Canopy structure and light distribution of maize under oriented planting pattern

Parameters of maize canopy structure and photosynthetic effective radiation in different canopy height at different measured times were studied to reveal the mechanism of yield increasing under oriented planting pattern.The compact type maize Xianyu 335 and semi-compact type maize Jidan 50 were grown under oriented seeding,random seeding, oriented transplanting and random transplanting to research the photosynthetic utility and light distribution under diverse planting patterns. The results indicated that there were differences between leaf vertical distribution proportions of the two maize varieties at tasseling time, which didn't change alone with the planting pattern. In the morning(10:00-10:15), the rate of light capture increased by 10.6% and 23.5% under orientation seeding pattern and transplanting pattern. Photosynthetic active radiations fell faster in the central of the group from2 m to 1 m under oriented patterns than those under the random patterns and at the same time, it could guarantee a certain light transmittance at the bottom of the group in oriented patterns. In the case of convenient mechanical condition, oriented planting pattern can establish reasonable and effective canopy to use light. It will provide a new way for the high yield cultivation of maize.