NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, AND POTASSIUM NUTRIENT EFFECTS ON GRAIN FILLING AND YIELD OF HIGH-YIELDING SUMMER CORN

A three-site-year field experiment was conducted to determine nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizer effects on grain filling dynamics and yield formation of high-yielding summer corn (Zea mays L.) in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-corn double crop cropping system. Application of combined NPK fertilizers resulted in the greatest grain yield, largest grain number and grain weight when compared with the treatments receiving N, NP or NK. Grain filling rate and duration, grain volume, and grain yield increased with NPK rates; however; doubling the rate of 180 kg N ha(-1), 40 kg P ha(-1), and 75 kg K ha(-1) fertilizer only led to minimal increases in grain filling rate (0.8%), grain filling duration (1.6%), grain volume (1.3%) and grain yield (0.4 %). Our results suggested that for the high-yielding summer corn, a combined NPK fertilization is required to enhance grain filling and yield, and that under well-fertilized circumstances, limited increases in both grain filling and sink capacity might be the main factor restricting further yield improvement.