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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2020, Vol. 19 Issue (7): 1768-1776    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62757-7
Special Issue: 玉米遗传育种合辑Maize Genetics · Breeding · Germplasm Resources 玉米耕作栽培合辑Maize Physiology · Biochemistry · Cultivation · Tillage
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Integrated agronomic practices management improved grain formation and regulated endogenous hormone balance in summer maize (Zea mays L.)
YU Ning-ning, ZHANG Ji-wang, LIU Peng, ZHAO Bin, REN Bai-zhao
State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Ministry of Science and Technology/College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, P.R.China
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Abstract  Compared with single agronomic practices management during grain formation, knowledge about integrated agronomic practices management on grain-filling characteristics and physiological function of endogenous hormones was limited.  In order to clarify this issue, two field experiments, integrated agronomic practices management (IAPM), T1 (local conventional cultivation practices), T2 (an optimized combination of cropping systems and fertilizer treatment), T3 (treatment based on high-yield studies), and T4 (further optimized combination of cropping systems and fertilizer treatment), and nitrogen rate testing (NAT) (four nitrogen rates, 0, 129.0, 184.5, and 300.0 kg N ha–1) were performed with summer maize hybrid Zhengdan 958 (ZD958). Results showed that with increased nitrogen rate, the endogenous hormone balance was promoted and the grain-filling characteristics were improved sufficiently to resulting in a significant increase in grain yield.  However, the grain-filling characteristics deteriorated and yield was reduced with excessive nitrogen fertilization.  However, IAPM could promote hormone balance and improve grain filling characteristic.  The indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR), and gibberellin (GA3) contents under T2 and T4 treatments were higher and the abscisic acid (ABA) content was lower, and the ZR and GA3 contents under T3 were higher than those under T1.  Those resulted in the maximum grain-filling rate (Wmax) and the active grain-filling period (P) under T2, T3 and T4 were significantly increased than those under T1, and hence promoted kernel weight and grain yield.  So IAPM promoted hormone balance by improving tillage model, optimizing fertilizer rate and fertilization period, appropriately increasing planting density and delaying harvest, which promoted grain filling rate and lengthened active grain-filling period, finally increased grain yield.
Keywords:  grain filling        endogenous hormone        integrated agronomic practices management        summer maize  
Received: 27 February 2019   Accepted:
Fund: We are grateful for grants from the National Basic Research Program of China (2015CB150404), the earmarked fund for China Agriculture Research System (CARS-02-18), and the Funds of Shandong “Double Tops” Program, China (SYL2017YSTD02).
Corresponding Authors:  Correspondence ZHANG Ji-wang, Tel: +86-538-8241485, E-mail: jwzhang@sdau.edu.cn   

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YU Ning-ning, ZHANG Ji-wang, LIU Peng, ZHAO Bin, REN Bai-zhao. 2020. Integrated agronomic practices management improved grain formation and regulated endogenous hormone balance in summer maize (Zea mays L.). Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 19(7): 1768-1776.

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