Dry Matter Gains in Maize Kernels Are Dependent on Their Nitrogen Accumulation Rates and Duration during Grain Filling

Abstract

Progressive N assimilation by maize kernels may constrain dry matter (DM) accumulation and final kernel weights (KW). We sought to better understand whole-plant and kernel N mechanisms associated with incremental DM and N accumulation patterns in kernels during grain fill. Maize was grown with multiple fertilizer N rates and N timings or plant densities to achieve a wide N availability gradient. Whole-plant DM and N sampling enabled determination of apparent N nutrition sufficiency at flowering (NNIR1) and when linear-fill began (NNIR3). Linear-plateau, mixed-effects models were fitted to kernel DM and N accumulation data collected weekly from early R3. Higher N supply, regardless of application timing or plant density, increased grain-fill duration (GFD) and, more inconsistently, effective grain-filling rate (EGFR). Kernels accumulated DM and N for similar durations. Both final KW and kernel N content increased consistently with N availability mostly because of higher kernel N accumulation rates (KNAR) and duration (KNAD). Both NNIR1 and NNIR3 were positively associated with KNAD and KNAR, and less strongly with EGFR. These results confirm the direct role of kernel N accumulation, in addition to prior NNI, in limiting KW gain rates and duration during grain filling.