Maize Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 167-181 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/mgg 172 Furthermore, regulated deficit irrigation—reducing water supply during periods of low maize water demand and ensuring adequate water during flowering and grain-filling stages—has been shown to save water without reducing yields. In arid regions, combining this method with no-till farming and plastic film mulching increased soil water use efficiency and yield by 15%-22% even with a 20% reduction in irrigation volume (Guo et al., 2019). Wushanxia Village applied similar strategies in certain plots to optimize irrigation efficiency. Internationally, sensor-based technologies such as GreenSeeker have shown great potential in combining irrigation and nitrogen management. In trials conducted in India, nitrogen management guided by GreenSeeker, coupled with proper irrigation, increased maize yield to 6.9 t/ha compared with traditional practices. Such technologies offer future opportunities for Wushanxia Village to further improve water-nutrient use efficiency. 5.3 Fertilization strategies and nutrient management for yield improvement In Wushanxia Village, fresh maize production applied a combined approach of organic and inorganic fertilizers to enhance soil fertility and maintain high yields. Studies in Ghana have shown that this approach can increase maize yields by 37.7% (Ghanney et al., 2020). Certain plots in the village also experimented with combining farmyard manure and NPK fertilizers to boost soil microbial activity and nutrient availability. Globally, conservation tillage combined with precision fertilization tools such as Nutrient Expert has been proven to increase yields by 13%-18% and improve soil biochemical properties (Pramanick et al., 2022). In Ethiopia, conservation agriculture combined with balanced fertilization improved maize yields by 54%-62% compared with traditional methods (Ayele and Petrous, 2022). These practices provide a solid basis for Wushanxia Village to implement digitalized nutrient management in the future. 5.4 Sustainable tillage and soil conservation practices Conservation tillage practices—such as no-till farming, minimum tillage, and crop residue mulching—play a key role in improving soil structure, retaining moisture, and reducing erosion. In certain sloped plots, Wushanxia Village experimented with straw incorporation and no-till farming to reduce soil loss and increase organic matter content. Research in the Loess Plateau of China has shown that no-till farming combined with deep loosening and proper fertilization can significantly improve yield stability and reduce fertilizer loss in semi-arid areas (Zhang et al., 2018). In Nepal’s rice-maize rotation systems, residue mulching with conservation tillage improved soil structure and water retention, leading to more stable yields. In northern China, no-till farming combined with straw return and optimal nitrogen application reduced N2O emissions while maintaining high maize yields, achieving a balance between climate change mitigation and productivity (Tan et al., 2019). 6 Impacts of Climate Change on Maize Growth and Adaptation Strategies 6.1 Rising temperatures and heat stress on maize Climate change-induced temperature increases are leading to more frequent and intense heat stress events, which significantly impact maize growth and productivity. The figure demonstrates how temperature sensitivity varies across regions, highlighting areas where rising temperatures have a pronounced effect on dry matter accumulation (Kim et al., 2022). High temperatures are particularly disruptive during critical growth stages, such as pollination and grain filling, where heat stress reduces pollen viability, silk receptivity, and overall seed set. Research has shown that in regions experiencing temperatures above 35 ℃, maize yield gains diminish substantially, as seen in studies conducted in the U.S. (Thomas, 2015). In addition to affecting yield, elevated temperatures impair key physiological processes in maize, such as photosynthesis and respiration, resulting in reduced biomass accumulation and diminished crop quality. The figure’s depiction of temperature sensitivity supports this, showing that areas with higher SENTavg values are more susceptible to biomass losses under heat stress (Kim et al., 2022). Prolonged exposure to high temperatures accelerates plant senescence, further reducing productivity, with yield losses estimated to reach up to 30% in regions facing sustained heat stress (Himani et al., 2022). To mitigate heat stress, adaptation strategies such as the application of biochar soil amendments have been effective. Biochar improves soil water retention, buffering maize plants against temperature fluctuations and
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