Maize Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 167-181 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/mgg 171 Weeds not only compete for resources but also influence the microbial communities within the soil. Research has shown that certain weed species can alter the rhizosphere microbiota, which can indirectly support or inhibit maize growth depending on the interaction dynamics. For example, in controlled studies, the presence of Bidens pilosa or Amaranthus viridis facilitated maize growth by positively influencing soil microbial communities, showing that some weeds can have beneficial effects under certain conditions (Matos et al., 2019). Herbicide management remains a common weed control approach; however, repeated herbicide use can reduce soil biological activity. Early post-emergent herbicide applications, when timed correctly, can control weeds effectively without substantially affecting soil microorganisms, thus supporting maize growth while preserving soil health. Integrating these practices with crop rotation and manual weeding can further minimize herbicide reliance and optimize maize productivity (Varshitha et al., 2019). 5 Case Study: Comprehensive Impact of Agricultural Practices on Maize Growth and Industrial Benefits 5.1 Case background From early April 2022 to August 2025, Wushanxia Village in Wangzhai Town, Wuyi County, Zhejiang Province actively introduced and promoted high-quality fresh maize varieties, including Zheke Sweet No. 4, Zheke Sweet No. 6, Zhehong Sweet, Zheke Glutinous 101, Zheke Glutinous No.2, Zheke Mi 998, and Zhecainuo 474 (Figure 1). The total planting area reached 468 mu (≈31.2 hectares). The average fresh ear yield was about 1 000 kg per mu, and due to their excellent quality, the market price remained above 6 yuan/kg. The net profit per mu per season reached around 4 000 yuan. This practice not only stabilized local grain production but also created a sustainable path for increasing villagers’ income. Figure 1 Shows the cultivation of high quality fresh corn (Photo by Keli Wang) Fresh maize is a distinctive agricultural product that combines taste, nutrition, and economic value. Its core qualities are sweetness, stickiness, tenderness, and fragrance. It is mainly categorized into three types—sweet maize, glutinous maize, and sweet-glutinous maize-and can be marketed as fresh ears, frozen products, or vacuum-packed products to meet diverse consumer needs. Key factors for successful production include high-quality variety selection, strict isolation planting, precise water and nutrient management, timely harvesting, and efficient post-harvest handling. The Wushanxia Village case demonstrates how the integration of advanced agricultural technologies and premium variety promotion can significantly boost industrial upgrading and farmer income. 5.2 Optimization of irrigation techniques and practical outcomes In maize cultivation, scientific irrigation is essential for improving water use efficiency and increasing yields. In fresh maize production, Wushanxia Village adopted drip irrigation combined with fertigation, delivering water and nutrients directly to the root zone to minimize resource waste. Similar studies have shown that in Northeast China, this technique increased maize yields by 41% in sandy soils and 17% in clay soils (Wu et al., 2019).
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