TY  - EJOU
AU  - Xu, Chen 
AU  - Luan, Tianhao 
AU  - Qi, Zexin 
AU  - Liu, Xiaolong 
AU  - Liu, Yaliang 
AU  - Sun, Hui 
AU  - Li, Yueqiao 
AU  - Sun, Ning 
AU  - Li, Qian 
AU  - Bian, Shaofeng 
AU  - Zhang, Lihua 
AU  - Zhao, Hongxiang 

TI  - The Combination of Appropriate Drip Irrigation and Straw Mulching Increased the Yield of Maize
T2  - Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany

PY  - 2025
VL  - 94
IS  - 11
SN  - 1851-5657

AB  - Optimizing drip irrigation with straw mulch return represents a promising sustainable intensification strategy for revolutionizing regional water management. This 2-year controlled field experiment examined straw incorporation effects (removal and return) and drip irrigation levels (200, 350, 500 mm) on maize carbon-nitrogen metabolism, root bleeding sap characteristics, dry matter accumulation, and yield. Dry matter and yield increased with irrigation amount. Under 200–350 mm irrigation, straw return enhanced root bleeding intensity; elevated nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium concentrations in bleeding sap; and promoted soluble sugar and hydrolyzed amino acid contents, establishing material foundations for yield formation. Straw mulching increased cytokinin while reducing abscisic acid content, delaying senescence. Leaf activities of nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase significantly increased under straw return, enhancing photosynthesis and improving 100-grain weight, ear length, ear diameter, and yield while decreasing bald tip length. Low irrigation amplified straw return benefits on maize growth and metabolism, whereas high irrigation negated these effects. Therefore, combining drip irrigation with straw return provides scientific foundations for water resource management in Jilin Province and theoretical bases for sustainable agricultural development in water-limited regions.
KW  - Maize; drip irrigation; straw mulching; root bleeding sap characteristics; material accumulation

DO  - 10.32604/phyton.2025.071324