What the study found
The study found that changing how nitrogen fertilizer was split between basal application and topdressing affected the second basal internode, a key load-bearing stem segment in winter wheat. Under the 3:7 nitrogen split, lodging resistance improved and yield increased compared with the control split.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say the findings provide agronomically applicable nitrogen management guidelines for high-yield winter wheat systems. The study suggests that managing the second basal internode may help balance lodging resistance and yield.
What the researchers tested
The researchers ran field experiments over two seasons with three winter wheat cultivars and three nitrogen split ratios: 5:5, 3:7, and 7:3, with a constant total nitrogen rate of 270 kg ha−1. They measured the second basal internode’s mechanical properties, morphology, anatomy, and composition, and used structural equation modeling to analyze the relationships among them.
What worked and what didn't
Across all treatments, the culm lodging resistance index decreased by 41.8% from flowering to milk stage. The 3:7 treatment significantly improved lodging resistance at all stages and increased yield by 12.2% compared with the control 5:5 treatment, while the study reports lodging-treatment values of culm lodging resistance index between 0.11 and 0.15 at the milk stage.
What to keep in mind
The abstract describes field experiments in the North China Plain under a fixed total nitrogen rate, so the findings are limited to that setting as presented. The available summary does not describe additional limitations beyond this scope.
Key points
- The second basal internode was treated as a key load-bearing structure for lodging resistance in winter wheat.
- A 3:7 basal-to-topdressing nitrogen split improved culm lodging resistance index at all stages.
- The 3:7 treatment increased yield by 12.2% compared with the 5:5 control treatment.
- Culm lodging resistance index fell by 41.8% from flowering to milk stage across treatments.
- Structural equation modeling supported a composition–structure–lodging resistance–yield chain.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Nitrogen split ratio affected lodging resistance and yield in winter wheat
- Authors:
- Chong Shang, Qianwen Li, Weiwei Duan, Jinkao Guo, Baoyuan Zhou, Jiayu Ma, Li Wang, Xuejing Liu, Wenchao Zhen
- Institutions:
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hebei Agricultural University, Hebei Agricultural University, Hebei Agricultural University, Hebei Agricultural University, Hebei Agricultural University, Hebei University of Engineering, Institute of Crop Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, North China University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-02
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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