Maize Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.5, 276-283 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/mgg 277 friendly. Studies have shown that using these methods, the yield and income of corn and wheat rotation can be nearly 50% higher than traditional broadcasting (Jat et al., 2021). Another improvement method is ridge cultivation, which can make corn grow taller, have larger ears, more grains, and a higher emergence rate, and the effect is significantly better than broadcasting and row seeding. 2.2 Regional ecological adaptation of sowing strategies Today's sowing methods are increasingly "adapting to local conditions". Different places have different climates, so sowing time and methods should also be adjusted accordingly. This can better adapt to climate change and reduce the risk of yield reduction caused by changes in temperature and rainfall (Lv et al., 2019; Xu et al., 2021; Rao et al., 2022). For example, in China and India, adjusting the sowing date and selecting suitable new varieties can effectively offset the negative impact of climate change. Studies have found that delaying sowing and selecting good varieties can help maintain yield stability (Lv et al., 2019; Srivastava et al., 2022). For another example, in Argentina, farmers introduced genetically modified corn and flexibly arranged sowing dates so that corn can be planted in more semi-arid or sub-humid areas to avoid drought problems during the critical growth period (Otegui et al., 2021). 2.3 Impact on emergence uniformity and stand establishment The selection of sowing methods will directly affect whether the seedlings are uniform. The uniform emergence of seedlings will ensure stable growth and guaranteed yield. Ridge cultivation and precision seeding can sow seeds more evenly and at a more appropriate depth, so that seedlings emerge faster and more evenly. Some studies have shown that the emergence rate of ridge cultivation can reach 89% (Laghari et al., 2024). If the seedlings emerge evenly, the field will not be messy, and corn will not compete for water and fertilizer. Precision seeding, which sows seeds at similar depths, can also make the seedlings in the entire field grow more uniformly. This early advantage will make the later growth smoother and the yield higher, and corn can also withstand problems such as drought and high temperature. 3 Optimization of Planting Density and Row Configuration 3.1 Trade-offs between plant competition and yield per area Increasing the planting density and reducing the row spacing can often increase the number of ears and the efficiency of land use, thereby increasing the yield per unit area. However, when the density is too high, the corn will compete with each other for light, water and nutrients, which will affect individual development. If the corn is planted too densely, the number and weight of corn grains may decrease, and even more fertilizer may not necessarily alleviate this competition (Haegele et al., 2014). If you want to have a stable yield, you have to match the planting density and row spacing well and find a balance. This can prevent the corn from growing too crowded, especially when the climate is unstable, this approach is more secure (Haarhoff and Swanepoel, 2022; Noland et al., 2025). 3.2 Light interception efficiency and row spacing alignment The width of the row spacing affects how the corn receives sunlight. Compared with wide row spacing, narrow row spacing such as 38 cm can increase the number of ears, improve yield, and make the spacing between plants more uniform, all of which are related to high yield (Noland et al., 2025). However, the effect may be different in different environments. Sometimes, a wide row spacing of 0.76 meters can receive more sunlight; in other places, a narrow row spacing of 0.52 meters allows the plants to form a better cover layer and capture more light (Haarhoff and Swanepoel, 2022). There are also some other arrangements, such as alternating narrow and wide rows or double row planting, which can also help improve radiation use efficiency (RUE) and improve the lighting environment. But their yield effects also depend on whether the planting density and climatic conditions are suitable (Liu et al., 2012; Haegele et al., 2014). 3.3 Constraints and physiological adjustments in high-density planting When the density increases, corn will adjust itself, such as growing more leaves, increasing the leaf area index, or changing the canopy structure to adapt to more intense competition (Pelech et al., 2022). But this adjustment also has its limits. If the density is too high and exceeds the tolerance of the corn variety, the yield may stagnate or
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