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Ethephon Reduces Maize Nitrogen Uptake but Improves Nitrogen Utilization in Zea mays L
Yushi Zhang1,2, Yubin Wang1,2, Churong Liu1,2
1Engineering Research Center of Plant Growth Regulator, Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Frontiers in Plant Science
|January 28, 2022
Summary
Ethephon application in maize, while improving lodging resistance, decreased grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). It increased post-silking nitrogen remobilization but reduced overall biomass and N uptake.
Area of Science:
- Agronomy
- Plant Physiology
- Soil Science
Background:
- Intensive maize production systems often use high plant density and nitrogen (N) fertilizer, risking reduced N use efficiency (NUE) and lodging.
- Ethephon application is a common practice to enhance lodging resistance in high-input maize systems, particularly in China.
- Limited research exists on ethephon's impact on maize N use and its interaction with plant density and N rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of ethephon on various maize nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) indices.
- To assess ethephon's influence on biomass, N concentration, grain yield, and N uptake under different N rates and plant densities.
- To investigate ethephon's impact on N translocation properties, specifically post-silking N remobilization.
Main Methods:
- A three-year field study was conducted manipulating ethephon application (0 and 90 g ha⁻¹).
- Four nitrogen (N) application rates (0, 75, 150, 225 kg N ha⁻¹) and two plant densities (6.75 and 7.5 plants m⁻²) were employed.
- Measurements included NUE indices (NAE, NRE, NUpE, NUtE, PFPN), biomass, N concentration, grain yield, N uptake, and xylem sap fluxes.
Main Results:
- Ethephon application decreased grain yield (1.83-5.74%) due to reduced grain number and weight.
- Ethephon resulted in lower biomass, xylem sap fluxes, and total N uptake, leading to reduced NAE and NUpE.
- Ethephon increased post-silking N remobilization (14.10-32.64%) and significantly enhanced NUtE, despite no effect on grain N concentration.
Conclusions:
- Ethephon application negatively impacts maize grain yield and overall nitrogen uptake efficiency.
- While ethephon enhances nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) and remobilization, these benefits are outweighed by yield reductions.
- The findings suggest a trade-off between lodging resistance conferred by ethephon and optimal nitrogen use and yield in intensive maize systems.
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