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Acta Agronomica Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (9): 2335-2346.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1006.2024.44015

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Deep side fertilization improved soybean yield by optimizing leaf function and nitrogen accumulation

XU Yi-Fan**(), XU Cai-Long**(), LI Rui-Dong, WU Zong-Sheng, HUA Jian-Xin, YANG Lin, SONG Wen-Wen*(), WU Cun-Xiang*()   

  1. Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / National Soybean Industrial Technology R & D Center, Beijing 100081, China
  • Received:2024-01-24 Accepted:2024-05-21 Online:2024-09-12 Published:2024-06-04
  • Contact: *E-mail: wucunxiang@caas.cn; E-mail: songwenwen@caas.cn
  • About author:First author contact:**Contributed equally to this work
  • Supported by:
    National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFE0105000);National Natural Science Foundation of China(32101845);China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(CARS-04)

Abstract:

Fertilizers play a crucial role in providing essential nutrients for crops, promoting photosynthesis, and enhancing crop growth and yield formation. The Huang-Huai-Hai region is a significant soybean production area in China, known for high-quality soybean cultivation. Optimizing fertilization techniques in this region is pivotal for improving soybean yields and reducing soybean import pressure in China. In this experiment, we implemented four treatments: no fertilization (F0), side deep fertilization (F1), equidistant deep fertilization (F2), and surface fertilization (F3). The objective was to study the variations in soybean leaf physiological indices, material accumulation, and yield composition under different fertilization methods. Our aim was to elucidate the relationship between fertilization practices and soybean production, providing theoretical support for sustainable and efficient soybean production in the Huang-Huai-Hai region. The results demonstrated that the F1 treatment significantly increased the potential photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), the actual photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II [Y(II)], the electron transfer rate (ETR), and the photochemical fluorescence quenching coefficient (qP) of soybean leaves during the pod-grain stage. Compared to the other treatments, the F1 treatment led to a 3.61%-22.86% increase in Y(II) in soybean leaves during the late reproductive stage. Regarding antioxidant metabolism, the F1 treatment significantly enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in soybean leaves. In comparison to the other treatments, the F1-treated leaves exhibited a 6.32%-35.34% increase in SOD activity and a 1.93%-50.55% increase in CAT activity during the late seed filling stage, subsequently contributing to a boosted net photosynthetic rate (29.42%-70.10%). The enhancement of photosynthetic function in the F1 treatment resulted in increased dry matter (1.17%-101.18%) and nitrogen (1.01%-88.14%) accumulation during the middle and late fertility stages, providing a foundation for increased yield. Changes in fertilization practices (F1 and F2 treatments) led to a significant increase in soybean yield by 10.66% and 6.55%, respectively, compared to the F3 treatment. Further analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between soybean leaf Fv/Fm, Y(II), Pn, SOD, CAT activities, and the number of pods per plant, number of grains per plant, and overall yield. In conclusion, side-depth fertilization enhanced the late antioxidant system function of soybean leaves, improved photosynthesis and material accumulation, optimized yield composition, and promoted increased soybean yield.

Key words: side deep fertilization, chlorophyll, fluorescence parameters, photosynthetic capacity, yield

Fig. 1

Rainfall and temperature at the test site 2020-2022"

Fig. 2

Schematic representation of fertilizer application methods for different treatments F0: no fertilization; F1: side deep fertilization; F2: equidistant deep fertilization; F3: surface fertilization."

Table 1

Effects of treatment (T) and year (Y) and their interactions on the measured parameters of this study"

项目
Item
变异来源Source of variation
产量
Yield
单株
荚数
Pods per plant
单株
粒数
Seeds per plant
百粒重
100-seed weight
叶面积指数LAI 净光合速率Pn 蒸腾
速率
Tr
最大光化学量子产量Fv/Fm 实际光化学效率Y(II) 电子传递速率ETR 光化学淬灭系数qP 超氧化物歧化酶SOD 过氧化氢酶CAT
处理Treatment (T) ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** NS ** ** **
年份
Year (Y)
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
处理×年份
T×Y
NS ** ** NS ** ** NS NS NS

Fig. 3

Effect of fertilizer application methods on stay-green of soybean F0: no fertilization, F1: side deep fertilization, F2: equidistant deep fertilization, F3: surface fertilization."

Fig. 4

Effects of fertilizer application methods on net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate of soybean F0: no fertilization; F1: side deep fertilization; F2: equidistant deep fertilization; F3: surface fertilization; R1: beginning bloom; R3: beginning pod; R5: beginning seed; R7: beginning maturity. Pn: net photosynthetic rate; Tr: transpiration rate."

Fig. 5

Effects of fertilizer application methods on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of soybean in 2022 F0: no fertilization, F1: side deep fertilization, F2: equidistant deep fertilization, F3: surface fertilization; R1: beginning bloom; R3: beginning pod; R5: beginning seed; R7: beginning maturity. Y(II): actual photochemical efficiency; Fv/Fm: optimal/maximal quantum yield of photosystem II; ETR: electron transport rate; qp: photochemical quenching."

Fig. 6

Effects of fertilizer application methods on SOD and CAT activities in soybean F0: no fertilization; F1: side deep fertilization; F2: equidistant deep fertilization; F3: surface fertilization; V3: third node; R1: beginning bloom; R3: beginning pod; R5: beginning seed; R7: beginning maturity. CAT: catalase; SOD: superoxide dismutase."

Fig. 7

Correlation analysis of yield and leaf photosynthetic function related indexes F0: no fertilization; F1: side deep fertilization; F2: equidistant deep fertilization; F3: surface fertilization. Pn: net photosynthetic rate; Tr: transpiration rate; Y(II): actual photochemical efficiency; Fv/Fm: optimal/maximal quantum yield of photosystem II; CAT: catalase; SOD: superoxide dismutase. ** indicates significant differences at the 0.01 probability level. NS: no significant difference."

Fig. 8

Effects of fertilizer application methods on dry matter and nitrogen accumulation in soybean F0: no fertilization; F1: side deep fertilization; F2: equidistant deep fertilization; F3: surface fertilization."

Fig. 9

2020-2022 Soybean yield and yield components of each treatment F0: no fertilization; F1: side deep fertilization; F2: equidistant deep fertilization; F3: surface fertilization. Different lowercase letters indicate significant difference at the 0.05 probability level between treatments during the same growth period."

Fig. 10

Correlation analysis of leaf photosynthetic, physiological characteristics, and yield components SPP: seeds per plant; PPP: pods per plant; HSW: hundred-seed weight; Pn: net photosynthetic rate; Tr: transpiration rate; Y(II): actual photochemical efficiency; qP: photochemical quenching; CAT: catalase; SOD: superoxide dismutase. * and ** indicate significant differences at the 0.05 and 0.01 probability levels, respectively. NS: no significant difference."

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