Field Crop 2025, Vol.8, No.6, 265-273 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 270 It's not that the more you give, the better. Some studies suggest that a nitrogen fertilizer application rate of 225 kilograms per hectare is more appropriate. Combined with fractional fertilization, it can make the stems thicker, increase the lignin content, and develop the root system more solidly. Thus, it can not only stabilize the plant height and ear position but also control the lodging rate, and the yield will increase instead (Gao et al., 2024). However, if too much nitrogen fertilizer is added and the density is not properly adjusted, the plants are more likely to grow wildly, becoming tall and soft, and a single wind or rain may cause a large number of them to fall over. In contrast, deep plowing is more effective in enhancing the dry matter and mechanical strength of the stems than shallow plowing, and is more beneficial in resisting lodging. There is also the factor of line spacing. By adjusting it, the light distribution can be improved, making the base internodes more solid and thereby indirectly reducing lodging (Jin et al., 2023; Liu et al., 2023). In addition, some plant growth regulators such as envalazole and EDAH can effectively control plant height and enhance stem toughness, and are particularly useful in close planting conditions (Xu et al., 2017). Figure 2 Definition of optimal planting density (OPD) and OPD yield for FP, NM, and AM (Adopted from Lei et al., 2025) 6.2 Lodging evaluation standards and efficient field monitoring technologies The problem of lodging cannot be judged merely by visual inspection. How to assess and monitor it is also quite crucial. Some indicators, such as the bending resistance of the stem, the penetrating power of the fruit peel, the diameter of the internodes and the uprooting force, etc., are directly related to the lodging rate. The higher the value, the lower the risk of lodging. Nowadays, many new technologies have also been put into use, such as root extraction resistance testers, mechanical testing equipment, and even remote sensing methods, all of which can help collect these data quickly and objectively (Guo et al., 2021). Especially when breeding varieties or adjusting management strategies, this batch evaluation capability is particularly valuable, and precision agriculture thus has a more solid data support. 6.3 Adaptability of lodging-resistance technologies across diverse ecological zones Not every anti-lodging plan works everywhere. When the climate conditions change, the strategy must also be adjusted accordingly. In areas with high altitude and strong sunlight, the internodes of plants tend to be more robust. However, in the event of frequent heavy rain or wind disasters, even the strongest stem and root structure may not be able to withstand it. Therefore, different ecological zones require corresponding and compatible variety combinations. For example, it is more reliable to select those types with high lignin content, compact structure and well-developed root systems. Of course, in addition to choosing varieties, the arrangement of density and the management of fertilizer and water also need to be adjusted in accordance with local environmental conditions. After all, a truly practical anti-lodging system depends on whether it can really run in the field (Zhang et al., 2024). 7 Conclusion and Future Perspectives Does high-density planting necessarily mean high risk? It might have been in the past, but not necessarily now. The current hybrid varieties of corn are not like those tall but easily fallen types in the early years. The stems are
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