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An integrated model to optimize planting density and sufficient irrigation depth for increasing hybrid maize seeds yield

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Abstract

Optimizing planting density and irrigation depth of hybrid maize seed production is important for ensuring food and water security. A higher planting density increases grain yield to a certain level, but decreases seed vigor. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish an integrated model that optimized planting density and sufficient border irrigation depth to increase yield, ensure the vigor, and save water for hybrid maize seed production in an arid region. The integrated model was based on the modified AquaCrop and single crop coefficient models to predict grain yield and evapotranspiration, respectively. Kernel weight was estimated by grain yield and kernel number, and a monomolecular model was used to fit kernel number per plant and plant growth rate during the flowering stage. An exponential relationship was found between kernel weight and seed vigor. The maximum grain yield and minimum irrigation depth were weighted in the objective function, and different scenarios of seed vigor were constrained. Integrated model parameters were calibrated and validated using data from experiments conducted during 2012 and 2015 and 2018 to 2019 in Gansu Province of Northwest China. The modeling results showed that although the highest grain yield of 685.1 g m–2 was obtained for the planting density of 12.47 plants m–2, seed vigor decreased by 20% (decreased kernel weight by 5.5%). Comparison with different scenarios, a planting density of 11.30 plants m–2 was recommended, which increased grain yield by 5.7%, and ensured seed vigor by 90% (decreased kernel weight by 2.7%). To ensure sufficient irrigation in the median water year, the optimal irrigation depths for this planting density at the vegetative, flowering, and grain filling stages were 79.8, 140.0, and 145.3 mm, respectively, which reduced total irrigation depth by 27.0%. The integrated model is a useful tool to decrease irrigation amounts and increase yield of hybrid maize seeds in the arid areas of Northwest China.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2016YFC0400207), the Research Projects of Agricultural Public Welfare Industry in China, China; (201503125), and the Discipline Innovative Engineering Plan, China (111 Program, B14002). Authors thank New Mexico State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Nakayama Professorship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Agricultural Water Research in China, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China

    Rongchao Shi, Ling Tong, Taisheng Du, Xuelian Jiang, Donghao Li & Yonghui Qin

  2. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, 050021, China

    Rongchao Shi

  3. Observation and Research Station On Efficient Water Use of Oasis Agriculture in Wuwei of Gansu Province, National Field Scientific, Wuwei, 733009, China

    Rongchao Shi, Ling Tong, Taisheng Du, Xuelian Jiang, Donghao Li & Yonghui Qin

  4. Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88003, USA

    Manoj Kumar Shukla

  5. Key Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Universities of Shandong, Weifang University, Weifang, 261061, China

    Xuelian Jiang

  6. College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China

    Donghao Li

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  1. Rongchao Shi
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  2. Ling Tong
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Shi, R., Tong, L., Du, T. et al. An integrated model to optimize planting density and sufficient irrigation depth for increasing hybrid maize seeds yield. Irrig Sci 40, 909–923 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-022-00805-y

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