Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Agricultural Water Management

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat

Nutrient and planting modes strategies improves water use efficiency, grain-filling and hormonal changes of maize in semi-arid regions of ChinaYang Li1, Liye Yang1, Hao Wang, Ranran Xu, Shenghua Chang, Fujiang Hou, Qianmin Jia⁎

State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College ofPastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China

A R T I C L E I N F O

Keywords:Planting modelsNutrientHormoneGrain-filling processWater use efficiencyMaize productionDry-land farming

A B S T R A C T

A nutrient in combination of planting modes strategies has not been implemented on grain filling process,hormonal changes in seeds, water use efficiency (WUE) and maize yield. Field study was conducted during2016–2017 to evaluate the performance to three cultivation techniques, (RF: ridge furrow precipitation har-vesting technique with plastic mulching; PM: flat planting with plastic mulching; CP: flat planting withoutplastic mulching); with four nitrogen levels, (0: 0 kg N ha−1; 1: 100 kg N ha−1; 2: 200 kg N ha−1; 3:300 kg N ha−1) in semi-arid areas. The results indicated that grain-filling rate, hormonal changes, dry matter perplant, yield components, WUE and ET of maize under the RF technique were significantly higher as comparedwith PM and CP cultivation techniques under different nutrient management strategies. Under the same culti-vation techniques, as N amount increased up to 200 kg ha−1, the soil water storage, phytohormones such as IAA,Z+ZR, ABA content, were significantly improved and reducing GAs, Ethylene evolution rate, which led toimprove maize production as compared with control plots. Nitrogen applications at 300 kg ha−1 have sig-nificantly reduced soil water storage and ET rate at different cultivation techniques. These results indicated thatunder the RF3 treatment improved grain filling process, WUE (55.5%) and grain yield (3.0 t ha−1). Nitrogenapplications at the rate of 300 kg ha−1 with either RF or PM cultivation techniques significantly affected hor-monal changes, therefore, regulating the Wmax, Gmax, Gmean, Tmax, and activity grain-filling period (AGP) ofmaize. It is concluded from our results that the RF3 treatment is an innovative cultivation technique to sig-nificantly improve the soil water storage, WUE, total dry mater accumulation (19.8%); grain filling rates therebybalance hormonal changes in maize seeds, as a result increase maize yields in semi-arid regions.

1. Introduction

Precipitation is the key source of water for maize production in adry-land farming system (Wen et al., 2012). However, inadequate anderratic rainfall which led drought condition, as a results low productionand sometimes total failure of crops (Ren et al., 2010). Nutrients andwater shortage are the two main limiting factors, which un-stabilizedmaize production (Abbas et al., 2005). But, several rain-fed regionsresearches works to have given more interest to WUE as compared withfertilizer use efficiency, which restricted the potential of land for cropsproductivity (Barbieri et al., 2012). To improving the grain yield ofcrops such as maize in the semi-arid area is to best consumption of therainwater and improved soil water storage to attain the largest possibleenhance in the fertilizer use efficiency and WUE (Sangoi et al., 2002).The grain filling rates and maize production has been greatly effects by

varying the nitrogen levels (Nagaz et al., 2012). Similarly, RF plantinghas significantly increased the mean seed filling rate of maize as com-pared with flat planting without plastic mulching (Li et al., 2001).

It is hard to increase plant growth in dry-land farming systems dueto water shortage, which restricted to uptake of crop nutrients andwater (Wang et al., 2015a,b). Several research works have reported thatRF cultivation technique has been usually urbanized and applied inrain-fed areas, which significantly increase the utilization of pre-cipitation and enhance the WUE (Jia et al., 2006; Zhang et al., 2015).The plastic film mulching can improve crop productivity by savingwater from light rainfall and reducing the surface runoff from the heavyrainfall (Li et al., 2016; Seghatoleslami et al., 2008). As well, the RFsystem can supply adequate moisture at the key growth stages, anddecrease top-soil evaporations as a result increase WUE (Wu et al.,2015). Earlier research works have been recommended that the RF

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2019.105723Received 9 May 2019; Received in revised form 24 June 2019; Accepted 19 July 2019

⁎ Corresponding author.E-mail address: qianmin.jia@hotmail.com (Q. Jia).

1 These authors have contributed equally to this research work.

Agricultural Water Management 223 (2019) 105723

0378-3774/ © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

T

system affected the maize production grain which may be correlated tosoil temperature, moisture, and nutrition’s (Bu et al., 2013; Han et al.,2014). But, the biochemical mechanism under the nutrient and plantingmodes strategies increased or decreases the maize production is not yetclear.

Fertilizer use efficiency can significantly increase by efficient use ofprecipitation, which sustains crop productivity in rain-fed areas (Xuet al., 2007). Due to considering the precipitation patterns in rain-fedareas, the soil fertility can be optimized by improving the efficient useof precipitation under the RF system, and avoiding severe droughtstress, thus increasing maize production by enhancing the uptake of soilnutrients and water (Li et al., 2004). The maize potential yield has threemain components: ear plant−1, grain ear−1 and single grain weight(Tiquia et al., 2002). The final stage of growth is called grain fillingstage, in which fertilized ovaries develop into caryopses (Singh et al.,2010). It is essential to know how nutrients and planting modes stra-tegies affect the seed-filling process of maize crop. But, no literature isaccessible about the combined effects of nutrients and planting modesstrategies on the seed-filling rate of maize and their biochemical me-chanism increase or decreased the grain weight.

Excessively use of nutrients is not helpful for improving maizeproduction, but optimum supply of nutrients and water can sig-nificantly improve the biomass and grian yields (Li et al., 2009). In-adequate of soil water storage throughout the seed filling stage, theplant leaves pre-maturely senescence as a resulting decrease in grain-filling duration and yields (Gao et al., 2015). The RF planting hasmaximum soil water storage, which increased soil water contents andsignificantly accelerating the grain-filling process as a result improvedaverage seed filling rates (Wang et al., 2015a,b). In cereals, crops planthormones play a significant role in the regulatory grain filling rate.Zeatin and zeatin riboside (Z + ZR), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) andabscisic acid (ABA) contents in maize seeds is positively associatedwhile gibberellic acid (GA3) is negatively linked with the seed fillingprocess (Xu et al., 2013). The IAA and ABA improve rapidly in the earlyseed filling and then decline slowly at maturity stage (Liu et al., 2013).The ethylene, Z + ZR and ABA significantly regulated the seed filling inmaize and winter wheat, which indicated that grains hormones ob-viously influence the grain filling rates in cereals crops (Hu et al., 2014;Wang et al., 2014).

Previous research works reported that RF planting had focusedmostly on regulation of water, such as appropriate rainfall, irrigation;ridges cover materials and ridge-furrow ratios (Gao et al., 2000; Renet al., 2010). However, the relationship between such hormonalchanges and grain filling induced by different nutrients and plantingmodes strategies remains unclear. Therefore, we study the combinedeffects of nutrients and planting modes strategies in IAA, ABA, Z + ZR,Gas, and ETH in wheat grains during the grain-filling process. Theobjective of the study was to investigate the effect of nutrients andplanting modes strategies on the grain-filling process of winter wheatand how changes in endogenous hormones in the developing grains ofwinter wheat, SWS and WUE related to the grain-filling process.

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Site description

This research work was carried out during 2016-17 in Huan County,eastern Gansu Province, North-west China; the trial site was located at alongitude of 1070 21′E and latitude of 360 20′N at an elevation of1154 m above sea level. The climatic conditions at the study stationwere illustrated as a semi-arid area with a warm temperate climate andan annual mean evaporation rate of 2226 mm. The total duration ofsunshine hours =2549.2 h yr−1, and the annual mean rainfall=420 mm yr–1, where over 60% of the precipitation occurred inJuly–September. The rainfall during May to September was 320 mmduring 2016, and 353 mm during 2017. The monthly precipitation and

temperature distributions in the two years and averages of 40 yearsmonthly (1976–2016) are shown in (Fig. 1). The test site containedloam soil with the following properties: the bulk density of 0–200 cmsoil was 1.3–1.5 g.cm−3, the total nitrogen of plough layer was1.06 g.kg−1, the alkali nitrogen was 67.4 mg.kg−1, the availablephosphorus was 20.04 mg.kg−1, the available potassium was162.06 mg.kg−1, and the organic matter was 14.30 g.kg−1 (Table 1).

2.2. Field management and research design

A completely randomized block design was used having four re-plications, and each plot area was (20 × 3 m) 60 m2. It consisted ofthree cultivation patterns: RF: ridge furrow precipitation harvestingtechnique with plastic film; PM: flat planting with plastic film; CP: flatplanting without plastic mulching; with four nitrogen levels, (0:0 kg N ha−1; 1: 100 kg N ha−1; 2: 200 kg N ha−1; 3: 300 kg N ha−1). Theridge and furrow width was 60 cm, and ridge height was 15 cm. Wholenitrogen was spreading it evenly into the furrows under the RF system,a while whole plot for conventional flat planting at 0, 25, 60 DAP. Oneday before the time of sowing, the whole phosphorus and potassium at50 and 30 kg ha−1 were applied. Schematic diagrams of three cultiva-tion patterns are shown in (Fig. 2).

Maize (Zhengdan 958) was sown at a rate of 69, 000 plants per ha,seed were sown on April 15, 2016 and on April 10, 2017. The maizewas harvested on October 20 in 2016 and on October 22 in 2017.Between adjacent plots a 0.8 m wide space was maintained to stop Nand water seepage. Weeds were control manually and during the twogrowing years, irrigation water was not supplied.

2.3. Sampling and measurements

2.3.1. Soil water storageMoisture content was determined in the furrows at 20 cm intervals

to a depth of 200 cm, at the planting time, seedling, jointing, flowering,grain filling, and harvesting stages, from 2016–2017. Moisture contentat 20 cm intervals in 0–200 cm soil layers was recorded using a TDRmeter (Time-Domain Reflectometry, Trase system, Soil MoistureEquipment Corp., Germany).

Fig. 1. Monthly rainfall distribution during the maize-growing seasons in 2016and 2017 and the 40-year average (40 a) at the experimental site.

Table 1The chemical properties of experimental site of the soil layers (0–20 cm) at theDry-land Agricultural Experiment Station, Ningxia.

Year pH SOM(g kg−1)

TN(g kg−1)

TP(g kg−1)

TK(g kg−1)

AP(mg kg−1)

AK(mg kg−1)

2016 8.21 13.34 1.09 1.03 18.18 21.09 159.352017 8.03 15.27 1.03 1.06 16.45 18.99 164.78

SOM: soil organic matter; TN: total nitrogen; TP: total phosphorus; TK: totalpotassium; AP: available phosphorus; AK: available potassium.

Y. Li, et al. Agricultural Water Management 223 (2019) 105723

2

Soil water storage was calculated by using following formula (Aliet al., 2017):

SWS = C × ρ × H × 10 (1)

where SWS is the soil water storage, C is the soil moisture, ρ is the soilbulk density, and H is the soil depth.

The evapotranspiration was calculated on a seasonal basis, by usingfollowing formula (Ren et al., 2008):

ET = P + ΔSWS (2)

where P is the total rainfall; and ΔSWS is the soil water at the depth of(0–2 m) between sowing and harvesting.

WUE = Y/ET (3)

where WUE is the water use efficiency, Y is the crop yield, and ET is theevapotranspiration.

2.3.2. Grain filling and hormonesA total of 100 ears that silked on the same day were selected and

tagged in each plot. Three tagged ears from each plot were sampled at 5days intervals from silking to maturity. Sampling the grains of each earwas divided into three measurements. The aver-ages were taken for thethree samples from each time point.

Using the Richards (1959) equation for fitted the grain filling data:

= +W A Be kt N( )/(1 ˆ ( ))ˆ(1/ ) (4)

The grain filling rate (G) was determined by using following for-mula:

= + +G AkBe kt N Be kt N N( ˆ ( ))/( (1 ˆ ( ))ˆ(( 1) )) (5)

Where W is the seed weight, A is the final seed weight, t is the time afterflowering, and B, K and N are coefficients calculated by regressionanalysis. The active seed filling period was calculated from the periodwhen W was between 5% (t1) and 95% (t2) of A. The mean seed fillingrate was calculated from t1 to t2. Yang et al. (2006) methods werefollowed for the purification and extraction of IAA, ABA, Z + ZR, GAscontents and ETH evolution rate.

2.3.3. Dry matter per plant and maize productionRandomly sampled of six plants from each plot at the 3-leaf, 6-leaf,

11-leaf, silking, blister, dough and harvesting for determined drymatter. Two rows of maize were harvested from the middle of each plotincluding the combined area of the ridges and furrows. Thirty plantswere randomly selected to determined yield components.

3. Statistical analysis

With the help of SPSS 13.0 software data were analyzed by usingANOVA. Data from each sampling event were analyzed separately.Means among treatments were compared based on the least significantdifference test (LSD 0.05). Significance level was set at P < 0.05.

4. Results

4.1. Soil water storage and evoptranspiration

During both years, almost have same SWS with no significant var-iations at 20 DAP. Soil moisture changed under different nutrient and

Fig. 2. Schematics of the field layouts. (a) Ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting (RF) system; (b) flat planting with film plastic mulching (FM); (c) conventionalplanting without mulching (CP).

Y. Li, et al. Agricultural Water Management 223 (2019) 105723

3

planting modes strategies due to various rainfalls and its distributionevents (Fig. 3). The crop water consumption rate increased with cropgrowth, but the RF2 and PM2 treatments were recorded no droughtconditions, which make sure the successful growth of crops. The SWSunder the RF2 planting at the 0–2 m soil layers was significantly max-imum at different growth stages (except 20 DAP) than that of alltreatments. At each treatment, a trend of SWS was significantly im-proved from 40 to 120 DAP than that of 20 DAP. At 80 DAP, theaverage of two-year data revealed that under RF2 treatment the SWShad significantly increased by (5.8%) compared with RF1 treatment. Atvarious planting modes strategies with 200 kg N ha–1 has significantlyimproved SWS than that of 300 kg N ha–1 throughout the growth stages.There were non-significant differences in the SWS among the differenttreatments from 60 to 80 DAP, during both study years. As the N fer-tilizer levels improved up to 200 kg ha–1 under different planting modesstrategies, the SWS increased (except 300 kg N ha–1) throughout thegrowth stages of maize crop (Fig. 3).

The (Table 4) showed that there were considerable variations in ET

among the various treatments. Maize growth was fast with the max-imum rainwater consumption as a result higher transpiration. Underthe CP treatment with various N fertilizer levels led to higher ET ratethan that of RF and PM cultivation techniques. In 2016, under the RF1,RF2, and RF3 treatments, the ET was significantly improved by 5.1%,6.9% and 9.6% than that of RF0 treatment, and PM1, PM2, PM3 treat-ment were significantly improved the seasonal ET by the 2.0%, 4.7%and 9.1% as evaluated with PM0 treatment, while compared with CP0

treatment the ET rate under the CP1, CP2, CP3 treatments were sig-nificantly improved by 8.3%, 11.0% and 15.3%, respectively. In 2017,under the RF1, RF2, and RF3 treatments the ET was significantly im-proved by 2.6%, 4.7% and 7.9% than that of RF0 treatment, and PM1,PM2, PM3 treatments were significantly improved the seasonal ET bythe 10.7%, 16.8% and 21.5% as evaluated with PM0 treatment, whilecompared with CP0 treatment the ET rate under the CP1, CP2, CP3

treatments were significantly increased by 8.6%, 15.8% and 21.9%,respectively.

Fig. 3. Variations in soil water storage in the soil water content dynamics in 0–200 cm layers with different treatments at six different growing stages during2016–2017. Note: RF: ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting system with plastic film mulching; PM: flat planting with plastic film mulching; CP: conventional flatplanting without plastic film mulching; 0: 0 kg N ha−1; 1: 100 kg N ha−1; 2: 200 kg N ha−1; 3: 300 kg N ha−1. The vertical bars represent the LSD (n = 3).

Y. Li, et al. Agricultural Water Management 223 (2019) 105723

4

4.2. Characteristics of grain-filling

The field study of two-year confirmed that the Wmax, Gmax and Gmean

increased with increasing N fertilizer levels under different cultivationtechniques (Table 2). During 2016 year, under the RF and PM cultiva-tion techniques at different N fertilizer levels the Wmax, Gmax and Gmean

have non-significant difference, while the Wmax, Gmax and Gmean weresignificantly decreased under the low N level than that of high N levelunder the different cultivation techniques. The Wmax, Gmax and Gmean

were significantly higher under the higher N fertilizer level with RF andPM cultivation techniques during the 2017; however, under the RF andPM planting models there was non-significant variation between the200 and 300 kg N ha–1, respectively. The occurrence time of maximalfilling (Tmax) under the RF and PM cultivation techniques was sig-nificantly later as compared with CP cultivation technique under the200 and 300 kg N ha−1 during 2016–17. However, during both studyyears, under the RF and PM treatments there was non-significant var-iation in AGP. The AGP improved with improving N levels under dif-ferent cultivation techniques. The AGP was significantly higher underhigher N level than that of low N fertilizer level under different culti-vation techniques.

4.3. Hormonal changes

4.3.1. IAA and Z+ZR contentsAt the early seed filling stages the IAA and Z + ZR quickly increased

and then declined, under the RF planting the IAA and Z + ZR wassignificantly improved than that of PM and CP planting techniques(Figs. 4 and 5). The RF system significantly affected the IAA and Z + ZRunder various N fertilizer levels. The RF planting with 300 kg N ha–1

significantly improved the IAA and Z + ZR contents as compared withPM and CP cultivation techniques under same N fertilizer level. Underthe RF3 and PM3 cultivation techniques the IAA and Z + ZR was sig-nificantly improved at 3–24 days after silking, as compared with CP3

cultivation technique. Also, the peak of the IAA and Z + ZR under theRF3 cultivation technique was higher than that of PM3 and CP3 treat-ments. At 18 DAS, the IAA and Z + ZR under the RF and PM cultivationtechniques reached to maximum value, while at 21 DAS, the IAA andZ + ZR contents in the grains of the CP cultivation technique reached amaximum value. The RF planting with 200 kg N ha–1 also significantlyimproved the IAA and Z + ZR in the early seed filling stage. However,the peak of the IAA and Z + ZR under the RF system was synchronousas compared with PM cultivation technique. The RF2 treatment also

Table 2Effects of different cultivation techniques and nutrient management’s strategieson grain-filling characteristics of maize in.2016–2017.

Treatments Wmax

(mg)Gmean

(mg grain−1 d-1)Gmax

(mg grain−1 d-1)Tmax (d) AGP (d)

2016RF0 265.31f 6.65c 10.53f 26.18c 39.30e

RF1 278.09d 6.83b 11.26d 27.49b 41.43c

RF2 284.15c 7.07a 12.02b 27.55b 42.48c

RF3 291.92a 7.11a 12.21a 28.97a 46.72a

PM0 264.13f 6.65c 9.74g 25.95d 39.12e

PM1 275.22e 6.92b 11.49c 27.15b 41.30c

PM2 279.40d 7.04a 11.94b 27.16b 42.29c

PM3 287.14b 7.08a 12.16a 28.14a 46.45a

CP0 256.91g 5.87e 9.82g 24.26f 37.70g

CP1 265.13f 5.99e 10.63f 24.40f 38.85f

CP2 272.49e 6.29d 10.93e 24.50f 40.46d

CP3 276.45d 6.38d 11.17d 24.84e 44.83b

ANOVACT ns * * ns nsNS * * * * *

CT * NS ns ns ns ns ns2017RF0 261.75e 6.11e 10.40c 26.38c 38.10f

RF1 273.21c 6.69c 10.48c 26.68c 42.54d

RF2 279.91b 6.97a 10.92b 27.29b 42.80d

RF3 283.16a 7.05a 11.29a 28.82a 46.72a

PM0 259.11f 5.97f 10.36d 25.98d 37.06g

PM1 268.41d 6.64c 10.47c 26.86c 40.51e

PM2 273.96c 6.81b 10.90b 27.11b 40.96e

PM3 279.32b 6.93a 11.25a 28.48a 45.30b

CP0 252.95g 5.61g 8.08f 23.49f 36.89h

CP1 260.14e 5.90f 9.58e 24.16e 40.12e

CP2 268.51d 6.27d 10.28d 24.20e 40.70e

CP3 270.44c 6.37d 10.56b 24.96e 45.10c

ANOVACT * ns * ** *NS * ** ns * ns

CT * NS ns ns ns ns ns

Note: RF: ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting system with plastic filmmulching; PM: flat planting with plastic film mulching; CP: conventional flatplanting without plastic film mulching; 0: 0 kg N ha−1; 1: 100 kg N ha−1; 2:200 kg N ha−1; 3: 300 kg N ha−1. Wmax: the final maximum grain weight; Gmax:maximum grain-filling rates; Gmean: mean grain-filling rates; Tmax: occurrencetime of maximal filling rate; AGP: activity grain-filling period. Followed bydifferent small letters within a column indicate significantly different at the 5%probability level (LSD; n = 3). ** Significant differences at p < 0.01; * sig-nificant differences at p < 0.05; ns indicates non-significant difference.

Fig. 4. Effects of cultivation techniqueson IAA content in maize grains underdifferent nutrients management strate-gies. Note: RF: ridge and furrow rainfallharvesting system with plastic filmmulching; PM: flat planting with plasticfilm mulching; CP: conventional flatplanting without plastic film mulching;0: 0 kg N ha−1; 1: 100 kg N ha−1; 2:200 kg N ha−1; 3: 300 kg N ha−1. Thevertical bars represent the LSD (n = 3).

Y. Li, et al. Agricultural Water Management 223 (2019) 105723

5

significantly enhanced the IAA and Z + ZR than that of PM and CPcultivation techniques.

4.3.2. ABA contentAt the early seed filling stages the ABA rapidly improved and then

declined, under the RF3 cultivation technique the ABA content wassignificantly improved as compared with PM3 and CP3 planting tech-niques (Fig. 6). Under the RF2 or RF3 treatments significantly improvedthe ABA content compared with PM and CP cultivation techniques.However, under CP cultivation technique with 0 or 100 kg N ha–1hasnon-significant effects on the ABA content, while CP cultivation tech-nique with 200 or 300 kg N ha–1only significantly improved the ABAcontent.

4.3.3. GA and ETH evolution rateThe GAs and ETH indicated the similar changing trends during seed

filling stage. The GAs and ETH reduced gradually in the whole grainfilling stage (Figs. 7 and 8). The GAs and ETH were significantly higherunder CP cultivation technique than those of RF and PM cultivationtechniques in the whole seed filling stage. Under the CP1 treatmentsignificantly increased the GAs and ETH than that of RF and PM cul-tivation techniques under same N fertilizer level. In contrast, at the

100 kg N ha–1, RF and PM cultivation techniques significantly de-creased the GAs and the ETH as compared with CP cultivation tech-nique. At the 100 or 200 kg N ha–1 with different cultivation techniqueshad no significant variation was observed for the GAs and the ETH.However, the GAs and the ETH under the RF0 cultivation techniquewere significantly lower than those to PM0 and CP0 cultivation tech-niques (Table 3).

4.4. Dry matter accumulation and yield components

In 2016, the pre-silking dry matter indicated a considerable varia-tion among the three cultivation techniques under different N fertilizerlevels (Table 4), while under the RF and PM cultivation techniques thepost-silking dry matter was significantly maximum compared to CPcultivation technique at four different N fertilizer levels. During 2016,under the RF system the pre-silking, post-silking and the total drymatter was significantly maximum as compared with PM and CP cul-tivation techniques. The mean of two-year data revealed that the RFand PM planting methods the total dry matter plant−1 significantlyimproved by 19.8% and 15.6% compared with CP planting. Under thesame cultivation techniques the total dry matter significantly improvedwith the increasing of N fertilizer levels. Under the RF3 and PM3

Fig. 5. Effects of cultivation techniqueson Z + ZR content in maize grainsunder different nutrients managementstrategies. Note: RF: ridge and furrowrainfall harvesting system with plasticfilm mulching; PM: flat planting withplastic film mulching; CP: conventionalflat planting without plastic filmmulching; 0: 0 kg N ha−1; 1:100 kg N ha−1; 2: 200 kg N ha−1; 3:300 kg N ha−1. The vertical bars re-present the LSD (n = 3).

Fig. 6. Effects of cultivation techniqueson ABA content in maize grains underdifferent nutrients management strate-gies. Note: RF: ridge and furrow rainfallharvesting system with plastic filmmulching; PM: flat planting with plasticfilm mulching; CP: conventional flatplanting without plastic film mulching;0: 0 kg N ha−1; 1: 100 kg N ha−1; 2:200 kg Nnha−1; 3: 300 kg N ha−1. Thevertical bars represent the LSD (n = 3).

Y. Li, et al. Agricultural Water Management 223 (2019) 105723

6

treatments, the total dry matter in 2016 increased by 10.5% and 7.6%and by 20.6% and 17.9% in 2017 than that of CP3. The ridge furrowsystem with plastic film mulching produced the highest grain yield wasdue to maximum kernels ear−1, ear length, kernel weight ear−1,thousand kernels weight and yield per plant. Under the RF and PMcultivation techniques, the maximum grain yield per plant was re-garded than that of CP cultivation technique due to its higher yieldcomponents and efficient precipitation utilization.

4.5. WUE and production

The WUE under the RF and PM cultivation techniques significantlyincreased as compared with CP cultivation technique and there was alsoconsiderable variation in WUE between the RF and PM cultivationtechniques (Table 5). Under the RF3 and PM3 cultivation techniques,the mean of two year WUE improved by 55.5% and 34.4%, then that ofCP3 cultivation technique. Evaluated with the CP2 cultivation tech-nique, the mean of two year WUE improved by 48.9% and 31.6% underRF2 and PM2 cultivation techniques. The WUE under RF1 and PM1

cultivation techniques was increased by 56.7% and 32.6%, then that ofCP2 cultivation technique. During 2016-17, under the various N ferti-lizer levels with different planting methods significantly increased the

maize production. The average of two years data revealed that maizeseed yield for each of the treatments was ranked as:RF3 > PM3 > RF2 > RF1 > PM2 > PM1 > CP3 > CP2 > CP1 > RF0 >PM0 > CP0 cultivation techniques. The average grain yield with RF0,RF1, RF2, RF3, PM0, PM1, PM2 and PM3 were significantly increased by1.1 t ha−1 (19.3%), 3.0 t ha−1 (43.1%), 2.5 t ha−1 (32.5%), 3.0 t ha−1

(36.2%), 0.6 t ha−1 (11.0%), 1.9 t ha−1 (27.0%), 2.0 t ha−1 (26.0%),and 2.3 t ha−1 (28.2%), respectively, as compared with CP0, CP1, CP2

and CP3 treatments (Table 5).

4.6. Correlation coefficients

The correlation coefficients indicated significant variation in thepeak hormone contents, seed filling rate, WUE and grain yield of themaize plants (Table 5). The IAA, Z + ZR, ABA, and GA contents in theseeds significantly positively correlated with the maximum and meanseed filling rates, AGP, Tmax and the maximum seed weight, respec-tively. However, the ETH evolution rate of the grains was negativelyand significantly correlated with the maximum and mean seed fillingrates, AGP, Tmax and the maximum seed weight.

Fig. 7. Effects of cultivation techniqueson GAs content in maize grains underdifferent nutrients management strate-gies. Note: RF: ridge and furrow rainfallharvesting system with plastic filmmulching; PM: flat planting with plasticfilm mulching; CP: conventional flatplanting without plastic film mulching;0: 0 kg N ha−1; 1: 100 kg N ha−1; 2:200 kg N ha−1; 3: 300 kg N ha−1. Thevertical bars represent the LSD (n = 3).

Fig. 8. Effects of cultivation techniqueson ETH evolution rate in maize grainsunder different nutrients managementstrategies. Note: RF: ridge and furrowrainfall harvesting system with plasticfilm mulching; PM: flat planting withplastic film mulching; CP: conventionalflat planting without plastic filmmulching; 0: 0 kg N ha−1; 1:100 kg N ha−1; 2: 200 kg N ha−1; 3:300 kg N ha−1. The vertical bars re-present the LSD (n = 3).

Y. Li, et al. Agricultural Water Management 223 (2019) 105723

7

5. Discussion

5.1. Effects of nutrients and planting modes strategies on SWS andproduction Soil

water shortage is an essential limiting factor for maize productivityin the rain-fed regions (Du et al., 2015), while the SWS was primarilyinfluenced by rainfall, which is the most vital water source for dry-landfarming system (Liu et al., 2014). The RF planting reduced evaporationand can efficiently save more precipitation in the soil as compared withflat cultivation (Hu et al., 2014). We found that under the RF2 and PM2

treatments were recorded no drought conditions, which makes sure thesuccessful growth of maize plant. Under the RF planting, rainwaterdirectly moves into the planting zone and then deep penetration in soil,so decrease water losses by evaporation (Gan et al., 2008). We alsofound that the RF2 treatment SWS was significantly increased at dif-ferent growth stages than that of all treatments. Frequent drought isalso an important factor that limits crop yields. Previous studies havesuggested that RF system with medium N application could sig-nificantly improve the moisture, temperature, and the nutrients of soiland that the RF system is an effective way to increase water availabilityfor crop yield (Martinez et al., 2011; Blanco-Moure et al., 2012). The RF

model is better consuming the light rainfall; as a result the SWC underRF system was significantly maximum as compared with CP cultivationmodel (Ren et al., 2010). The (Fig. 3) showed that as the N fertilizerlevels improved up to 200 kg ha–1 under different planting modesstrategies, the SWS increased throughout the growth stages of maizecrop. Transpiration is the key mechanism of water utilization, which ispositive relationship with biomass; therefore, the cultivation techniquesand nutrients had a considerable effect on ET rate (Xu et al., 2007).Under the CP treatment with various N fertilizer levels led to higher ETrate than that of RF and PM cultivation techniques.

5.2. Relationship between maize seed filling process and hormone changes

Grain filling, which determines the grain weight, is an importantagronomic trait of maize, and previous studies have indicated that CTsignificantly affects the grain weight of wheat (Liu et al., 2004; Zhanget al., 2009). The active seed filling duration finds out the final grainyield. This seed filling rate is not only calculated hereditarily; howeverits also affected by ecological environment such as, sowing date, nu-trients level, planting modes, and cultivation models (Wu et al., 2011).Earlier research works reported that RF system with nutrient strategiespromoted the seed filling process early as compared with flat cultiva-tion without plastic film mulching as a result improved the maize seedfilling process and final grain weight (Zhang et al., 2010). We find outthat the Wmax, Gmax and Gmean were significantly higher under thehigher N fertilizer level with RF and PM cultivation techniques; how-ever, under the RF and PM planting models, there was non-significantvariation between the 200 and 300 kg N ha–1. Maize grains can be di-vided into superior and inferior grains according to the degree and rateof filling. Yang and Zhang (2010) suggested that “super” rice cultivarsfrequently do not exhibit their high yield potential due to the poor grainfilling of inferior grains. The AGP improved with improving N levelsunder different cultivation techniques. The AGP was significantlyhigher under higher N level than that of low N fertilizer level underdifferent cultivation techniques. Xu et al. (2007) have suggested thatnon-flooded plastic mulching cultivation significantly decreases thegrain-filling rate and grain weight of inferior grains of rice compared totraditional flooding cultivation; however, this cultivation has no sucheffect on superior rice grains, indicating that the inferior grains aremore sensitive to soil moisture. Grain filling is significantly synchro-nized by Cytokinins (CTKs) and IAA, which has been significantlylinked with grain development (Zhang et al., 2009a). IAA and CTKs aregenerally found in the grain of maize endosperm, which is essential forcell partition (Yang et al., 2002). At 18 DAS, the IAA and Z + ZR underthe RF and PM cultivation techniques reached to maximum value, whileat 21 DAS, the IAA and Z + ZR of the CP cultivation technique reacheda maximum value. Singh and Gerung (1982) reported that in the earlysilking stage the IAA and Z + ZR may normalize maize seed filling,most probable using the management of endosperm cell division.

The IAA, Z + ZR, ETH and ABA play key roles in regulated seedfilling. Yang et al. (2006) reported that the maximum ABA content andminimum ETH evolution rate found in maize seeds were play key rolesin a regulated higher grain filling process. We also find a same resultthat the ABA content transiently increased and then decline, under theRF3 cultivation technique the ABA content improved than that of PM3

and CP3 planting techniques (Fig. 6). However, CP cultivation tech-nique with 200 or 300 kg N ha–1only significantly improved the ABAcontent. Yang et al. (2006) reported that ABA improves the ETH whichcontrols the grain-filling rate. In peas crop a rapid pod elongation wasdue to maximum GAs content in the endosperm (Eeuwens andSchwabe, 1975). Relatively large panicle of rice just before and atflowering was due to high levels of GAs content (Yang et al., 2006). Atthe 100 or 200 kg N ha–1 with different cultivation techniques had nosignificant variation was observed for the GAs and ETH. However, theGAs and ETH under the RF0 cultivation technique were significantlylower than those to PM0 and CP0 cultivation techniques. This outcome

Table 3Effects of different treatments on ear length (cm), No. of grains ear−1, grainweight ear−1, thousand grain weight (g) and grain yield plant−1 (g) of maizeduring.2016–2017.

Treatments Ear length(cm)

No. ofGrains(ear−1)

Grainweight(ear−1)

1000-grainsweight (g)

Grain yieldplant−1 (g)

2016RF0 11.9c 318.8g 94.0f 296.5d 109.07f

RF1 14.6b 410.2e 119.4d 317.7b 119.07e

RF2 16.5a 465.8d 134.6b 323.0a 158.96c

RF3 17.6a 549.3a 145.2a 328.4a 199.18a

PM0 10.7d 278.7h 87.9g 277.2f 97.67g

PM1 13.6c 397.6e 103.8e 313.6c 107.14f

PM2 15.8b 458.9d 128.5c 319.5b 142.32d

PM3 16.9a 517.4b 138.4b 324.0a 190.14b

CP0 10.2d 239.9i 84.1g 251.9h 85.06h

CP1 12.7c 344.5f 103.7e 268.2g 91.22g

CP2 15.1b 451.9d 122.4d 278.0f 115.84e

CP3 16.1a 485.5c 131.6c 287.8e 163.16c

ANOVACT ** * * ** **NS * * * ns **CT * NS ns ns ns ns ns2017RF0 12.9c 343.0h 96.6e 266.7c 96.46e

RF1 15.9b 422.3f 129.9c 275.9b 99.25e

RF2 17.8a 475.3d 133.9b 280.8b 139.74c

RF3 18.9a 559.2a 148.1a 290.8a 175.85a

PM0 11.1d 300.6i 90.9f 237.4e 68.58g

PM1 15.2b 400.1g 112.3d 243.2e 84.16f

PM2 17.5a 466.1d 129.3c 247.5d 123.81d

PM3 18.3a 525.4b 142.9a 251.8d 164.52b

CP0 10.5d 285.9j 80.9g 227.9g 55.89h

CP1 13.5c 361.5h 110.4d 235.0f 60.05h

CP2 17.1a 456.8e 124.6c 238.5e 76.77f

CP3 17.7a 491.5c 137.6b 242.0e 120.26d

ANOVACT ns * * ** *NS * * * ns *CT * NS ns ns ns ns ns

Note: RF: ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting system with plastic filmmulching; PM: flat planting with plastic film mulching; CP: conventional flatplanting without plastic film mulching; 0: 0 kg N ha−1; 1: 100 kg N ha−1; 2:200 kg N ha−1; 3: 300 kg N ha−1. Followed by different small letters within acolumn indicate significantly different at the 5% probability level (LSD; n = 3).** Significant differences at p < 0.01; * significant differences at p < 0.05; nsindicates non-significant difference.

Y. Li, et al. Agricultural Water Management 223 (2019) 105723

8

shows that ABA promotes while ETH inhibits a seed filling process ofmaize, this is consistent with an earlier study (Suzuki et al., 1981). Inaddition to Z + ZR and IAA, ABA and ETH also play important roles inregulated grain filling. Yang et al. (2006) suggested that the higher ABAconcentration and lower ETH concentration found in superior versusinferior wheat grains were associated with a higher filling rate in thesuperior grains.

5.3. Water use efficiency, biomass and grain yield

The crop water utilization is directly associated with biomass pro-duction (Li et al., 2001). The RF planting with nutrient strategies canenhance the soil water, thereby increasing the biomass production (Maet al., 2008). We also find out that under the RF system the pre-silking,post-silking and total dry matter was significantly maximum as com-pared with PM and CP cultivation techniques. Under the plastic filmmulching with nutrient strategies improved the dry matter by raisingsoil moisture utilization efficiently and speeds up the maize develop-ment (Payero et al., 2008). But, under the same cultivation techniques,the total dry matter significantly improved with the increasing of Nfertilizer levels. Under the RF3 and PM3 treatments, the total dry matterin 2016 increased by 10.5% and 7.6% and by 20.6% and 17.9% in 2017than that of CP3. The ridge furrow system with plastic film mulchingproduced the highest grain yield was due to maximum soil water sto-rage.

Fertilization can significantly improve the transpiration, which isthe main mechanism to improving the WUE (Chen et al., 2011). Underthe RF3 and PM3 cultivation techniques, the mean of two year WUEimproved by 55.5% and 34.4%, than that of CP3 cultivation technique.The RF planting can improve the accessibility of rainwater to crops thenthat of flat planting; thereby maximum WUE (Ren et al., 2008). Theaverage grain yields with RF0, RF1, RF2, RF3, PM0, PM1, PM2 and PM3

were significantly increased by (19.3%), (43.1%), (32.5%), (36.2%),(11.0%), (27.0%), (26.0%), and (28.2%), respectively, as compared

Table 4Effects of different treatments on Total dry matter (g plant−1), pre-silking and post-silking dry matter (g plant−1), evoptranspiration (ET, mm), water use efficiency(WUE, kg mm−1 ha−1) and grain yield (t ha−1) of maize during.2016–2017.

Treatments Total DM(g plant−1)

Pre-silking DM (g plant−1) Post-silkingDM (g plant−1)

ET(mm)

WUE(kg mm−1 ha−1)

Grain yield(t ha−1)

2016RF0 267.7g 119.2f 148.5f 352.1f 17.9e 6.3f

RF1 317.3d 140.8c 176.4d 370.1e 27.3b 10.1b

RF2 325.7c 143.7c 182.0c 376.4e 27.4b 10.3b

RF3 380.7a 159.6a 221.2a 385.9d 29.3a 11.3a

PM0 257.0h 117.6f 139.3g 381.0d 15.7f 6.0f

PM1 301.9e 135.5d 166.4e 388.6d 21.4d 8.3d

PM2 313.4d 138.2d 175.2d 398.9c 24.1c 9.6c

PM3 370.7a 150.8b 219.8a 415.7b 24.5c 10.2b

CP0 224.4j 109.4g 115.1i 372.7e 15.0f 5.6g

CP1 244.8i 116.2f 128.6h 403.7c 17.6e 7.1e

CP2 281.3f 127.4e 153.9f 413.7b 18.1e 7.5e

CP3 344.6b 146.6c 198.0b 429.8a 19.1d 8.2d

ANOVACT * * * * ** **NS * * * * * *CT * NS ns ns ns ns ns *2017RF0 227.6g 106.6e 121.0h 309.9f 21.6d 6.7d

RF1 262.7d 118.5c 144.2f 318.0e 29.9b 9.5b

RF2 283.3c 125.6b 157.7d 324.4e 31.1a 10.1a

RF3 355.6a 147.6a 208.0a 334.4d 32.6a 10.9a

PM0 218.2g 102.7f 115.4i 304.1f 20.1d 6.1e

PM1 251.4e 111.7d 139.7f 336.6d 27.0c 9.1b

PM2 275.7c 123.1b 152.6e 355.3c 27.6c 9.8b

PM3 347.6a 145.1a 202.6b 369.5b 29.0b 10.7a

CP0 181.9i 88.8g 93.0j 321.5e 16.5f 5.3f

CP1 210.7h 96.7f 114.0i 349.3c 18.9e 6.6d

CP2 237.6f 107.5e 130.0g 372.4b 21.2d 7.9c

CP3 294.9b 123.9b 171.1c 392.0a 20.7d 8.1c

ANOVACT * ** * * * *NS * * * * * *CT * NS ns ns * ns ns ns

Note: RF: ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting system with plastic film mulching; PM: flat planting with plastic film mulching; CP: conventional flat planting withoutplastic film mulching; 0: 0 kg N ha−1; 1: 100 kg N ha−1; 2: 200 kg N ha−1; 3: 300 kg N ha−1. Followed by different small letters within a column indicate significantlydifferent at the 5% probability level (LSD; n = 3). ** Significant differences at p < 0.01; * significant differences at p < 0.05; ns indicates non-significant dif-ference.

Table 5Correlation coefficients of peak hormone contents in wheat seed with themaximum seed weight (Wmax), mean seed filling rate (Gmean), and maximumseed filling rate (Gmax), occurrence time of maximal filling rate (Tmax), activitygrain-filling period (AGP), water use efficiency (WUE) and grain yield (GY) ofmaize.

Wmax Gmean Gmax T max AGPIAA 0.9330b 0.9112b 0.9696b 0.7636b 0.9344b

Z+ZR 0.5904a 0.8301b 0.6442a 0.9798b 0.8830b

ABA 0.9525b 0.7234a 0.9734b 0.8569b 0.9710b

GAs 0.9177b 0.7027a 0.9338b 0.8150b 0.9847b

ETH −0.9768b −0.7636b −0.9344b −0.8543b −0.9798b

WUE 0.8585b 0.9798b 0.8830b 0.9716b 0.8152b

GY 0.9270b 0.8569b 0.9710b 0.5904a 0.8301b

IAA, indole-3-acetic acid; Z, zeatin; ZR, zeatin riboside; ABA, abscisic acid; GAs,gibberellins 1 plus 4; ETH: ethylene.

a Significant at the 0.05 probability level (n = 12).b Significant at the 0.01 probability level (n = 12).

Y. Li, et al. Agricultural Water Management 223 (2019) 105723

9

with CP0, CP1, CP2 and CP3 treatments (Table 5). Hu et al. (2014) findout that no need to implement RF planting where greater than 400 mmof rainfall, and increasing the maize yield under plastic film was notsignificantly than that of flat cultivation. In addition, we found thatnutrients significantly improved the production and decrease the ET, asa result efficiently improving the precipitation utilization and WUE (Liand Gong, 2002).

6. Conclusion

The outcome of current research work clearly recommended thatgrain-filling rate, hormonal changes, dry matter, yield components,WUE and ET of maize under the RF technique were significantly higheras compared with PM and CP cultivation techniques under differentnutrient strategies. Under the same cultivation techniques, as N levelsincreased to 200 kg N ha−1, the soil water storage, phytohormones suchas IAA, Z + ZR, ABA content, were significantly improved and reducingGAs, ETH evolution rate, which led to improve maize production ascompared with control plots. Nitrogen applications at 300 kg ha−1 havesignificantly reduced soil water storage and ET rate at different culti-vation techniques. These results indicated that under the RF3 treatmentimproved grain filling process, WUE and grain yield. Nitrogen appli-cations at the rate of 300 kg ha−1 with either RF or PM cultivationtechniques significantly affected hormonal changes, therefore, reg-ulating the Wmax, Gmax, Gmean, Tmax, and AGP of maize. These findingrevealed that RF3 is a new planting methods in the rain-fed areas, be-cause its significantly improved SWS, WUE, total dry mater, grainfilling rates, thus improve hormonal changes in maize grains, whichaffected yield components and maize production. Future study isneeded to investigate the impact of different nutrient and plantingmodes strategies on crops production, runoff use efficiency and eco-nomic benefit under different ridge-furrow ratios, soil types, slopes andplant species.

Declaration of Competing Interest

No conflict of interest exists in the submission of this manuscript.

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the FundamentalResearch Funds for the Central Universities (lzujbky-2019-33), theProgram for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team inUniversity (IRT-17R50), the Strategic Priority Research Program ofChinese Academy of Sciences (XDA2010010203), and the NationalNatural Science Foundation of China (31672472). The comments of theanonymous reviewers led to substantial improvements in the paper.

References

Abbas, G., Hussain, A., Ahmad, A., Wajid, S.A., 2005. Water use efficiency of maizeasaffected by irrigation schedules and nitrogen rates. J. Agric. Soc. Sci. 1, 339–342.

Ali, S., Ma X, Xu., Ahmad, I., Kamran, M., Dong, Z., Cai, T., Jia, Q., Ren, X., Zhang, P., Jia,Z., 2017. Planting models and deficit irrigation strategies to improve wheat pro-duction and water use efficiency under simulated rainfall conditions. Front. Plant Sci.8, 1408. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.01408.

Barbieri, P., Echarte, L., Maggiora, A.D., Sadras, V.O., Echeverria, H., Andrade, F.H.,2012. Maize evapotranspiration and water-use efficiency in response to rowspacing.Agron. J. 104, 939–944.

Blanco-Moure, N., Moret-Fernandez, D., Lopez, M.V., 2012. Dynamics of aggregate de-stabilization by water in soils under long-term conservation tillage in semiarid Spain.Catena 99, 34–41.

Bu, L.D., Liu, J.L., Zhu, L., Luo, S.S., Chen, X.P., Li, S.Q., et al., 2013. The effects ofmulching on maize growth, yield and water use in a semi-arid region. Agr. WaterManage. 123, 71–78.

Chen, Y., Liu, S., Li, H., Li, X.F., Song, C.Y., Cruse, R.M., Zhang, X.Y., 2011. Effects ofconservation planting modes on maize and soybean yield in the humid continentalclimate region of Northeast China. Soil Till. Res. 115, 56–61.

Du, T., Kang, S., Zhang, J., Davies, W.J., 2015. Deficit irrigation and sustainablewater-resource strategies in agriculture for China’s food security. J. Exp. Bot. 66,

2253–2269.Eeuwens, C.J., Schwabe, W.W., 1975. Seed and pod wall development in Pisum sativum

L. In relation to extracted and applied hormones. J. Exp. Bot. 26, 1–14.Gan, Y., Huang, G.B., Liu, J.H., Hu, Y.G., 2008. Unique conservation planting modes

practicesin northwest China. In: Goddard, T., Zoebisch, M.A., Gan, Y., Ellis, W.,Watson, A., Sombatpanit, S. (Eds.), No-Till Farming Systems. World Association513ofSoil and Water Conservation. Funny Publ, Bangkok, pp. 429–445 (ISBN978-514974–8391-60-1).

Gao, S.J., Wang, W.J., Xia, F.J., Cheng, S.M., Liu, J.H., 2000. The changing rules ofcontent of inner GA3, ABA in big kernel wheat variety. J. Henan Agric. Univ. 34,213–215 (in Chinese with English abstract).

Gao, Y.H., Bing, W.U., Jiang, H.Y., Wen, X.G., Niu, J.Y., Feng, Q.Y., 2015. Effects offilmmulching time on grain filling characteristics of maize with film mulcheddouble-furrow sowing. Agric. Res. Arid Areas 33, 30–35.

Han, J., Jia, Z.K., Wu, W., Li, C.S., Han, Q.F., Zhang, J., 2014. Modeling impacts of filmmulching on rainfed crop yield in Northern China with DNDC. Field Crops Res. 155,202–212.

Hu, Q., Pan, F., Pan, X.B., Zhang, D., Yang, N., Pan, Z.H., Zhao, P.Y., Tuo, D.B., 2014.Effects of a ridge-furrow micro-field rainwater-harvesting system on potatoyield in asemi-arid region. Field Crops Res. 166, 92–101.

Jia, Y., Li, F.M., Wang, X.L., Yang, S.M., 2006. Soil water and alfalfa yields as affectedbyalternating ridges and furrows in rainfall harvest in a semiaridenvironment. FieldCrops Res. 97, 167–175.

Li, X.Y., Gong, J.D., 2002. Effects of different ridge:furrow ratios and supplemental irri-gation on crop production in ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting system with mul-ches. Agric. Water Manage. 54, 243–254.

Li, C.J., Wen, X.X., Wan, X.J., Liu, Y., Han, J., Liao, Y.C., Wu, W., 2016. Towards the-highly effective use of precipitation by ridge-furrow with plastic film mulchingin-stead of relying on irrigation resources in a dry semi-humid area. Field CropsRes. 188,62–73.

Li, M., Li, W., 2004. Regulation of fertilizer and density on sink and source traits andyieldof maize. Scientia Agric. Sinica 37, 1130–1137.

Li, S.X., Wang, Z.H., Malhi, S.S., Li, S.Q., Gao, Y.J., Tian, X.H., 2009. Nutrient and wa-termanagement effects on crop production, and nutrient and water use efficiencyindryland areas of China. Adv. Agron. 102, 223–265.

Li, X.Y., Gong, J.D., Gao, Q.Z., Li, F.R., 2001. Incorporation of ridge and furrowmethod ofrainfall harvesting with mulching for crop production undersemiarid conditions.Agric. Water Manage. 50, 173–183.

Liu, J., Bu, L., Zhu, L., Luo, S., Chen, X., Li, S., 2014. Optimizing plant density andplasticfilm mulch to increase maize productivity and water-use efficiency insemiarid areas.Agron. J. 106, 1138–1146.

Liu, L.J., Gao, H.W., Li, H.W., 2004. Conservation tillage for corn-wheat tow crops a yearregion. Trans. CSAE 20, 70–73 (in Chinese with English abstract).

Liu, Y., Yanwei, S., Dandan, G., Xiaoxia, W., Yu, C., Changjiang, L., Yuncheng, L., 2013.Effects of conservation planting modes on grain filling and hormonal changes inwheat under simulated rainfall conditions. Field Crops Res. 144, 43–51.

Ma, S.Q., Wang, Q., Luo, X.L., 2008. Effect of climate change on maize (Zea mays)growthand yield based on stage sowing. Acta Ecol. Sin. 28, 2131–2139 (inChinese withEnglish abstract).

Martinez, I., Ovalle, C., Del Pozo, A., Uribe, H., Valderrama, N., Prat, C., Sandoval, M.,Fernandez, F., Zagal, E., 2011. Influence of conservation tillage and soil water con-tent of crop yield in dry-land compacted alfisol of central chile. Chil. J. Agric. Res. 71,615–622.

Nagaz, K., Toumi, I., Mahjoub, I., Masmoudi, M.M., Mechila, N.B., 2012. Yield andwater-use efficiency of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) R. Br.) underdeficit irrigationwith saline water in arid conditions of Southern Tunisia. Res. J. Agron. 1, 9–17.

Payero, J.O., Tarkalson, D.D., Irmak, S., Davison, D., Petersen, J.L., 2008. Effect ofirri-gation amounts applied with subsurface drip irrigation on maizeevapotranspiration,yield, water use efficiency, and dry matter production in asemiarid climate. Agric.Water Manage. 95, 895–908.

Ren, X.L., Jia, Z.K., Chen, X.L., 2008. Rainfall concentration for increasing maize pro-duction under semiarid climate. Agric. Water Manage. 95, 1293–1302.

Ren, X.L., Chen, X.L., Jia, Z.K., 2010. Effect of rainfall collecting with ridge andfurrow onsoil moisture and root growth of maize in semiarid northwest China. J. Agron. CropSci. 196, 109–122.

Sangoi, L., Almeida, M.L.D., Silva, P.R.F.D., Argenta, G., 2002. Morpho-physiologi-calbases for greater tolerance of modern maize hybrids to high plant densities.Bragantia 61, 101–110.

Seghatoleslami, M.J., Kafi, M., Majidi, E., 2008. Effect of deficit irrigation on yield,WUEand some morphological and phenological traits of three millet species. Pak. J. Bot.40, 1555–1560.

Singh, G., Gerung, S.B., 1982. Hormonal role in the problem of sterility in Oryza sativa.Plant Physiol. Biochem. 9, 22–23.

Singh, R.K., Chakraborty, D., Garg, R.N., Sharmay, P.K., Sharma, U.C., 2010. Effect of-different water regimes and nitrogen application on growth, yield, water useandnitrogen uptake by pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum). Indian J. Agric. Sci. 80,213–216.

Suzuki, Y., Kurogochi, S., Murofushi, N., Ota, Y., Takahashi, N., 1981. Seasonal changes ofGA1, GA19 and abscisic acid in three rice cultivars. Plant Cell Physiol. 22,1085–1093.

Tiquia, S.M., Lloyd, J., Herms, D.A., Hoitink, H.A.J., Michel Jr., F.C., 2002. Effects of-mulching and fertilization on soil nutrients, microbial activity and rhizo-spherebacterial community structure determined by analysis of TRFLPs ofPCR-am-plified 16S rRNA genes. Agric., Ecosyst. Environ. Appl. Soil Ecol. 21, 31–48.

Wang, Q., Song, X.Y., Li, F.C., Hu, G.H., Zhang, E.H., Wang, H.L., Davies, R., 2015a.Optimum ridge-furrow ratio and suitable ridge-mulching material for

Y. Li, et al. Agricultural Water Management 223 (2019) 105723

10

Alfalfaproduction in rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of China. Field CropsRes. 180, 186–196.

Wang, Q., Song, X.Y., Li, F.C., Hu, G.H., Zhang, E.H., Wang, H.L., Davies, R., 2015b.Optimum ridge-furrow ratio and suitable ridge-mulching material forAlfalfaproduction in rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of China. Field CropsRes. 180, 186–196.

Wang, Y., Liu, Y., Haijun, L.U., Zhang, N., Chenguang, W.U., Zhang, Y., Liao, Y., Wen, X.,Aamp, N., University, F., 2014. Effect of water stress on grain filling andhormonechanges in grains of summer maize. Acta Agric. Boreali-Occidentalis Sinica. 23,28–32.

Wen, X.X., Zhang, D.Q., Liao, Y.C., Jia, Z.K., Ji, S.Q., 2012. Effect of water-collectingandretaining techniques on photosynthetic rates, yield, and water useefficiency of milletgrown in a semiarid region. J. Integr. Agric. 11, 1119–1128.

Wu, Y., Jia, Z.K., Ren, X.L., Zhang, Y., Chen, X., Bing, H.Y., Zhang, P., 2015. Effectsofridge and furrow rainwater harvesting system combined with irrigation onim-proving water use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) in semi-humid area of China.Agric. Water Manage. 158, 1–9.

Wu, Y.Z., Huang, M.B., Warrington, D.N., 2011. Growth and transpiration of maizeandwinter wheat in response to water deficits in pots and plots. Environ. Exp. Bot. 71,65–71.

Xu, Y.J., Gu, D.J., Zhang, B.B., Zhang, H., Wang, Z.Q., Yang, J.C., 2013. Hormone

contents in kernels at different positions on an ear and their relationship with en-dosperm development and kernel filling in maize. Acta Agron Sin. 39 (8), 1452–1461(in Chinese with English abstract).

Xu, G.W., Zhang, J.H., Lam, H.M., Wang, Z.Q., Yang, J.C., 2007. Hormonal changes arerelated to the poor grain filling in the inferior spikelets of rice cultivated under non-flooded and mulched condition. Field Crops Res. 101, 53–61.

Yang, J.C., Zhang, J.H., 2010. Grain-filling problem in ‘super’ rice. J. Exp. Bot. 61, 1–4.Yang, J.C., Zhang, J.H., Huang, Z.L., Wang, Z.Q., Zhu, Q.S., Liu, L.J., 2002. Correlation of

cytokinin levels in the endosperms and roots with cell number and cell division ac-tivity during endosperm development in rice. Ann. Bot. 90, 369–377.

Yang, J.C., Zhang, J.H., Liu, K., Wang, Z.Q., Liu, L.J., 2006. Abscisic acid and ethyleneinteract in wheat grains in response to soil drying during grain filling. New Phytol.171, 293–303.

Zhang, H., Tan, G.L., Yang, L.N., Yang, J.C., Zhang, J.H., Zhao, B.H., 2009. Hormones inthe grains and roots in relation to post-anthesis development of inferior and superiorspikelets in japonica/indica hybrid rice. Plant Physiol. Biochem. 47, 195–204.

Zhang, J.P., Sun, J.S., Liu, Z.G., Gao, Y., 2010. Effect of moisture and mulching onoilingcharacteristics and yield of summer maize. Chinese J. Eco-Agric. 18, 501–506.

Zhang, M., Song, Z.W., Chen, T., Yan, X.G., Zhu, P., Ren, J., 2015. Differences in responsesof biomass production and grain-filling to planting density between spring maizecultivars. J. Maize Sci. 23, 57–65.

Y. Li, et al. Agricultural Water Management 223 (2019) 105723

11