Integrated Moderate Stay-Green Hybrids and Optimal Nitrogen Management Improving Maize Productivity and Grain Nitrogen Uptake

Investigating the interaction effect of nitrogen (N) management strategies and stay-green types of maize hybrids is essential for enhancing N use efficiency and developing N-efficient hybrids. A field experiment was conducted with five N management treatments (Control, Opt.N*70%, Opt.N, Opt.N*130%,...

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Main Authors: Yuewen Zhang, Xiaoyang Zhang, Xingbang Wang, Fulin Zhao, Yangping Xu, Huaiyu Yang, Wushuai Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/853
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author Yuewen Zhang
Xiaoyang Zhang
Xingbang Wang
Fulin Zhao
Yangping Xu
Huaiyu Yang
Wushuai Zhang
author_facet Yuewen Zhang
Xiaoyang Zhang
Xingbang Wang
Fulin Zhao
Yangping Xu
Huaiyu Yang
Wushuai Zhang
author_sort Yuewen Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Investigating the interaction effect of nitrogen (N) management strategies and stay-green types of maize hybrids is essential for enhancing N use efficiency and developing N-efficient hybrids. A field experiment was conducted with five N management treatments (Control, Opt.N*70%, Opt.N, Opt.N*130%, and Con.N) and two stay-green types of maize hybrids (stay-green hybrids: DH605 and ZD958; moderate-green hybrids: XY335 and XY1266) to examine their interaction effects on maize yield, aboveground biomass, and N uptake and allocation. The highest grain yields for moderate stay-green and over stay-green maize hybrids were 12.8 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup> and 10.8 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. Compared to over stay-green hybrids, moderate stay-green hybrids exhibited a significantly higher aboveground biomass and N uptake. Under an optimal N (Opt.N) treatment, moderate stay-green hybrids achieved a 15.8% higher grain yield than over stay-green hybrids. Under the Opt.N*130% treatment, moderate stay-green hybrids had the highest grain N concentration, averaging 13.1 g kg<sup>−1</sup>. Nitrogen application enhanced N allocation to grains, resulting in a 3.1–7.7% increase in grain N content. Moderate stay-green hybrids with optimal N management exhibited a 1.9% higher grain N content compared to over stay-green hybrids, whereas their vegetative organs had a relatively lower N content except for the Opt.N*130% treatment. Selecting a suitable maize hybrid (e.g., moderate stay-green maturity hybrid, XY335) and optimizing N fertilizer management can enhance grain yield, grain N content, and enhance N absorption and utilization efficiency.
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spelling doaj-art-7318bd950f1e4aa38f0ca2b7ccb1aa7a2025-08-20T02:17:13ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-03-0115485310.3390/agronomy15040853Integrated Moderate Stay-Green Hybrids and Optimal Nitrogen Management Improving Maize Productivity and Grain Nitrogen UptakeYuewen Zhang0Xiaoyang Zhang1Xingbang Wang2Fulin Zhao3Yangping Xu4Huaiyu Yang5Wushuai Zhang6College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, ChinaInvestigating the interaction effect of nitrogen (N) management strategies and stay-green types of maize hybrids is essential for enhancing N use efficiency and developing N-efficient hybrids. A field experiment was conducted with five N management treatments (Control, Opt.N*70%, Opt.N, Opt.N*130%, and Con.N) and two stay-green types of maize hybrids (stay-green hybrids: DH605 and ZD958; moderate-green hybrids: XY335 and XY1266) to examine their interaction effects on maize yield, aboveground biomass, and N uptake and allocation. The highest grain yields for moderate stay-green and over stay-green maize hybrids were 12.8 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup> and 10.8 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. Compared to over stay-green hybrids, moderate stay-green hybrids exhibited a significantly higher aboveground biomass and N uptake. Under an optimal N (Opt.N) treatment, moderate stay-green hybrids achieved a 15.8% higher grain yield than over stay-green hybrids. Under the Opt.N*130% treatment, moderate stay-green hybrids had the highest grain N concentration, averaging 13.1 g kg<sup>−1</sup>. Nitrogen application enhanced N allocation to grains, resulting in a 3.1–7.7% increase in grain N content. Moderate stay-green hybrids with optimal N management exhibited a 1.9% higher grain N content compared to over stay-green hybrids, whereas their vegetative organs had a relatively lower N content except for the Opt.N*130% treatment. Selecting a suitable maize hybrid (e.g., moderate stay-green maturity hybrid, XY335) and optimizing N fertilizer management can enhance grain yield, grain N content, and enhance N absorption and utilization efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/853stay-green typesnitrogen concentrationnitrogen accumulationnitrogen allocation
spellingShingle Yuewen Zhang
Xiaoyang Zhang
Xingbang Wang
Fulin Zhao
Yangping Xu
Huaiyu Yang
Wushuai Zhang
Integrated Moderate Stay-Green Hybrids and Optimal Nitrogen Management Improving Maize Productivity and Grain Nitrogen Uptake
Agronomy
stay-green types
nitrogen concentration
nitrogen accumulation
nitrogen allocation
title Integrated Moderate Stay-Green Hybrids and Optimal Nitrogen Management Improving Maize Productivity and Grain Nitrogen Uptake
title_full Integrated Moderate Stay-Green Hybrids and Optimal Nitrogen Management Improving Maize Productivity and Grain Nitrogen Uptake
title_fullStr Integrated Moderate Stay-Green Hybrids and Optimal Nitrogen Management Improving Maize Productivity and Grain Nitrogen Uptake
title_full_unstemmed Integrated Moderate Stay-Green Hybrids and Optimal Nitrogen Management Improving Maize Productivity and Grain Nitrogen Uptake
title_short Integrated Moderate Stay-Green Hybrids and Optimal Nitrogen Management Improving Maize Productivity and Grain Nitrogen Uptake
title_sort integrated moderate stay green hybrids and optimal nitrogen management improving maize productivity and grain nitrogen uptake
topic stay-green types
nitrogen concentration
nitrogen accumulation
nitrogen allocation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/853
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