Research on Technologies for Achieving High-Yield Wheat

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2024) | Viewed by 9515

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Crop Research Institute, National Engineering Research Center for Wheat and Maize, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
Interests: plant nutrition; intercropping; rotation; micronutrient; biofortification; high-yielding and high efficiency; agroecology; sustainable agriculture; agricultural green development

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Guest Editor
National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement/Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Agronomy College, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Interests: nitrogen uptake and utilization; root growth and distribution; radiation use efficiency; canopy architecture; high yield; crop photosynthetic physiology and yield formation; field crop production technology; plant density

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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Agri-Environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Interests: plant nutrition and regulation; fertilization; micronutrient; biofortification; integration of water and fertilizer; high-yielding and high efficiency; dryland water and fertilizer management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Achieving high-yield wheat is critical to ensuring global food security. There are lots of practical technologies to improve wheat yields. However, most of these technologies are superficial, and lack convincing experimental data and more in-depth mechanistic studies, especially from farmers or extension personnel. In addition, each year the breeders will announce new record-breaking yields of their wheat cultivars, as it seems the yield level is climbing annually; however, the explanations behind these new records are less studied and summarized. As far as we know, the yield record of wheat has already broken through 15.0 t/ha. Therefore, the technologies for achieving high-yield wheat should be thoroughly summarized and shared all over the world to increase wheat yield in large areas.

This Special Issue focuses on single technology and the combined/integrated systematic technologies for achieving high-yield wheat. The effects of yield improvement and the underlying mechanism, from filed to physiology, ecology, and even at the molecular level, should be presented. Research exploring new technologies involving the integration of agricultural machinery and agronomy to boost agricultural modernization and “green” technologies for improving yield, processing and nutritional qualities as well as protecting the environment are particularly welcome. Original research articles, short communications, and reviews are accepted.

Dr. Haiyong Xia
Dr. Xinglong Dai
Dr. Xiaoli Hui
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • soil tillage
  • sowing quality
  • planting density
  • precision cultivation
  • irrigation
  • fertilization
  • micronutrient
  • integration of water and fertilizer
  • plant growth regulator
  • drones

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1522 KiB  
Article
Appropriate Soil Fertilization or Drone-Based Foliar Zn Spraying Can Simultaneously Improve Yield and Micronutrient (Particularly for Zn) Nutritional Quality of Wheat Grains
by Xue Gao, Qiang Zhao, Nuo Yuan, Xiaojing Li, Bin Zhang, Yinghua Zhu, Lingan Kong, Zhaohui Wang and Haiyong Xia
Agriculture 2024, 14(9), 1530; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14091530 - 5 Sep 2024
Viewed by 466
Abstract
To better understand the effects of agronomic practices on yield–nutrition relationships in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains for Zn biofortification while improving yields simultaneously, effects of different soil fertilization and different drone-based foliar spraying treatments were investigated in calcareous soils. For soil [...] Read more.
To better understand the effects of agronomic practices on yield–nutrition relationships in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains for Zn biofortification while improving yields simultaneously, effects of different soil fertilization and different drone-based foliar spraying treatments were investigated in calcareous soils. For soil fertilization, the incorporation of Zn or increasing the N/P ratio in compound fertilizers proved to be effective in enhancing grain Zn concentrations and yields. However, the overall effects of soil fertilization are limited, with a maximal yield increase of only 7.0% and a maximal increase of the grain Zn concentration from 19.4 to 27.0 mg/kg, which is far below the target biofortification value of 40–50 mg/kg. Unfortunately, there was a negative side effect, which decreased Fe and Mn concentrations and the Fe bioavailability. Notably, drone-based foliar Zn sprayings increased grain yields from the control 7.5 t/ha to 8.6 t/ha at ZnO treatment by 12.0% and 8.8 t/ha at ZnSO4·7H2O treatment by 17.3%. Meanwhile, grain Zn concentrations were increased from the control 33.5 mg/kg to 41.9 mg/kg at ZnO treatment by 25.1% and 43.6 mg/kg at ZnSO4·7H2O treatment by 30.1%. Treatments with ZnSO4·7H2O increased grain Zn concentrations and accumulation more so than ZnO, indicating the importance of chemical Zn forms in determining the effectiveness of foliar spraying. Moreover, foliar Zn sprayings simultaneously increased grain concentrations and accumulation of Fe, Mn and Cu, demonstrating multiple benefits. There were positive correlations between Zn and Fe, Mn or Cu, indicating synergistic interactions. Compared to micronutrients, concentrations of grain macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) were less affected. Thus, a dual-benefit in both grain yields and micronutrient (particularly for Zn) nutrition could be effectively achieved through appropriate soil fertilization and foliar Zn spraying. These findings provide a better understanding of the yield–nutrition relationship among wheat grain yields, Zn and other nutrient elements for a better integrated manipulation to achieve a win–win situation in yield and nutrition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Technologies for Achieving High-Yield Wheat)
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16 pages, 2166 KiB  
Article
Delayed Sowing Can Improve Potassium Utilization Efficiency and Grain Potassium Concentration in Winter Wheat
by Lijun Yin, Yaxin Liao and Xiao Mou
Agriculture 2024, 14(5), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14050678 - 26 Apr 2024
Viewed by 987
Abstract
Economic consumption and environmental impacts due to potassium (K) inputs in agriculture are gaining increasing attention. It is urgent to improve K use efficiency (KUE) for agricultural development. Delayed sowing has been shown to maintain grain yield in winter wheat. Still, there needs [...] Read more.
Economic consumption and environmental impacts due to potassium (K) inputs in agriculture are gaining increasing attention. It is urgent to improve K use efficiency (KUE) for agricultural development. Delayed sowing has been shown to maintain grain yield in winter wheat. Still, there needs to be more information regarding the effect of sowing date on crop K status evaluated by the K nutrition index (KNI), KUE, K uptake efficiency (UPE), K utilization efficiency (UTE), and grain K concentration (GKC). Here, we assessed Shannong23 and Tainong18 winter wheat cultivars with three sowing date treatments composed of 26 September (early sowing), 8 October (normal sowing), and 22 October (late sowing) in the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 growing seasons. The influences of sowing date on the KNI, tillering, grain yield formation, KUE, UPE, UTE, K transport, and GKC were examined. Our study indicated that late sowing in winter wheat was an almost optimal K nutritional situation, whereas early and normal sowing were under situations of excess K. As sowing was delayed, aboveground K uptake (AGK), UPE, and spike number per unit area decreased; UTE and grain number per spike increased; and grain yield and KUE were unchanged. A positive correlation between KNI and UPE and spike number per unit area and a negative correlation between KNI and UTE and grain number per spike were found, whereas no significant correlation between KNI and KUE was observed. Late sowing promoted K transport from pre-anthesis accumulation in vegetative organs to grain, resulting in a higher GKC, which could lead to high grain quality and K recovery. Therefore, late sowing winter wheat can use K more efficiently and increase GKC, implying that delayed sowing can reduce K input, favoring sustainable agriculture development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Technologies for Achieving High-Yield Wheat)
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28 pages, 2283 KiB  
Article
The Quality of Winter Wheat Grain by Different Sowing Strategies and Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates: A Case Study in Northeastern Poland
by Krzysztof Lachutta and Krzysztof Józef Jankowski
Agriculture 2024, 14(4), 552; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14040552 - 30 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3919
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of different sowing strategies and spring nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates on the technological quality of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain in terms of its milling quality, protein complex quality, and enzyme activity (falling [...] Read more.
The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of different sowing strategies and spring nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates on the technological quality of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain in terms of its milling quality, protein complex quality, and enzyme activity (falling number). Winter wheat grain for laboratory analyses was produced in a small-area field experiment conducted between 2018 and 2021 in the AES in Bałcyny (53°35′46.4″ N, 19°51′19.5″ E, NE Poland). The experimental variables were (i) sowing date (early: 6 September 2018, 5 September 2019, and 3 September 2020; delayed by 14 days: 17–20 September; and delayed by 28 days: 1–4 October), (ii) sowing density (200, 300, and 400 live grains m−2), and (iii) split application of N fertilizer in spring (40 + 100, 70 + 70, and 100 + 40 kg ha−1) at BBCH stages 22–25 and 30–31, respectively. A sowing delay of 14 and 28 days increased the bulk density (by 1 and 1.5 percent points (%p), respectively), vitreousness (by 3 and 6%p, respectively), and total protein content of grain (by 1% an 2%, respectively). A sowing delay of 14 days increased grain hardness (by 5%), the flour extraction rate (by 1.4%p), and the falling number (by 3%) while also decreasing grain uniformity (by 1.9%p). In turn, a sowing delay of 28 days increased the wet gluten content of grain (+0.5–0.6%p) and improved the quality of the protein complex in the Zeleny sedimentation test (+1.5%). An increase in sowing density from 200 to 300 live grains m−2 led to a decrease in grain uniformity (by 2.6%p), the total protein content (by 1.5%), and the wet gluten content of grain (by 0.7%p). A further increase in sowing density decreased grain vitreousness (by 1.4%p). The grain of winter wheat fertilized with 40 and 100 kg N ha−1 in BBCH stages 22–25 and 30–31, respectively, was characterized by the highest hardness (64.7), vitreousness (93%), flour extraction rate (73.9%), total protein content (134 g kg−1 DM), wet gluten content (36%), and Zeleny sedimentation index (69 mL). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Technologies for Achieving High-Yield Wheat)
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23 pages, 2679 KiB  
Article
An Agronomic Efficiency Analysis of Winter Wheat at Different Sowing Strategies and Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates: A Case Study in Northeastern Poland
by Krzysztof Lachutta and Krzysztof Józef Jankowski
Agriculture 2024, 14(3), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14030442 - 8 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1698
Abstract
This study was undertaken to examine the influence of the sowing date, sowing density, and split spring application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on plant density, tillering, yield components, and grain yields of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in northeastern Poland between [...] Read more.
This study was undertaken to examine the influence of the sowing date, sowing density, and split spring application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer on plant density, tillering, yield components, and grain yields of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in northeastern Poland between 2018 and 2021. The experiment had a split-plot design with three sowing dates (early (3–6 September), delayed by 14 days, and delayed by 28 days), three sowing densities (200, 300, and 400 live grains m−2), and three split spring N rates (40 + 100, 70 + 70, and 100 + 40 kg ha−1 applied in BBCH stages 22–25 and 30–31, respectively). The number of spikes m−2 increased by 11% on average when winter wheat was sown with a delay of 14 days (17–20 September) and 28 days (1–4 October). The number of spikes m−2 was highest when winter wheat was sown at 300 and 400 live grains m−2. The application of 100 + 40 kg N ha−1 (BBCH 22–25 and 30–31, respectively) increased the number of spikes m−2. An increase in sowing density from 200 to 300 to 400 live grains m−2 decreased the number of grains spike−1 by 5% and 7%, respectively. Thousand grain weight (TGW) increased by 1% and 2% when sowing was delayed by 14 (17–20 September) and 28 days (1–4 October), respectively. In northeastern Poland, grain yields peaked when winter wheat was sown between 17 September and 4 October (10.52–10.58 Mg ha−1). In late-sown winter wheat, grain yields increased due to a higher number of spikes m−2 and higher grain weight. The highest sowing density (400 live grains m−2) induced a greater increase in grain yields than the lowest sowing density (200 live grains m−2) (10.25 vs.10.02 Mg ha−1). In winter wheat sown at a density of 400 live grains m−2, the increase in grain yields resulted in a higher number of spikes m−2. Grain yields peaked in response to 100 kg N ha−1 applied in BBCH stages 22–25 and 40 kg N ha−1 applied in BBCH stages 30–31 (this split N rate increased the number of spikes m−2). In turn, the highest straw yield (6.23 Mg ha−1) was obtained when the second split of N fertilizer was applied in BBCH stages 30–31 (40 + 100 kg N ha−1). Straw yields decreased significantly (by 6%) when winter wheat was sown late (early October). Delayed sowing (mid-September and early October) increased the harvest index (HI) of winter wheat by 5–7%. Split spring N application influenced grain and straw yields, but it had no effect on the HI of winter wheat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Technologies for Achieving High-Yield Wheat)
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15 pages, 2912 KiB  
Article
Trade-Off Strategy for Usage of Phosphorus Fertilizer in Calcareous Soil-Grown Winter Wheat: Yield, Phosphorus Use Efficiency, and Zinc Nutrition Response
by Min Zhang, Feng Shi, Shiyu Peng, Rushan Chai, Liangliang Zhang, Chaochun Zhang and Laichao Luo
Agriculture 2024, 14(3), 373; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14030373 - 25 Feb 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1611
Abstract
Although phosphorus (P) fertilizer application is widely used to improve production, irrational P application has a negative impact on the zinc (Zn) nutrition of cereal crops. Previous researchers observed and confirmed that P application decreases grain Zn concentrations and bioavailability in cereal crops. [...] Read more.
Although phosphorus (P) fertilizer application is widely used to improve production, irrational P application has a negative impact on the zinc (Zn) nutrition of cereal crops. Previous researchers observed and confirmed that P application decreases grain Zn concentrations and bioavailability in cereal crops. However, it remains unclear whether different P fertilizer types can alleviate the antagonism of P and Zn in the soil and grain and, thus, enhance the Zn nutritional level of cereal crops while maintaining production. Thus, a completely randomized pot experiment was conducted on winter wheat grown in two calcareous soils (lime concretion black soil and fluvo-aquic soil). Five P fertilizer types (single superphosphate, diammonium phosphate, fused calcium–magnesium phosphate, triple superphosphate, and ammonium polyphosphate, abbreviated, respectively, as SSP, DAP, FMP, TSP, and APP) were applied to each soil compared to no P fertilizer (CK). Plant and topsoil samples were collected during the flowering and maturity stages of winter wheat, and biomass, Zn concentrations in each organ, and grain phytic acid concentrations were analyzed. Grain yield was not affected by the application of different P fertilizer types to lime concretion black soil, while it was significantly increased by the application of TSP and APP to fluvo-aquic soil. The application of DAP and APP effectively promoted soil available Zn concentrations in both calcareous soils. In lime concretion black soil, the application of FMP significantly increased Zn remobilization to grains, while the application of DAP increased post-anthesis Zn uptake, thereby increasing grain Zn concentrations and its bioavailability. In fluvo-aquic soil, post-anthesis Zn remobilization and uptake were significantly increased by the application of TSP and APP, finally achieving higher grain Zn concentrations and Zn harvest index and effectively promoting grain Zn bioavailability. In conclusion, the rational application of DAP to wheat grown in lime concretion black soil and of TSP or APP to fluvo-aquic soil can achieve superior grain Zn nutrition quality while concurrently retaining high production and high P use efficiency, reducing micronutrient deficiency and further contributing to green agricultural development and human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Technologies for Achieving High-Yield Wheat)
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