Context Improving the photosynthetic capacity of crops is key to achieving synergism between high crop yield and nitrogen (N) efficiency, and it is also an important target for future cultivar breeding and cultivation management. Although photosynthetic N use efficiency (PNUE) is commonly used to determine the N economy of leaves, it is unclear whether the PNUE of wheat has improved through genetic

Context Intercropping is used to improve crop productivity and sustainability. However, total and partial yields of intercrops vary widely due to both intercropping system and environment. Understanding the factors controlling this variability would be of value for crop producers deciding whether and how to adopt intercropping. Objective Our objective was to determine the dominant factors controlling

Drought is one of the most pressing issues in many regions worldwide. Selecting wheat genotypes adapted to changing climatic conditions is crucial for sustainable agricultural production, economic development, and food security. In this study, 156 bread wheat genotypes, including landraces from Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan, which have adapted to changing climatic conditions for thousands of years

Context or problem Cotton is a vital crop worldwide, and as increases in population and changes in climate occur, it is critical for breeders to continue to improve lint yields. One area to further investigate is how nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiencies have changed through time to develop future management and breeding strategies. Objective or research question To evaluate the change in nutrient

Context Canopy architecture and associated light distribution, nitrogen distribution, and leaf physiological characteristics drive canopy photosynthesis, and ultimately determine grain yields. Breeding has increased those yields during the past decades of breeding history but it is not clear if this also improved efficiency in nitrogen allocation for optimal light use. Research questions To what extent

Context or problem Traits like photoperiod sensitivity, sweet-stalk and brown midrib (bmr) have been introgressed to increase the biomass yield and quality of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) towards bioenergy yield improvement. The effects of combined traits on sorghum performance are far from clear. Objectives The objectives were to investigate the effects of different combinations of photoperiod

Context A balanced phosphorus (P) use in agriculture, where P fertilizer input matches crop offtake, is necessary to avoid accumulation of P in soil that is a chronic source for diffuse P loss. Moreover, mineral P fertilizers produced from rock phosphate is a limited resource, and identification of alternative P fertilizer sources such as animal manures that secure yields without P surpluses is therefore

Context Meta-analyses have highlighted several advantages of cereal/legume intercropping for food compared to sole cropping, but none report on fodder quality and yield. In forage production, mixtures may more effectively balance fiber and crude protein concentrations of the forage in view of nutrient requirements of ruminants than sole crops. However, productivity, quality and the trade-off between

Problem Sustainable intensification of cereal cropping systems can contribute to reducing food insecurity while mitigating biodiversity losses thanks to land sparing. Yet, intensifying crop production with more nutrient inputs often increases sensitivity to climate hazards and yields inter-annual variability. How different options for sustainable intensification interact and how they could help achieve

Context The root development and soil nitrogen distribution in cotton fields under varying water and nitrogen supplies have rarely been reported in Xinjiang, Northwest China. Methods To address this gap, a two-year field experiment was conducted during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons to determine the impact of two irrigation amounts (I400, conventional irrigation, 400 mm; and I267, limited irrigation

Context Identification and purification of the landrace Chittimuthyalu using stability and molecular heterozygosity can be useful for rice diversity. Objectives The present study reports the characterization of 12 genotypic variants of Chittimuthyalu in terms of (i) variation and correlation among agromorphological, grain quality and nutrient traits, viz., Zn and Fe; (ii) stability across years; and

High throughput plant phenomics enables precise quantification of structural information for the complex crop canopy. Leaf to panicle ratio (LPR) in terms of light interception is a physiological trait we formerly developed to clarify the light distribution pattern within the canopy of japonica rice. Here, using the methodology of deep learning neural network (Transformer Feature Pyramid Network),

Context Excessive phosphorus (P) applications to ensure enhanced crop growth and increased profitability are commonly used, leading to declined P use efficiency and high P accumulation in most cultivated soils across north-western India. However, the effects of consistently applying excessive P fertilizers on soil test P (STP) levels, P availability, and maize production outcomes are poorly understood

Context Optimizing cover crop intercropping should aim to be sustainable, economically feasible and environmentally benign. Significant consideration must be given to cover crop plant timing and stand density adjustments to complement the resource demands of the dominant crop, while ensuring optimal biomass yields. Objective The study assessed a range of intercropping indices to evaluate the influence

Context or problem Nitrogen is one of the important elements of crops, which plays a decisive role in crop growth and development and the formation of yields. Monitoring of rice organ-scale nitrogen concentration based on the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images is of great significance for rice field management and yield prediction. Objective or research question Previous studies have focused on the

Context In the context of the heterogeneous field conditions for lowland rice production in sub-Saharan Africa, yield is adversely affected by a diverse array of complexly related factors, including environmental conditions, soil fertility, and fertilizer management, making it difficult to unravel the factors with greatest impact. In the central highlands of Madagascar, yield is constrained by low

Context Despite significant advancements in cotton breeding, there is ongoing debate regarding the mechanism of the yield increase in early-maturing cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) through photosynthesis of single leaves in Xinjiang, China. Objective This study aims to investigate the role of the boll-leaf system (BLS) involving the main-stem leaf, the sympodial leaf, and the boll, in cotton yield formation

Context or problem A trade-off between seed protein concentration (SPC) and yield has been reported for soybean. Therefore, assessing management practices that can nullify this trade-off is relevant to avoid further declines in SPC in the future as yield continues to increase. While the positive effect of irrigation on yield is well documented, only a few studies have assessed the impact of irrigation

Because of inadequate water resources and poor irrigation facilities, salinity and drought stresses often co-occur in rice production in saline lands. Nevertheless, little information is available on the agro-physiological traits and grain yield of rice when subjected to combined salinity × drought stress. We evaluated the individual and interactive influences of salinity and drought on rice yield

Context Genotype-specific parameters (GSP) are the fundamental elements for phenotypic prediction in the DSSAT-CROPGRO soybean phenology simulation model (DCS-PSM). Yet, it is unclear about the quantitative relationship between GSP and genomics, which limits the crop models used for breeding research. Objective Exploring the genetic composition of GSP related to four soybean phenological traits in

Context Stalk lodging causes up to 43 % of yield losses in maize (Zea mays L.) worldwide, significantly worsening food and feed shortages. Stalk lodging resistance is a complex trait specified by several structural, material, and geometric phenotypes. However, the identity, relative contribution, and genetic tractability of these intermediate phenotypes remain unknown. Objective The study is designed

Partial substitution of organic fertilizer is adopted to increase production and alleviate farmland greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, there is a lack of integrated assessment of soil quality, crop productivity, and environmental benefits through organic fertilizer substitution. Therefore, an in-situ experiment was conducted with the single nitrogen (N) treatments (120, 180, 240 kg N ha−1, expressed

Film mulching with deficit irrigation is considered an effective way to maximize water productivity and ensure a stable crop yield in the arid region of Northwest China. Deficit irrigation requires precise knowledge of crop response to drought conditions, whereas the canopy temperature and the related crop water stress index (CWSI) monitor crop water stress status. Although canopy temperature and CWSI

Context Evaluating the genotype (G) by management practice (M) interaction in agronomic experimentation is essential to help grain growers optimise the desired trait of interest (e.g. grain yield). However, the approach is complicated by interaction effects with environmental factors that differ across sites and seasons. Popular statistical methods for modelling the genotype by environment (G × E)

Context With rising global temperature and frequent drought events, water resource supply is facing to great challenge. Understanding the effects of different management practices on cropland water use efficiency (WUE) is crucial to promote effective allocation of water resources and food security. Objective The objective of this study was to reveal the contrasting effects of different farm management

Hybrids and plant density are the main factors affecting maize lodging resistance, and cellulose plays an important role in lodging resistance. High plant density often decreases the stalk cellulose, but the cause is unclear. Therefore, we hypothesized that enzymatic activity might be the main factor affecting maize cellulose accumulation. For testing this hypothesis, three plant densities （4.5, 9

Context or problem Kernel number per ear (KNE) is the main driver of improved grain yield per ear (GYE) in maize (Zea mays L.). Under non-limiting conditions, KNE responded to variations in ear developmental traits such as the number of completely developed florets (CDFE) and exposed silks per ear (ESE), which have been positively affected by breeding. This trend needs to be assessed under common abiotic

Context or problem Application of phosphorus (P) fertilizer has achieved a remarkable increase in yield but has also resulted in decreased zinc (Zn) concentration and its bioavailability in cereal grains. Objectives Selecting, breeding, and understanding the mechanism for wheat cultivars with high-yield and high-grain Zn under P application is urgent and difficult, with the purpose of alleviating P-Zn

Context Crop type and temporal synchronization are crucial for improving the productivity of intercropping systems, especially with reduced inputs (nitrogen, N, and phosphorus, P). However, the effects of crop type and temporal dynamics on nutrient uptake and yield advantage of cereal/legume intercropping systems are still unclear. Objective The objective of this study was to assess the effects of

Context or problem Low soil phosphorus (P) availability affects cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield in arid regions with saline soils, such as Central Asia, due to P sorption by soil particles and precipitation by Ca2+. P-based organic amendment is one potential solution to improve soil P bioavailability by influencing soil microbial processes, although the mechanisms behind this process are unclear

Context Straw incorporation with appropriate nitrogen (N) fertilization could increase seedcotton yield, but it is unknown whether and how straw incorporation with N fertilization can synergistically improve seedcotton yield and fiber quality. Objective Continuous years of positioning field wheat-cotton double cropping experiments were conducted from 2015 to 2021 to investigate the effects of straw

Rye is a small-grain cereal with an extensive and well-branched root system that is particularly suitable for grain production in marginal environments where other grain cereals, especially wheat, cannot thrive well. However, no significant genetic gain could be achieved to improve plant height and lodging resistance in the last 30 years in rye. Thus, the relatively low grain-to-straw ratio currently

Context Soybean (Glycine max L.) seed yield at the crop level is strongly associated with the number of pods and seeds. Assimilate production is considered the main factor controlling the number of pods and seeds, supporting the paradigm that soybean seed yield is source-limited. However, changes in the canopy leaf area not only affect assimilate production but also alter the balance of photomorphogenic

Context Developing climate-smart cultivars could be one climate change adaptation strategy for developing countries. The recent CSM-CERES-Sorghum model has the potential to develop a virtual cultivar that has unique traits to overcome the negative impacts of climate change. Objectives The goal of this study was to identify the possible advantage of developing sorghum ideotype in Ethiopia to minimize

In rice grain production, low nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) is a persistent problem that impairs the balance between higher grain yield and the environmental risk caused by overuse of N fertilizer. Efficient N utilization is achieved through close coordination between N acquisition by roots and assimilation in the plant. In this study, we engineered the N assimilation process by the generation

Context Crop yield prediction is a complex task with nonlinear relationships due to its dependence on multiple factors such as polygenic traits, environmental effects, genetics and environment interactions, etc. These cases make conventional statistical techniques unable to explain the nonlinear and complex relationship between performance and its components. Objectives This research was conducted

Genotype-by-environment interaction (G×E) is commonly observed in perennial ryegrass species and significantly impacts dry matter yield (DMY) performance across environments. Variation in DMY of perennial ryegrass cultivars and their distinct responses to different environments directly influence the profitability of the Australian dairy industry. In this study, we implemented a separate two-way factor

Context Rice ratooning is the practice of harvesting a second crop grown from the main crop’s stubble. The rice–ratoon-rice system is an emerging alternative to a conventional single rice crop in warm-temperate regions (25°N to 30°N). Objective Central Japan (35°N to 36°N) has a favorable growing season of 190–200 d yr−1 for rice, and is considered to represent the northern limit (based on climate

Single biochar application has remarkable potential to improve soil ecosystem multifunctionality (SEMF) and crop yield because of its legacy effect or residual effect. However, the legacy effect (i.e., duration and magnitude) of single biochar application, especially for acidic soil is far from thoroughly understood. A field experiment with the single factor randomized block design in an acidic paddy

Promoting root growth is essential for improving crop yields and the efficient use of soil nutrients, especially in dryland areas of the Loess Plateau in China where water resources are scarce and nitrogen utilization is low. Adding biochar is a potential strategy to enhance root growth and consequently increase crop productivity. In this study, we investigated the effects of adding biochar at 0.0 t

Context or problem Several agricultural producers around the world are adopting hairy vetch (HV) (Vicia villosa Roth) inclusion in the crop sequence before maize (Zea mays L.). To date, it is not clear which factors control maize yield response to HV and to nitrogen (N) fertilization in HV-maize sequences. Objective or research question We aimed to i) explore the variability of maize grain yield response

Context or problem Agricultural production in the world has drastically increased to meet future food demand. Yield gap assessment provides important information on how production can be increased on existing cropland. Also, boosting food production by reducing the yield gap has fewer environmental consequences than increasing the food production area. Methods For this purpose, the SSM-Legume model

Context or problem While crop breeding represents a key factor in terms of effectiveness and affordability in the adaptation of agriculture to stress conditions, phenotyping is perceived as a major bottleneck to achieving genetic advance. Crops in the field experience the simultaneous occurrence of multiple stresses, which vary depending on the location, year and management conditions. Even under the

Context Crop residue retention is a main practice for agricultural resource recycling and conservation tillage in China. Cotton production is limited by many factors such as soil properties, resource utilization efficiency, and growth coordination among various organs. These factors will change under long-term residue retention. Objective The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effects of long-term

Context Leaf area index (LAI) is a vital indicator to identify the crop growth condition and to infer crop yield and water consumption. The generality of empirical models for estimating LAI based on vegetation indices (VI) is often questioned due to their reduced sensitivity in dense vegetation cover or the influence of external disturbances. Objective We aimed to investigate the potential of multi-source

Context Under climate change and local and global food security pressures conversion to agricultural lands on Podzols developed under boreal forests is accelerating across the global north. After conversion Podzols, acid and sandy, are infertile requiring significant management to allow economic production. Biochar, while less useful on fertile soils, may accelerate fertility gains on such marginal

Context Cotton is a crucial economic crop and textile raw material, and the fiber qualities of cotton, especially fiber length, are sensitive to phosphorus. However, few studies focus on phosphate fertilization regulating fiber length formation. Objective The research target was to assess the effects of phosphate fertilization on fiber elongation development and fiber length formation. Methods A 3-year

Context Mechanical monoseeding has been widely adopted in cotton planting; however, it can result in either double seedlings per hole or a decrease in seedling density due to missed seeding or seedling mortality. The impact of these conditions on cotton yield remains uncertain. In this study, we hypothesized that neither double seedlings per hole nor a reduction in seedling density would negatively

Context or problem A range of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid maturities are planted across the US Corn Belt, yet, studies that concurrently evaluate genetic gain for grain yield and associated kernel growth traits are rare and this limits our ability to understand physiological mechanisms of yield formation by hybrid maturity. Objective or research question Our objective was to explore the genetic gain