Abstract
Abstract One of the main challenges of using low plant densities in restrictive and variable environments is to maximize the use of resources in better‐than‐expected years. In this context, tillering could be an alternative to increase reproductive and vegetative plasticity. The objectives of this study were to (a) characterize the correlation between environmental conditions, tiller traits, crop grain yield, and grain yield advantages due to tillers; (b) determine the grain yield response to tillering (i.e., grain yield difference between tillered and nontillered crops) for a wide range of environments; and (c) to evaluate the effect of tiller presence on grain yield of the main shoot, considering its effect on the apical and subapical ears. Tillered and nontillered crops were evaluated under rainfed conditions during two seasons (2018–2019 and 2019–2020). These experiments were carried out at 11 sites in the southern Argentinean Pampas, varying sowing date (22 Oct. to 5 Dec.), plant density (2–3 plants m −2 ), genotype (AX7784 and AX7761), and soil depth. Grain yield (3.2–11.9 Mg ha −1 ) was correlated with tillers productivity, mainly explained by postflowering precipitations. The contribution of tillers to grain yield was more proportional than their consequent yield depression at the main shoot. Tillers either increased (3 sites) or maintained (8 sites) grain yield, and their contribution increased as the environment improved without any detrimental effect in the most restrictive environments. Tillering has the potential for increasing resource (radiation, water, nitrogen) use efficiency under low plant density strategies adopted for restrictive environments.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Maize grain yield of 3.2–11.9 Mg ha −1 correlated with tiller productivity.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Grain yield (3.2–11.9 Mg ha −1 ) was correlated with tillers productivity, mainly explained by postflowering precipitations.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Postflowering precipitation mainly explained tiller productivity.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Grain yield (3.2–11.9 Mg ha −1 ) was correlated with tillers productivity, mainly explained by postflowering precipitations.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Tiller yield contribution exceeded the associated yield depression of the main shoot.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The contribution of tillers to grain yield was more proportional than their consequent yield depression at the main shoot.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Tillering increased grain yield at three sites.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tillers either increased (3 sites) or maintained (8 sites) grain yield”
t0“maize”
e1“Tillered and nontillered crops were evaluated under rainfed conditions”
Claim · model-written summary
Tillering maintained grain yield at eight sites.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tillers either increased (3 sites) or maintained (8 sites) grain yield”
t0“maize”
e1“Tillered and nontillered crops were evaluated under rainfed conditions”
Claim · model-written summary
The tiller contribution increased as environments improved.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“their contribution increased as the environment improved”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Tillers did not harm grain yield in the most restrictive environments.
- Treatment
- Tillerede1
- Outcome
- effecte0
- Direction
- without any detrimental effecte0
- Qualifier
- most restrictive environmentse0
- Comparator
- nontillerede1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“without any detrimental effect in the most restrictive environments”
e1“Tillered and nontillered crops were evaluated under rainfed conditions”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest tillering could improve radiation, water and nitrogen use efficiency at low density.
- Outcome
- resource (radiation, water, nitrogen) use efficiencye0
- Qualifier
- low plant density strategiese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tillering has the potential for increasing resource (radiation, water, nitrogen) use efficiency under low plant density strategies adopted for restrictive environments.”
t0“maize”
The same questions in other papers
tillage · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results
811 papers in the same direction as this paper · 230 in the opposite direction · 57 reporting no difference from an alternative
- positive
- no effect
- negative
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See all 1,099 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.