Leaf shape, planting density, and nitrogen application affect soybean yield by changing direct and diffuse light distribution in the canopy.

When attempting to maximize the crop yield from field-grown soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) by means of improving the light conditions for photosynthesis in the canopy, it is crucial to find the optimal planting density and nitrogen application rate.

Maize (Zea mays L.) planted at higher density utilizes dynamic light more efficiently.

In nature, plants are exposed to a dynamic light environment. Fluctuations in light decreased the photosynthetic light utilization efficiency (PLUE) of leaves, and much more severely in C species than in C species. However, little is known about the plasticity of PLUE under dynamic light in C species.

Proteomic analysis of protein lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation (K) in soybean leaves.

Background: Protein lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation (K) is a novel post-translational modification (PTM) discovered in cells or tissues of animals, microorganisms and plants in recent years. Proteome-wide identification of K-modified proteins has been performed in several plant species, suggesting that K-modified proteins are involved in a variety of biological processes and metabolic pathways. However, the protein K modification in soybean, a globally important legume crop that provides the rich source of plant protein and oil, remains unclear.

[Effects of directional planting on light environment and leaf photosynthesis of summer maize population].

To improve light environment, photosynthetic capacity, and thus the yield of maize, the effects of directional planting on light distribution in canopy and photosynthetic characteristics of ear leaves, as well as the performance of PSII that closely related with photosynthetic characteristics and reflected by the rapid chlorophyll fluorescence kinetic curves were examined in Zhengdan 958 maize variety. The results showed that the orientation of leaves remarkably affected photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception of ear leaves, with PAR interception of ear leaves in southward treatment being 271.8% higher than that under northward treatment.

[Effects of ditch-buried organic matter and irrigation amount after anthesis on the photosynthetic characteristics and yield of maize.].

Managements of organic matter and irrigation after anthesis will increase the capacities of water conservation and supply in maize field, with consequences on photosynthetic performance and yield under water-saving condition. We analyzed the gas exchange parameters and the performance of the photosystem 2 of ear leaves, and yield of maize cultivars Zhengdan 958, under three modes of ditch-buried organic matter (no straw returned: M, wheat straw returned: M, mixtures of cow manure and wheat straw returned: M) before seeding with two irrigation levels after anthesis (normal irrigation: W, water-saving irrigation: W). The results showed that M treatment significantly increased photosynthetic capacity and dry matter accumulation after anthesis compared with M treatment.

[Effects of different straw recycling and tillage methods on soil respiration and microbial activity].

To explore the effects of different tillage methods and straw recycling on soil respiration and microbial activity in summer maize field during the winter wheat and summer maize double cropping system, substrate induced respiration method and CO2 release method were used to determine soil microbial biomass carbon, microbial activity, soil respiration, and microbial respiratory quotient. The experiment included 3 tillage methods during the winter wheat growing season, i.e.

[Effects of different maize straw-returning modes on the soil respiration in a winter wheat field].

By using static chamber-TGC method, an in situ observation was conducted in a 10-year conservation tillage winter wheat field to study the effects of different maize straw-returning modes on the soil respiration. The soil respiration had a significant positive correlation with the stubble height of maize straw, and two peaks were observed in wheat growth period. Under no tillage and no straw-returning, the soil respiration was 72.

[Effects of conservation tillage and weed control on soil water and organic carbon contents in winter wheat field].

Taking a long-term (since 2004) straw-returning winter wheat field as the object, an investigation was made in the wheat growth seasons of 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 to study the effects of different tillage methods (rotary tillage, harrow tillage, no-tillage, subsoil tillage, and conventional tillage) and weed management on the soil water and organic carbon contents. No matter retaining or removing weeds, the weed density under subsoil tillage and no-tillage was much higher than that under rotary tillage, harrow tillage, and conventional tillage. From the jointing to the milking stage of winter wheat, retaining definite amounts of weeds, no matter which tillage method was adopted, could significantly increase the 0-20 cm soil water content, suggesting the soil water conservation effect of retaining weeds.

[Effects of different tillage methods and straw-returning on soil organic carbon content in a winter wheat field].

A two growth seasons experiment was conducted to study the effects of different tillage methods, straw-returning, and their interaction on the dynamic change of organic carbon content in 0-20 cm soil layer during the whole growth period of winter wheat. An obvious change was observed in the soil organic carbon content. Treatments with straw-returning had higher soil organic carbon content than treatments with no straw-returning, and conservation tillage induced higher soil organic carbon content than conventional tillage.

[CH4 absorption and its affecting factors in a wheat field with conservation tillage].

In order to understand the relationships between CH4 fluxes and its affecting factors in a wheat field with conservation tillage, the CH4 fluxes in two wheat fields, one with conservation tillage and the another with conventional tillage, were measured in situ by static chamber-GC method, with soil temperature and soil moisture and inorganic nitrogen contents determined at the same time. The results showed that these two fields had an obvious and similar seasonal variation pattern of CH4 fluxes, but the average and seasonal CH4 absorption fluxes differed significantly. In the growth period of wheat, the fields were the sink of CH4, and the CH4 absorption fluxes was in the order of conventional tillage with no straw returning (CN) > conventional tillage with straw returning (CS) > subsoiling with straw returning (PS) > harrowing with straw returning (HS) > rotary tillage with straw returning (RS) > no tillage with straw covered (NS).

[Effects of maize-peanut intercropping on economic yield and light response of photosynthesis].

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of maize-peanut intercropping on the economic yield of the two crops and the light response of their functional leaves' photosynthesis. The results showed that maize-peanut intercropping had an obvious yield advantage, with the total economic yield being 2,896 kg hm(-2) in 2004 and 2,894 kg hm(-2) in 2005, and enhanced the land utilization rate by 14%-17%. For maize's functional leaves, the intercropping enhanced their light saturation point, compensation point, and photosynthetic rate under strong light; while for peanut's functional leaves, it reduced their light saturation point and compensation point but enhanced the apparent quantum yield of photosynthesis and photosynthetic rate under weak light, indicating that maize-peanut intercropping enhanced the utilization efficiency of strong light by maize and that of weak light by peanut, making this intercropping system present an obvious yield advantage.