Field Crop 2025, Vol.8, No.3, 113-125 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 118 indicates that under the drip irrigation system, there is also an optimal range for the absorption of potassium by crops. When excessive nutrient supply exceeds the absorption capacity of crops, the nutrient utilization efficiency will be reduced (Li et al., 2014). There is a significant interaction in the absorption of the three major nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, under the condition of drip irrigation and water and fertilizer. For instance, an appropriate supply of nitrogen can promote the absorption of phosphorus and potassium by the root system, while conversely, sufficient phosphorus and potassium nutrition enhances the plant's utilization efficiency of nitrogen. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehensively optimize the ratio and supply strategy of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to maximize the overall utilization of nutrients. In conclusion, different drip irrigation and fertilization modes have a significant impact on the nutrient absorption efficiency of corn. Reasonably determining the amount and proportion of fertilizer application, choosing appropriate drip irrigation methods (such as surface drip irrigation or shallow-buried drip irrigation), and scientifically arranging the frequency of fertilization are all important measures to improve the absorption and utilization efficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. 4.3 Physiological basis for improving nutrient utilization efficiency Drip irrigation and integrated water and fertilizer management not only enhance the utilization rate of nutrients on a macro level in the field, but also the underlying physiological mechanisms of crops deserve attention. Firstly, a stable and sufficient supply of water and fertilizer is conducive to improving the morphology and enhancing the function of corn root systems. Under drip irrigation conditions, corn roots tend to be more distributed in the surface layer and the moist area of the dripper, with an increase in root length density and the number of root hairs, thereby enhancing the absorption capacity of the root system for water and nutrients (Guo et al., 2024). Meanwhile, the continuous and appropriate soil moisture avoids the inhibition of the root system by drought stress, keeping the root vitality at a relatively high level. Under conditions of adequate water and fertilizer, the chlorophyll content in corn leaves is relatively high and the photosynthetic rate is faster. Especially in the later stage of grain filling, it can maintain a strong photosynthetic production capacity, providing sufficient assimilation products for nutrient assimilation. Overall, the physiological basis for improving nutrient utilization efficiency through drip irrigation and integrated water and fertilizer management lies in: optimizing the root-crown relationship to promote root absorption and leaf assimilation functions; By delaying aging and enhancing photosynthetic efficiency, the amount of nutrients assimilated by crops has been increased. By coordinating the source-reservoir relationship, the transport efficiency of nutrients to grains was enhanced (Zhang et al., 2023). These physiological improvements jointly support the efficient utilization of nutrients by corn. In actual production, this suggests that we should precisely control the supply of water and fertilizer through the drip irrigation system based on the growth and development characteristics of corn, so as to meet the physiological needs of crops at each stage and fully exert the potential for increased production and efficient utilization of nutrients of crops themselves. 5 Combined Effect of Drip Irrigation and Integrated Water and Fertilizer Management on Corn Yield and Quality 5.1 Regulatory mechanism of the output formation process The formation of corn yield depends on three factors: the number of ears, the number of grains per ear and the grain weight. Water and fertilizer conditions have a significant impact on all these three factors. Drip irrigation and integrated water and fertilizer system effectively regulates the yield formation process by improving the growth environment and promoting the growth and development of corn at all growth stages (Guo et al., 2022). Firstly, in terms of the number of established ears, an adequate and balanced supply of water and fertilizer has increased the emergence rate and individual robustness of corn, reduced the mortality rate and weak plant rate during the seedling stage, and is conducive to achieving a higher effective number of ears. Appropriate water and fertilizer conditions also reduce nutrient competition during the differentiation period of male and female panicles, lower the rate of flower degeneration, and ensure panicle size and panicle grain count from the reproductive source (Mahboob et al., 2020). Secondly, in terms of the number of grains per ear, the integrated water and fertilizer system of drip irrigation mainly ensures the water and fertilizer requirements during the tasseling and
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