Controlled‐release nitrogen fertilizer management influences grain yield in winter wheat by regulating flag leaf senescence post‐anthesis and grain filling. (31st January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ma, Quan; Sun, Quan; Zhang, Xinbo; Li, Fujian; Ding, Yonggang; Tao, Rongrong; Zhu, Min; Ding, Jinfeng; Li, Chunyan; Guo, Wenshan; Zhu, Xinkai
• Is Part Of: Food and energy security. Volume 11:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-01-31
• Subjects: controlled‐release nitrogen fertilizer -- flag leaf senescence -- grain filling -- photosynthetic capacity -- winter wheat; Climatic changes -- Periodicals; Crop improvement -- Periodicals; Food security -- Periodicals; Energy security -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; 333.9505
• DOI: 10.1002/fes3.361
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2048-3694

Abstract

Abstract: Controlled‐release nitrogen fertilizer (CRNF) is expected to meet the nutrient demands for crop growth with single fertilizer application, so as to achieve high‐yield, high‐efficiency, and labor‐saving cultivation. However, under current CRNF practices, a single application of CRNF in winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) usually fails to achieve satisfactory effects due to insufficient nitrogen (N) supply in the later growth stage, contributing to premature leaf senescence and poor grain filling. To determine a reasonable CRNF application strategy for improving the grain weight and yield of winter wheat, the responses of leaf senescence, photosynthetic capacity, grain‐filling characteristics, and grain yield to different CRNF types [polymer‐coated urea (PCU), sulfur‐coated urea (SCU), and urea‐formaldehyde (UF)] and fertilization practices [single fertilization (P1) and twice‐split fertilization (P2)] were investigated. The results showed that, compared with P1, P2 increased the activities of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, alleviated the accumulation of malondialdehyde, delayed flag leaf senescence, and enhanced the net photosynthetic rate ( Pn ) of the flag leaves, which promoted assimilate accumulation and transport to the grains. These advantages in P2 improved the grain‐filling process of wheat, with the active filling duration ( T ), average filling rate ( G ), and maximum filling rate ( G max ) in P2 all being higher than those in P1, which significantly increased the 1000‐grain weight (TGW) and grain yield of wheat. Among the three CRNFs, PCU showed advantages in Pn at the milk‐ripe stage (Zadoks growth stage, GS75), dry matter accumulation post‐anthesis, T, G max, and G, which contributed to TGW and grain yield. Overall, our study suggested that the twice‐split application of CRNF could substantially delay leaf senescence post‐anthesis and increase photosynthetic capacity, thus improving grain filling and productivity in winter wheat. Abstract : Improving grain filling to increase grian weight is a crucial means of enhancing grain yield in wheat. The twice‐split application of CRNF increased the antioxidant enzyme activities to postpone flag leaf senescence, improved the flag leaf photosynthetic capacity post‐anthesis, and enhanced the grainfilling rate and filling duration, especially in the middle and late stage of grainfilling.