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Journal of Agriculture ›› 2024, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (1): 1-9.doi: 10.11923/j.issn.2095-4050.cjas2023-0017

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Effects of Sowing Dates and Foliar-applied Fertilizers on Grain Yield and Mineral Concentrations of Different Maize Varieties

YAN Wei1(), LI Xiaojing1,2, JIANG Yuwei3, HUANG Meng1, LIU Bo1, ZHANG Chunyan4, CUI Zhenling1,5, XUE Yanfang1()   

  1. 1 Maize Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Northern Huang-Huai-Hai River Plain, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan 250100, Shandong, China
    2 College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250100, Shandong, China
    3 Economic Management Service Center in Zhangxing Town of Zhaoyuan City, Zhaoyuan 265400, Shandong, China
    4 Linyi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Linyi 276012, Shandong, China
    5 College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
  • Received:2022-12-16 Revised:2023-10-19 Online:2024-01-16 Published:2024-01-16

Abstract:

To investigate the effects of sowing date and foliar-applied fertilizers on grain yield and mineral concentrations of the two maize varieties, field experiment was conducted in Linyi City, Shandong Province from May to October in 2019. A three-factor split plot experimental design was adopted, the main plots consisted of five maize sowing dates (May 31, June 6, June 13, June 21 and June 28, marked as B1-B5), and the sub-plots consisted of two maize varieties including ‘Denghai 605’ and ‘Zhengdan 309’. The slit-split plots consisted of five foliar-applied fertilizers, including deionized water (Water), calcium chloride (Ca), zinc sulfate (Zn), glutamine (N) and mixed solution of glutamine and zinc sulfate (N+Zn). Samples were collected at maturity. The results showed that both ‘Denghai605’ and ‘Zhengdan309’ had the highest grain yield at B3 date (June 13), and the average maximum yield was 11.9 and 10.9 t/hm2, respectively, mainly due to the higher number of grains per ear at this sowing date. The result indicated that B3 was the best sowing stage in this region, and both early and late sowing dates decreased the grain yield of the two maize varieties. For ‘Denghai605’, foliar spraying with N solution could slightly increase grain yield under early sowing conditions (e.g. B1 and B2), while foliar spraying with Ca, Zn, N and N+Zn solutions could increase grain yield under late sowing conditions (e.g. B4 and B5). Among them, foliar spraying of N + Zn solution had the best yield increase effect, and the grain yield under B4 and B5 sowing dates increased by 45.5 % and 16.0 %, respectively, compared with the control. For ‘Zhengdan309’, foliar spraying of N solution or Zn solution could improve the grain yield at B4 and foliar spraying of Ca solution could also improve the grain yield at B5. In addition, foliar applications of Zn solution alone or the mixture of N+Zn solution could significantly increase grain Zn concentration of the two maize varieties sown at B2 and B3 dates. Furthermore, foliar application of Zn solution could also significantly increase the concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, N and Mg in grain of ‘Zhengdan309’ sown at B2 and B3. The results provided theoretical basis for realizing high yield and quality cultivation of maize and improving fertilizer utilization efficiency.

Key words: sowing date, foliar-applied fertilizer, maize, yield, mineral concentrations in grain