Work

Synergistic application of growth regulators and nitrogen is associated with improved maize yield under saline stress through optimized growth dynamics

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Ensuring food security by expanding crop production into marginal lands faces the dual challenge of environmental stress and resource limitations. We fitted and evaluated a logistic growth model to quantify how growth regulator (GR) and nitrogen (N) fertilization were associated with maize growth dynamics, nitrogen use efficiency ( NUE ), and yield formation under saline-alkaline stress. Field experiments in southern Xinjiang, China, evaluated three GR concentrations (200-, 500-, and 800-fold dilutions; GR1, GR2, GR3) combined with four N rates (225, 300, 375, 450 kg ha −1 ; N1-N4) under resource-saving magnetoelectric-activated brackish water irrigation. The logistic model achieved close fit ( R 2 = 0.970–0.999) for plant height and dry matter accumulation dynamics. Within the current single-season dataset, GR2N3 increased maximum dry matter accumulation rate ( DMV max ) and average dry matter accumulation rate ( DMV avg ) by 59.34% and 57.50%, respectively, relative to CK, corresponding to a grain yield of 12.35 t ha −1 , which was 54.18% higher than that of CK. An exploratory multiple-regression model incorporating dry matter accumulation, DMV avg, and nitrogen use efficiency explained 97.5% of the yield variation within the current dataset. In addition, DMV avg alone was strongly associated with yield ( R 2 = 0.91). Response-surface analysis ( R 2 = 0.86) estimated a theoretical maximum DMV avg of 1.26 t ha −1 d −1 at a GR dilution of 750-fold and an N rate of 500 kg ha −1 ; because the estimated N rate exceeded the experimentally tested range, this result should be interpreted as a model-derived estimate rather than a validated recommendation. The results provide site-specific, model-based insights into growth–yield relationships under arid saline–alkaline conditions, rather than broadly applicable nitrogen recommendations. The model-derived growth parameters quantitatively demonstrated that yield improvement was primarily associated with coordinated enhancement of growth-rate dynamics, rather than with biomass accumulation alone. These findings provide a quantitative framework for precision maize management and offer an analytical basis for sustainable intensification and food security in saline–alkaline regions.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-64851-8