Leaf area index (LAI) during the growth process is one of the most important indexes for monitoring high-yield cotton production, but the present use of LAI is limited due to the varying photosynthetic capacity of cotton leaves at different plant positions and growth periods. Thus, a more accurate leaf area-related index that includes both leaf area and photosynthetic capacity was explored herein based

Most of the required increases in food production over the next decades are expected to be achieved through increases in crop yield. As wheat is essential for food security it is worrying that its yield gains over the last two decades were small. To achieve further yield increases it is critical to continue increasing number of grains per unit area (GN m-2), the trait best related to yield. In this

In East Africa, rainfed lowland rice is primarily produced by smallholders in alluvial floodplain and inland valley wetlands. These wetlands differ in their dominant soil types and water regimes that vary seasonally, inter-annually and between field positions. Yield responses to mineral nitrogen (N) fertiliser thus likely vary between and within wetlands and years, modulating the profitability of N

Water and fertilizer supply can affect the processes of assimilate production (source) and assimilate accumulation (sink), thereby causing differences in potato yield. However, little is known about the coupling effects of irrigation amount and potassium rate on potato tuber yield and its potential source-sink relationships. The objective of this study was to quantify how water and potassium supplies

Nitrogen (N) is considered quantitatively most important for crop growth and productivity. The improvement of crop N use efficiency is economically beneficial to farmers and reduces the negative environmental impact of agriculture. Root traits are promising, yet underexploited breeding targets to improve N use efficiency. We aimed to evaluate (1) the effects of genotype and environment on N use efficiency

Lack of water and low nutrition affecting crop during the critical period of maize are the main determinants in grain yield variability. Grain yield and anthesis-silking interval (ASI) are two of the main traits used in maize breeding programs. Under drought conditions, selection for a reduced ASI has resulted in greater and more stable grain yield, however, these traits are largely influenced by the

Intercropping is a key entry point for sustainable intensification of cropping systems in sub-Saharan Africa where variable rainfall conditions prevail. Crop simulation models can complement field experiments to assess the agronomic and environmental performances of intercropping systems under diverse climatic conditions, including hypothetical future climate. So far, crop models that can handle intercropping

Despite decades of international research and development efforts focusing on increased rice production in Africa, there is large yield gap, and the local production still needs to be complemented by rice imports to meet consumption demands. This paper aims to provide an overview of published research findings on rice yield gaps and the effects of ‘good agricultural practices’ (GAPs) on rice yield

Decreases in grain yield and milling quality in the ratoon crop due to crushing damage to stubbles from mechanical harvesting of the main crop constrain the further extension of mechanized rice ratooning technology. Skip-row planting (SP), where the track zone is left untransplanted in the main crop to provide traffic paths for harvest machines, might be effective to alleviate these constraints by

Soil chemical fertility has steadily declined in tropical and subtropical agriculture with depleted stocks of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), and carbon (C). Assessing the dynamics of these elements and their interactions on crop productivity in dryland cropping are complex because climate often dictates crop nutrient response. This results in under- or over- fertilising crops, suboptimal crop yield

Maize (Zea mays L.) yield and yield variation are both affected by climate and cultivation management. Changing the sowing date (SD) is one of the most commonly used cultivation managements for achieving high yield of maize in North China Plain (NCP). Climate is one of the most important factors in maize yield variation under different SDs. But the yield variation under different SDs and the contribution

Drought affects the growth of legumes directly, and indirectly, by reducing total nitrogen fixation. Here, we compiled published data to compare the sensitivity to water deficit on plant growth and total nitrogen fixation traits, i.e., the number of nodules per plant, average nodule mass, and nitrogen fixation per unit nodule mass. Hierarchies of phenotypic plasticity have been established for seeds

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing and machine learning have emerged as a practical approach with ultra-high temporal and spatial resolutions to overcome the limitations of ground-based sampling for continuous crop monitoring. However, little is known on the suitability of distinct sensing indices for different crop management and distinct crop development phases. In this study, we assessed

Sugarcane yields are known to decline with successive ratoon crops, a phenomenon termed ratoon yield decline (RYD), and the rate of decline is largely dependent on the environment in which the crop grows. An environment in sugarcane production is characterized by harvest season and soil type, and gaining an understanding on how these influence RYD, can assist growers manipulate them through best practices

In arid regions, water and nitrogen are the two most limiting factors for sustainable pastoral production systems. In this study, we determined the potential effects of irrigation and nitrogen application on forage yield, nutritive values, and resource use efficiency of alfalfa in arid agro-climatic conditions. Field experiments were carried out using three irrigation regimes (W1, 300; W2, 450; and

Wheat dough characteristics and end-use quality are strongly influenced by the amount and specific composition of the glutenins, the major components of gluten. Such proteins are divided into high-molecular-weight glutenins, encoded by the Glu-A1, Glu-B1 and Glu-D1 loci; and low-molecular-weight glutenins, encoded by the Glu-A3, Glu-B3 and Glu-D3 loci. Allelic variation at each of these loci has been

Weeds are one of the key threats in sustaining the productivity of the rice-wheat cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. The development of sound integrated weed management technologies requires knowledge of mechanisms that influence weed flora composition and weed seedbank dynamics. A long-term study was initiated in 2015 at Patna, Bihar, India to evaluate the effect of seven tillage and crop

Plastic film mulch is used widely in rainfed areas to increase crop yields, and the addition of biochar to soil has been proposed as an effective measure for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Comprehensive analysis is required to assess the effects of plastic film mulching combined with adding biochar on the net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB), greenhouse gas emissions, and water use efficiency (WUE)

The crop-water production function (CWPF) is widely used to quantitatively describe relationships between crop water deficit and yield, and evaluate the effects of different irrigation strategies in agro-hydrological models. In order to reasonably and reliably estimate crop yield and optimize irrigation scheduling, a novel CWPF was proposed by combining the plant water deficit index (PWDI), estimated

Improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency is urgently needed to achieve co-sustainability of agricultural productivity and environmental quality. Environmental conditions and farming management practices affect the N cycle in agroecosystems. Particularly, weather conditions during the pre-growing-season (e.g. winter and early spring for the U.S. Corn Belt) can influence the dynamics of soil inorganic N

Wheat yields have significantly increased through breeding, but the trends of grain mineral concentrations following the breeding progress are inconsistent. In this study, we established a factorial trial combining 9 nutrient regimes with three (2013–14) and five (2014–15) varieties released from 1970 to 2005 to evaluate changes in grain zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and selenium (Se) concentrations of Chinese

Intercropping increases resource capture due to species complementarities, but it is not clear to which extent intercropping also affects the redistribution of carbohydrates and nitrogen (N) within the plant. Here, we examined in two years field experimentation the accumulation and translocation of dry matter and N in maize and peanut in pure stands and intercrops at five N input levels. Post-anthesis

Cover crops may affect diversely boron (B) availability and cotton yield, especially in tropical sandy soils. In turn, B fertilizer rates required by cotton can be dependent on the use of cover crops. This study aimed to evaluate cotton yield, soil-plant B dynamics, and soil fertility as a function of cover crops (fallow, millet, black velvet bean, and millet+ black velvet bean) and B fertilization

A low seeding rate with seed drill is a good management practice to promote good canopy growth and increase yield of direct seeding rice (DSR) in lowland rice fields. Many studies did not evaluate seeding rates in an integrated way under different management practices in smallholder farmers’ fields. Estimating canopy cover from Canopeo and normalised vegetation difference index (NDVI) may offer a non-destructive

Improvements in wheat tillering in dry-land farming systems can be achieved by reducing soil water loss by straw mulching and enhancing the capability of wheat roots to capture soil water and N. However, the effects of the application of maize straw mulching in combination with uniconazole application on wheat tillering is not yet investigated. Field experiments were conducted during 2017–2018 (dry

Estimating genetic coefficients of a new rice cultivar is important when a crop model is used to test its performance. Here, we estimated genetic coefficients of two rice genotypes in the Philippines, namely, inbred PSB Rc82 and hybrid Mestizo 20, for CERES-Rice using parameter estimation methods including, GENCALC (Genotype Coefficient Calculator), GLUE (Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation)

Optimizing nitrogen (N) fertilization is increasingly becoming a key issue to maximize productivity and farmers’ income while reducing environmental impact of agricultural productions. Among the most sophisticated approaches to support variable rate N applications, a central role is played by frameworks that integrate satellite images and smart-scouting driven ground estimates of plant N content (PNC)

Maize (Zea mays L.) prolificacy (i.e., more than one fertile ear per plant) is a source of reproductive plasticity that contributes to increase or sustain crop grain yield when plant density is reduced in drought-prone environments. The rare use of N fertilization, however, can limit prolificacy. In a companion paper we studied floret differentiation and biomass allocation in apical (E1) and sub-apical

Water scarcity is one of the major factors limiting crop growth and productivity. Judicious water management reduces the application of irrigation water and increases grain yield, farm profits, and water use efficiency. The assessment of crop water status is the key to in-season irrigation scheduling. The plant diagnostic approach has the potential to assess the in-season crop water status for optimizing

In limited-production regions for maize (Zea mays, L.) crop, late sowing date and low plant densities are progressively adopted. At low plant densities, the expression of prolificacy (i.e., more than one fertile ear per plant) can stabilize maize yield throughout environments. However, the limited adoption of N fertilization can reduce kernel set on the apical (E1) and sub-apical ear (E2) and consequently

Empirical soybean breeding has improved its yield in arid and semi-arid areas of China. The objective of this study was to identify the important traits found in successful commercial soybean cultivars following the domestication of landraces through breeding in the semi-arid region of North-west China. A further objective was to identify any key traits that can be targeted using trait-based selection

Genotype-by-Environment-by-Management (GxExM) interactions represent many unknowns for crop improvement programs, which hampers the development of improved varieties, especially for highly variable environments like those limited by rainfall. While breeding programs have traditionally used statistical tools to deal with these interactions, process-based crop modeling has recently become an alternative

Colored rice is a high-quality and high-added-value rice that has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Therein, the main functional substance in colored rice is anthocyanin, which plays an important role in anti-aging, inhibiting adipocyte accumulation, preventing cancer and treating cancer. However, there are few studies on the effects of shading at different growth periods with various

Leaf area and its longevity are the key factors driving dry matter accumulation and yield formation in maize (Zea mays. L). Both factors are influenced by cultivation management measures. The objective of this study was to utilize a quantitative framework to better understand the contribution of leaf area and longevity to leaf area duration (LAD) and yield in maize plants at varying plant densities

Efficient utilization of incident solar radiation and rainwater conservation in rain-fed smallholder cropping systems require the development and adoption of cropping systems with high resource use efficiency. Due to the popularity of cassava-maize intercropping and the food security and economic importance of both crops in Nigeria, we investigated options to improve interception of photosynthetically

Forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is a suitable alternative for corn silage in water-limited environments due to its similar yield potential as corn but with less water input. Cover cropping could further improve forage sorghum yield and water productivity, making it the best alternative forage crop for arid and semi-arid regions. This two-year study evaluated the effect of fallow and cover

Most terrestrial plants experience multiple edaphic (i.e. soil-related) stresses concurrently. Interactions among edaphic stresses may be characterized by dominance of one stress over others, neutral interactions whose effects are additive, mitigating interactions in which the effects of multiple stresses are less than additive, potentiating interactions in which the effects of multiple stresses are

Rice is one of the major staple foods in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and is mainly grown in three environments: rainfed upland and rainfed and irrigated lowlands. In all rice-growing environments, the yield gap (the difference between the potential yield in irrigated lowland or water-limited yield in rainfed lowland and upland and the actual yield obtained by farmers) is largely due to a wide range of

Experimental data collected on growth and development of plants over a growing season are typically analyzed using a linear mixed model, analogous to a hierarchical linear model in a Bayesian setting. Alternative modeling approaches for repeated measures data involve non-linear models such as logistic regression and ecophysiological dynamic models based on a system of ordinary differential equations

The cotton defoliation strategy is highly appreciated in Xinjiang, where mechanical harvesting is limited by a large proportion of green leaves and unopened bolls at harvest due to an insufficient temperature sum. Because of a high plant density, the application of defoliants (harvest aids) by tractors is less efficient; thus, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for spraying harvest aids are becoming more

Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation (SNF) is critical to satisfying the nutritional need of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and maintaining productivity and high seed protein concentration. Due to its low environmental impact, a key factor for increasing the sustainability of soybean systems is to enhance SNF. Seed inoculation with the free-living Azospirillum brasilense alone or with Bradyrhizobium japonicum

The demand for nitrogen (N) for crop production increased rapidly from the middle of the twentieth century and is predicted to at least double by 2050 to satisfy the on-going improvements in productivity of major food crops such as wheat, rice and maize that underpin the staple diet of most of the world’s population. The increased demand will need to be fulfilled by the two main sources of N supply

Coordination between source and sink is vital for the final maize grain yield planted under high density. To clarify the source and sink characteristics of high yield potential (22.5 Mg ha-1), a four-year field experiment was conducted at Qitai Farm in Xinjiang, China. At silking, the maximum leaf area indexes were 5.8, 7.5, and 6.2 for cultivars of high yield level-1 (H1), high yield level-2 (H2)

Excessive nitrogen fertilizer is often applied to achieve higher rice yield in many regions of the world. However, the effect of excessive nitrogen on grain filling of inferior spikelets and its underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. A three-year field experiment was conducted to reveal the mechanisms by which excessive nitrogen application regulated grain filling. We found that excessive

Maize monoculture systems often cause environmental impacts such as soil erosion, nitrate leaching and pesticide transfer. Conservation tillage and the use of cover crops appear to hold promise for limiting these impacts, but questions about their performance remain, particularly during the transition period after conventional soil tillage ceases. In this study, effects of no-tillage maize and fallow-period

Continued global wheat yield increase (about 1.3% p.a. for 2000–2019) remains an essential condition for greater world food security. Relevant to this challenge is the rise in average farm yield (FY) of irrigated spring wheat in the Yaqui Valley of northwest Mexico from 2 to 7 t/ha between 1960 and 2019. Since the early 1950s the region has been the prime target of wheat research by the International

15N tracer technology can be used to study the distribution of fertiliser N in the soil–plant system. However, few studies have used 15N tracer to directly label organic fertiliser such as livestock manure. Therefore, we analysed the distribution of N derived from cattle manure labelled with15N in winter wheat plants and the soil. An unlabelled large-plot experiment and 15N-labelled micro-plot experiment

US soybean yields have steadily increased, largely due to genetic factors. In contrast, Japanese yields remain low, partly due to a lack of genetic yield gain, but the yield potential and associated traits in Japanese cultivars have not been fully evaluated. The objectives of the present study were to estimate genetic gains in soybean yield and agronomic traits in Japan, and to determine whether Japanese

The definition of LAI (Leaf Area Index) is important when deriving it from reflectance observation for model application and validation. Canopy reflectance and the corresponding quantities of LAI, PAI (Plant Area Index), GAI (Green Area Index) and effective GAI (GAIeff) are first calculated using a 3D radiative transfer model (RTM) applied to 3D wheat and maize architecture models. A range of phenological

Globally, widespread micronutrient deficiencies have become a serious challenge for sustaining crop production systems and food security. Of all micronutrients, zinc (Zn) is the most deficient one. Hence, efficient Zn management is essential to achieve potential crop yields. A six-year field experiment was conducted on Typic Hapludalfs with maize-wheat cropping system to study the direct and residual

Achieving a pathway for green development is a critically important challenge for agriculture in China and beyond. The current study evaluates the effects of a range of management interventions including planting, fertilizer nitrogen (N) rate optimization and increasing farm size to promote agricultural green development across the North China Plain (NCP) based on large-scale farm surveys. Our results

Nitrogen (N) fertiliser inputs represent one of the largest variable costs in dryland cropping systems, and a key determinant of water-limited yield. Despite extensive research into microbial N losses via intermediate denitrification products such as N2O, limited research exists on total N losses, and the effect of increasing soil N surplus has on fertiliser use-efficiency is not clear. In this study