Optimizing maize Production: Balancing yield, quality, and economic benefits through planting density - Driven nutrient analysis

This study aimed to explore the possible changes in the contents of grain nutritional components and test weight when increasing maize yield by increasing planting density, and how to address the impacts of these changes on maize supply and demand. A two-year field experiment was conducted in Tongli...

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Main Authors: Zhen Wang, Yanan Guo, Ruizhi Xie, Keru Wang, Guoqiang Zhang, Peng Hou, Jun Xue, Shang Gao, Dongping Shen, Liang Fang, Linli Zhou, Lirong Sun, Shijun Bao, Zhigang Huo, Bo Ming, Shaokun Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266615432500314X
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author Zhen Wang
Yanan Guo
Ruizhi Xie
Keru Wang
Guoqiang Zhang
Peng Hou
Jun Xue
Shang Gao
Dongping Shen
Liang Fang
Linli Zhou
Lirong Sun
Shijun Bao
Zhigang Huo
Bo Ming
Shaokun Li
author_facet Zhen Wang
Yanan Guo
Ruizhi Xie
Keru Wang
Guoqiang Zhang
Peng Hou
Jun Xue
Shang Gao
Dongping Shen
Liang Fang
Linli Zhou
Lirong Sun
Shijun Bao
Zhigang Huo
Bo Ming
Shaokun Li
author_sort Zhen Wang
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to explore the possible changes in the contents of grain nutritional components and test weight when increasing maize yield by increasing planting density, and how to address the impacts of these changes on maize supply and demand. A two-year field experiment was conducted in Tongliao, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2020 to 2021. Using drip irrigation with integrated water and fertilizer technology, the experiment involved two maize hybrids, Dika 159 (DK159) and Xianyu 335 (XY335), at six planting densities (6.0, 7.5, 9.0, 11.5, 12.0, 13.5 × 104 plants per hectare). Research indicators included grain yield, test weight, the contents and yields of protein, starch, oil, and fiber, as well as the test weight of these four nutrients. Results showed that a reasonable increase in planting density could boost yield by 0.26–2.93 t ha-1. Although there were significant differences in test weight among treatments, all were first-grade test weight maize. Increasing planting density significantly increased starch and oil contents, and while it reduced protein content, the yields of the four nutrients increased significantly with higher grain yield and peaked at the highest grain yield. The protein test weight decreased significantly with increased density, while the starch test weight first increased and then decreased. Compared with traditional test weight-based pricing, the new maize pricing model developed in this study can better balance growers' production benefits and processing enterprises' quality requirements, providing a feasible approach to optimize maize production and enhance overall benefits.
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spelling doaj-art-ed6aeeb2a4ca4c66932ea26cfedde6182025-08-20T03:10:25ZengElsevierJournal of Agriculture and Food Research2666-15432025-06-012110194310.1016/j.jafr.2025.101943Optimizing maize Production: Balancing yield, quality, and economic benefits through planting density - Driven nutrient analysisZhen Wang0Yanan Guo1Ruizhi Xie2Keru Wang3Guoqiang Zhang4Peng Hou5Jun Xue6Shang Gao7Dongping Shen8Liang Fang9Linli Zhou10Lirong Sun11Shijun Bao12Zhigang Huo13Bo Ming14Shaokun Li15The Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, China; Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, ChinaInstitute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, ChinaInstitute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, China; Zhongyuan Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang, 453519, ChinaInstitute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, ChinaInstitute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, ChinaInstitute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, ChinaInstitute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, ChinaInstitute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, China; Zhongyuan Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang, 453519, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, China; Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, China; Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, China; Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, ChinaTongliao Agricultural and Livestock Product Quality and Safety Center, Tongliao, 028000, ChinaTongliao Agricultural and Livestock Product Quality and Safety Center, Tongliao, 028000, ChinaTongliao Agricultural and Livestock Product Quality and Safety Center, Tongliao, 028000, ChinaInstitute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, China; Zhongyuan Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang, 453519, China; Corresponding author. Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, China.The Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, China; Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, Beijing, 100081, China; Corresponding author. The Key Laboratory of Oasis Eco-agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, China.This study aimed to explore the possible changes in the contents of grain nutritional components and test weight when increasing maize yield by increasing planting density, and how to address the impacts of these changes on maize supply and demand. A two-year field experiment was conducted in Tongliao, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2020 to 2021. Using drip irrigation with integrated water and fertilizer technology, the experiment involved two maize hybrids, Dika 159 (DK159) and Xianyu 335 (XY335), at six planting densities (6.0, 7.5, 9.0, 11.5, 12.0, 13.5 × 104 plants per hectare). Research indicators included grain yield, test weight, the contents and yields of protein, starch, oil, and fiber, as well as the test weight of these four nutrients. Results showed that a reasonable increase in planting density could boost yield by 0.26–2.93 t ha-1. Although there were significant differences in test weight among treatments, all were first-grade test weight maize. Increasing planting density significantly increased starch and oil contents, and while it reduced protein content, the yields of the four nutrients increased significantly with higher grain yield and peaked at the highest grain yield. The protein test weight decreased significantly with increased density, while the starch test weight first increased and then decreased. Compared with traditional test weight-based pricing, the new maize pricing model developed in this study can better balance growers' production benefits and processing enterprises' quality requirements, providing a feasible approach to optimize maize production and enhance overall benefits.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266615432500314XPlanting densityMaize qualityProtein test weightStarch test weightPricing modelEconomic benefits
spellingShingle Zhen Wang
Yanan Guo
Ruizhi Xie
Keru Wang
Guoqiang Zhang
Peng Hou
Jun Xue
Shang Gao
Dongping Shen
Liang Fang
Linli Zhou
Lirong Sun
Shijun Bao
Zhigang Huo
Bo Ming
Shaokun Li
Optimizing maize Production: Balancing yield, quality, and economic benefits through planting density - Driven nutrient analysis
Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Planting density
Maize quality
Protein test weight
Starch test weight
Pricing model
Economic benefits
title Optimizing maize Production: Balancing yield, quality, and economic benefits through planting density - Driven nutrient analysis
title_full Optimizing maize Production: Balancing yield, quality, and economic benefits through planting density - Driven nutrient analysis
title_fullStr Optimizing maize Production: Balancing yield, quality, and economic benefits through planting density - Driven nutrient analysis
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing maize Production: Balancing yield, quality, and economic benefits through planting density - Driven nutrient analysis
title_short Optimizing maize Production: Balancing yield, quality, and economic benefits through planting density - Driven nutrient analysis
title_sort optimizing maize production balancing yield quality and economic benefits through planting density driven nutrient analysis
topic Planting density
Maize quality
Protein test weight
Starch test weight
Pricing model
Economic benefits
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266615432500314X
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