Abstract
Abstract BACKGROUND Suboptimal densities and regional environmental heterogeneity often constrain maize yield intensification. Increasing planting density and selecting climate‐adapted varieties are therefore critical for improving grain yield. RESULTS The study was conducted at 33 sites in the Guanzhong region from 2017 to 2021, addressing uncertainty in density–variety selection for local maize production. Six varieties (including widely grown and newly introduced types) were tested at four planting densities (45 000–90 000 plants ha −1 ), and their combined effects on yield and agronomic traits were assessed. Results showed that increasing planting density improved grain yield and economic returns. The experimental results identified 75 000–90 000 plants ha −1 as the optimal density range for the region; within this range, yields increased by 6.24–27.31% compared with traditional lower densities (45 000–60 000 plants ha −1 ). All six varieties responded positively to increased planting density, with Shandan 650 and Shandan 8806 showing the greatest yield gains. Specifically, adopting a planting density of 75 000 plants ha −1 with varieties such as Shandan 650 could maximize economic returns while minimizing seed‐cost risks to local farmers in the Guanzhong region. Grain yield was closely associated with climatic conditions during the growing season, with higher precipitation in eastern Guanzhong contributing to superior yields. Furthermore, optimizing 100‐kernel weight and the ear‐to‐plant height ratio may help stabilize yields in medium‐ and low‐yielding fields. CONCLUSION Ultimately, these findings provide a practical yield‐enhancement strategy, offering useful references for transforming low‐productivity fields into high‐yield systems in similar monsoon‐influenced rotation zones worldwide. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
Increasing planting density improved maize grain yield.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Results showed that increasing planting density improved grain yield and economic returns.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Increasing planting density improved economic returns.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Results showed that increasing planting density improved grain yield and economic returns.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The experimental optimum planting density was 75 000–90 000 plants ha −1.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The experimental results identified 75 000–90 000 plants ha −1 as the optimal density range for the region”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
At optimal density, yield increased 6.24–27.31% versus traditional lower densities.
- Treatment
- this rangee0
- Outcome
- yieldse0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 6.24–27.31%e0
- Comparator
- traditional lower densitiese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“within this range, yields increased by 6.24–27.31% compared with traditional lower densities (45 000–60 000 plants ha −1 ).”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
All six varieties responded positively to increased planting density.
- Material
- All six varietiese0
- Treatment
- increased planting densitye0
- Outcome
- yield gainse0
- Direction
- positivelye0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“All six varieties responded positively to increased planting density, with Shandan 650 and Shandan 8806 showing the greatest yield gains.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Shandan 650 showed among the greatest yield gains from increased density.
- Material
- Shandan 650e0
- Treatment
- increased planting densitye0
- Outcome
- yield gainse0
- Direction
- greateste0
- Comparator
- All six varietiese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“All six varieties responded positively to increased planting density, with Shandan 650 and Shandan 8806 showing the greatest yield gains.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Shandan 8806 showed among the greatest yield gains from increased density.
- Material
- Shandan 8806e0
- Treatment
- increased planting densitye0
- Outcome
- yield gainse0
- Direction
- greateste0
- Comparator
- All six varietiese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“All six varieties responded positively to increased planting density, with Shandan 650 and Shandan 8806 showing the greatest yield gains.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
A density of 75 000 plants ha −1 with varieties such as Shandan 650 could maximize economic returns.
- Material
- Shandan 650e0
- Treatment
- 75 000 plants ha −1e0
- Outcome
- maximize economic returnse0
- Setting
- Guanzhong regione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“adopting a planting density of 75 000 plants ha −1 with varieties such as Shandan 650 could maximize economic returns while minimizing seed‐cost risks to local farmers in the Guanzhong region.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
A density of 75 000 plants ha −1 with varieties such as Shandan 650 could minimize seed cost risk.
- Material
- Shandan 650e0
- Treatment
- 75 000 plants ha −1e0
- Outcome
- minimizing seed‐cost riskse0
- Setting
- Guanzhong regione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“adopting a planting density of 75 000 plants ha −1 with varieties such as Shandan 650 could maximize economic returns while minimizing seed‐cost risks to local farmers in the Guanzhong region.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize grain yield was closely associated with growing season climate.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Grain yield was closely associated with climatic conditions during the growing season”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Higher precipitation in eastern Guanzhong contributed to superior yields.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“higher precipitation in eastern Guanzhong contributing to superior yields.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Optimizing 100 kernel weight may help stabilize yields in medium and low yielding fields.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“optimizing 100‐kernel weight and the ear‐to‐plant height ratio may help stabilize yields in medium‐ and low‐yielding fields.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Optimizing the ear to plant height ratio may help stabilize yields in medium and low yielding fields.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“optimizing 100‐kernel weight and the ear‐to‐plant height ratio may help stabilize yields in medium‐ and low‐yielding fields.”
t0“maize”
The same questions in other papers
density · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results
518 papers in the same direction as this paper · 132 in the opposite direction · 7 reporting no difference from an alternative
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