agronomic planting density in China was 100 000 plants/hm2 for a maximum yield of 11.5 t·hm-2. Although the optimal planting density of spring and summer maize was similar, the grain yield of spring maize was 13.0% higher than summer maize. (2) When the planting density reached 110 000 plants/hm2, LAImax no longer increased with planting density increasing. When LAImax reached 6.4, the highest yield could be obtained. The platform value of LAImax for spring maize was 17.6% higher than that for summer maize. The logarithmic function was used to analyze the relationship between LAImax and density, as well as Pnmax and LAImax, and the results showed Pnmax decreased with increasing density and LAImax. (3) Grain yield, LAImax and Pnmax were all significantly improved through analyzing the data of different varieties in recent decades. 【Conclusion】Increasing planting density was one of important ways to increase maize yield. When the density was out the rational range, the photosynthetic characteristics of leaf was altered, which limited yield improvement. Comprehensive analysis of quantitative relationships among maize yield, planting density, and photosynthetic characteristics of ear leaf was important to guide high-yield and high-efficiency maize system with high density.

Key words: maize, planting density, grain yield, leaf area index, net photosynthetic rate

Fig. 1

Trend of maize yield, maximum leaf area index, and maximum net photosynthetic rate of panicle leaf under different planting densities"

Fig. 2

Distribution of Pnmax, LAImax, planting density and grain yield"

Table 1

Descriptive statistics of sample size"

数据分类
Data classification		 样本量
Sample number		 均值
Mean value		 标准差
Standard deviation		 中位数
Median		 临界值
Critical value
密度 Planting density (×104 plants/hm2)
样本总体 Total sample 1338 7.7 2.2 7.5 —
春玉米 Spring maize 589 7.8 2.2 7.5 9.9
夏玉米 Summer maize 749 7.6 2.1 7.5 9.9
产量 Grain yield ( t·hm-2)
总体 Total 1338 10.4 2.6 10.3 —
春玉米 Spring maize 589 11.2 2.6 11.5 12.2
夏玉米 Summer maize 749 9.7 2.5 9.5 10.8
最大叶面积指数 LAImax
总体 Total 1200 5 1.3 5 —
春玉米 Spring maize 491 5.1 1.3 5.1 8
夏玉米 Summer maize 709 4.9 1.3 5 6.8
最大净光合速率 Pnmax
总体 Total 475 30.9 5.5 31.1 —
春玉米 Spring maize 188 28.4 5.1 28.4 —
夏玉米 Summer maize 287 32.6 5.1 32.8 —

Fig. 3

Relationship between maize yield and planting density in China"

Fig. 4

Relationship between maize yield and maximum leaf area index"

Fig. 5

Relationship between maximum leaf area index and planting density"

Fig. 6

Relationship between maximum net photosynthetic rate of panicle leaves and planting density"

Fig. 7

Relationship between maximum net photosynthetic rate of panicle leaves and maximum leaf area index"

Table 2

Analysis of planting density and yield related information of maize varieties in different ages"

年代
Time		 品种
Variety		 参考文献
Reference		 密度
Planting density
(×104 plants/hm2)		 产量
Grain yield
(t·hm-2)		 最大叶面积指数
LAImax
(m2·m-2)		 最大净光合速率
Pnmax (μmol·m-2·s-1)
1950s 金皇后,小粒红,白马牙等
Jinhuanghou, Xiaolihong, Baimaya et al.		 [4], [19] 5.6(5.25-6) 4.2(2.1-4.9) — 16.9
1960s 沈单7号,丹玉13号,中单2号等
Shendan 7, Danyu 13, Zhongdan 2 et al.		 [19], [20], [21] 5.2(3.5-6.75) 6.3(4.4-7.1) 4.7(4.6-4.7) 17.7(16-19.3)
1970s 群单105,郑单2号,烟三6号等
Qundan 105, Zhengdan 2, Yansan 6 et al.		 [4], [19], [20], [22] 5.5(4.5-6.75) 6.3(4.5-7.2) — 18.7
1980s 掖单2号,鲁玉3号,鲁玉5号等
Yedan 2, Luyu 3, Luyu 5 et al.		 [19], [20], [21], [22] 5.3(3.5-6.75) 7.2(5.1-7.9) 5.1(5-5.3) 21.4(20.7-22)
1990s 本玉9号,吉单180,掖单13等
Benyu 9, Jidan 180, Yedan 13 et al.		 [4], [19], [20], [22] 5.7(4.5-6.75) 8.4(4.7-10.3) — 20.5
2000s 郑单958,农大108,掖单13号
Zhengdan 958, Nongda 108, Yedan 13 et al.		 [19], [20], [21] 5.4(4.5-6.75) 9.8(7.5-10.9) 5.9(5.7-6.2) 23.1(22.1-24.1)
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