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Food supply

Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency in High-Yield Maize Hybrids

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at Jilin Agricultural University have discovered that increasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in high-yield maize hybrids is crucial for food security and reducing environmental risks. The study, funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China and other institutions, examined the effects of nitrogen fertilizer levels on grain yield, NUE, and nitrogen accumulation in two maize hybrids, Zhengdan958 (ZD958) and Tie 391 (T391). The results showed that while nitrogen input significantly increased grain yield, it also reduced NUE. However, the study found that under low-nitrogen conditions, ZD958 exhibited higher grain yield and NUE compared to T391.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that increasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in high-yield maize hybrids is essential for food security and reducing environmental risks.
  • The research examined the effects of nitrogen fertilizer levels on grain yield, NUE, and nitrogen accumulation in two maize hybrids, Zhengdan958 (ZD958) and Tie 391 (T391).
  • The results showed that while nitrogen input significantly increased grain yield, it also reduced NUE.
  • Under low-nitrogen conditions, ZD958 exhibited higher grain yield and NUE compared to T391.
  • The study found that higher accumulation of dry matter (DM) and nitrogen, along with greater nitrogen reallocation, especially from the lower-layer stem, could be regarded as important traits in maize breeding to improve the NUE of high-yield maize hybrids under insufficient nitrogen supply.
  • The research suggested that the middle leaves and lower stems of the canopy tend to reallocate more nitrogen to the grain, and lower-layer stem nitrogen reallocation is significantly related to grain yield.
  • The study concluded that optimal nitrogen accumulation and remobilization can synergistically improve maize yield and nitrogen-use efficiency under low-nitrogen conditions.

Statistical Highlights:

  • The study found that ZD958 exhibited:

+ 16.2% higher grain yield

+ 15.6% higher NUE

+ 5.0% higher per-silking dry matter

+ 7.9% higher post-silking dry matter

+ 11.6% higher nitrogen accumulation

+ 32.7% higher nitrogen accumulation

+ 45.6% higher reallocated dry matter

+ 17.5% higher reallocated nitrogen

  • The study found that T391 exhibited:

+ 17.2-46.7% of grain nitrogen still needed to be reallocated from vegetative organs

+ A larger fraction of reallocated nitrogen coming from the stem rather than the leaves

  • The study found that lower-layer stem nitrogen reallocation was significantly related to grain yield.

Sources:

  • Optimal Nitrogen Accumulation and Remobilization Can Synergistically Improve Maize Yield and Nitrogen-Use Efficiency Under Low-Nitrogen Conditions. Agronomy, 2025,15(5):1159. (Agronomy - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy)
  • The National Key Research and Development Program of China
  • The Scientific Research Project of Education Department of Jilin Province
  • Open Research Project of Moe Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Enhancement And Physiolog-ical Ecology in Cold Region
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China

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