To ascertain the possibility of cultivating maize using biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by leguminous green manure crops in maize/leguminous green manure intercropping systems, BNF and nitrogen (N) transfer were studied in Xining and Wuwei, two typical northwestern Chinese cities.  The experimental treatments included monocultured maize, monocultured green manures (hairy vetch and common vetch), and their intercropping systems.  The proportions of N derived from the atmosphere (%N_dfa) in intercropping systems were not significantly different from that in monocultured green manure systems at either experimental site, except for that in hairy vetch (HV) in Xining.  The amount of N derived from the atmosphere (N_dfa) of common vetch (CV) significantly decreased from 1.16 and 1.10 g/pot in monoculture to 0.77 and 0.55 g/pot when intercropped with maize, in Xining and Wuwei, respectively, and the N_dfa of HV when intercropped significantly decreased from 1.02 to 0.48 g/pot in Xining.  In the intercropping systems in Xining and Wuwei, the amounts of N transferred (N_transfer) from CV to maize were 21.54 and 26.81 mg/pot, accounting for 32.9 and 5.9% respectively of the N accumulation in maize, and the values of N_transfer from HV to maize were 39.61 and 46.22 mg/pot, accounting for 37.0 and 23.3%, respectively, of the N accumulation in maize.  Path analysis showed that soil nutrient and green manure biomass were mainly related to N_dfa, and that ^δ15N had a primary relationship with N_transfer.  We found that 5.9–37.0% of N accumulation in maize was transferred from green manures, and that the N transfer ability to maize of HV was higher than that of CV.  In conclusion, intercropping with leguminous green manures provided a feasible way for maize to effectively utilize biologically fixed N.

    To understand the contribution of ear photosynthesis to grain yield and its response to water supply in the improvement of winter wheat, 15 cultivars released from 1980 to 2012 in North China Plain (NCP) were planted under rainfed and irrigated conditions from 2011 to 2013, and the ear photosynthesis was tested by ear shading. During the past 30 years, grain yield significantly increased, the flag leaf area slightly increased under irrigated condition but decreased significantly under rainfed condition, the ratio of grain weight:leaf area significantly increased, and the contribution of ear photosynthesis to grain yield changed from 33.6 to 64.5% and from 32.2 to 57.2% under rainfed and irrigated conditions, respectively. Grain yield, yield components, and ratio of grain weight:leaf area were positively related with contribution of ear photosynthesis. The increase in grain yield in winter wheat was related with improvement in ear photosynthesis contribution in NCP, especially under rainfed condition.