The combining ability and heterosis of sorghum sterile line and restorer line in spring-sown early maturing regions were studied to provide theoretical basis for the parent selection of sorghum hybrid combinations in the future. Using 31 sorghum as parent materials, 206 hybrid combinations were prepared by incomplete diallel cross design, and 13 main traits including plant height, panicle length and combining ability and heterosis of parents and their hybrid F₁ were analyzed. The results showed that there were significant differences in various traits between the sterile and restorer lines of sorghum, and the combining ability of different materials was significantly different. Among the 31 materials, Ji 64A, SX44A, Ji 5535A, Ji 5575A, HLS×125×2999, HLS Zao and Ji R4334 had more advantages in plant height, panicle length, grain weight per panicle, yield, penultimate leaf angle, penultimate width, and antepenultimate leaf angle, etc. The general combining ability of other traits was also excellent, so the six materials were ideal parents. There was a large heterosis utilization potential in the hybrid combination, but the mid-parent heterosis was not prominent. Meanwhile, the yield of the hybrid combination was affected by both additive and non-additive effects. To select excellent parents attention should be paid to the comprehensive traits and general combining ability of the parents, as well as the special combining ability and the complementary effect of the parents.

Using wild oats and cultivated oats as research subjects, an experiment was conducted using wild population materials (Atl-03, Atl-05, Atl-06, Atl-08, Atl-11) and cultivated population materials (ITAO-32, ITAO-36, ITAO-38, ITAO-49, ITAO-50). Photosynthetic parameters including net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO₂ concentration, transpiration rate, and relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value), as well as agronomic traits such as plant height, panicle length, total tiller number, 1000-grain weight, and mean surface area of seed, were measured at heading stage, early grain-filling stage, late grain-filling stage, and maturity, respectively. The results showed there were significant differences in photosynthetic characteristics between wild oats and cultivated oats. The coefficients of variation of wild oats were higher than those of cultivated oats, but cultivated oats exhibited stronger and more stable photosynthetic performance. Furthermore, significant differences were also observed in agronomic traits between wild oats and cultivated oats. Correlation analysis indicated that net photosynthetic rate, flag leaf area, and SPAD value were all significantly positively correlated with 1000-grain weight. Among the wild populations, Atl-11 exhibited the optimal photosynthetic characteristics and agronomic traits; among the cultivated populations, ITAO-36 showed the optimal photosynthetic characteristics and agronomic traits, and both can serve as excellent germplasm resources.

In order to clarify the suitable planting pattern and nitrogen application rate for rapeseed relay cropped rapeseed after wheat, a field experiment was conducted in Dalad Banner, Inner Mongolia. Five nitrogen application rate gradients (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg/ha) were set under three planting modes, including straw removal+tillage (T1), straw returning+tillage (T2), and straw removal+no tillage (T3). The optimal nitrogen rate was determined based on rapeseed biomass, nutrient accumulation, and economic benefits. The results showed that the aboveground biomass, carbon accumulation and potassium accumulation of rapeseed under T2 treatment were all higher than those under T1 and T3 treatments. Under T2 treatment, the average of fresh grass weight, dry grass weight, carbon accumulation, and potassium accumulation of all nitrogen application treatments could reach 60.5 t/ha, 8.0 t/ha, 2981 kg/ha, and 253 kg/ha, respectively. Nitrogen application rate significantly affected the biomass and nutrient accumulation of rapeseed under different planting modes. The biomass and nutrient accumulation of rapeseed increased with the increase of nitrogen application rate within the nitrogen application rate range. Compared with no nitrogen application treatment, the fresh grass weight and dry grass weight of rapeseed increased by 39.8% and 35.1% respectively when the nitrogen application rate was 30 kg/ha, 63.0% and 67.9% at 60 kg/ha, 78.1% and 89.0% at 90 kg/ha, 86.5% and 98.1% at 120 kg/ha. The trend of nutrient accumulation of rapeseed green manure was basically consistent with that of biomass. The input costs and outputs of rapeseed for different purposes varied under different planting modes and nitrogen application rates. Considering the factors such as biomass, nutrient accumulation, and economic benefits of rapeseed for different purposes under different modes, rapeseed can be planted with no-tillage method with wheat straw removal following wheat harvest. The optimal nitrogen application rate for rapeseed as silage feed is 120 kg/ha, and for rapeseed as green manure, the optimal nitrogen application rate is 90 kg/ha.

The main agronomic traits of 513 faba bean germplasm resources at home and abroad were analyzed. The results showed that the coefficient of variation of 15 agronomic traits ranged from 13.09% to 53.58%, indicating that there was a large genetic variation. The coefficient of variation for the number of pods per plant reached the highest value of 53.58%, with a variation range of 1.00 to 42.00, whereas pod width exhibited the lowest coefficient of variation at 13.09%, varying from 0.80 to 2.23 cm. Correlations among traits highlighted that the number of branches, number of effective branches, number of pods per plant, number of grains per plant, plant height, and height of the last pod are key for developing high-yielding faba bean varieties. The principal component analysis extracted five principal components, with the cumulative contribution rate reaching 72.098%, effectively representing the phenotypic characteristics of these germplasm resources. By calculating the membership function values, a comprehensive score (F-value) was derived, and the top 30 germplasm resources with the best comprehensive traits were identified. The cluster analysis subsequently divided the 513 faba bean germplasm resources into three group: Cluster I included 160 resources (31.19% of the total), characterized by high plant height and yield; Cluster II comprised 221 resources (43.08% of the total), suitable as parental selection and screening of excellent genes; and Cluster III contained 132 resources (25.73% of the total), representing specific germplasm.

To investigate the mechanism of the coupled effects of precipitation, nitrogen (N) fertilizer, and straw mulching on dryland spring wheat yield under different precipitation year types, the APSIM model was calibrated using spring wheat yield, soil, and meteorological data under no-tillage and no-tillage with straw mulching from 2013 to 2018. Combined with historical data from 1970 to 2022 to drive the calibrated model, yields were simulated under 5×5×5 combinations of precipitation changes (±20%, ±10% and 0%), nitrogen application rates (0.0, 52.5, 105.0, 157.5, and 210.0 kg/ha), and straw mulching rates (0, 1125, 2250, 3375, and 4500 kg/ha). The coefficient of variation of yield under single-factor was analyzed for each year type, and quadratic orthogonal polynomial stepwise regression, single-factor analysis, and interaction effects were employed to study the impacts of various factors on yield. The results showed that the APSIM model performed well, with R² > 0.8, NRMSE < 10%, and M_E > 0.8 for both tillage practices. In dry, normal, and wet years, the individual and interactive effects of the three factors all positively influenced yield, with the order of effect intensity being: precipitation change > nitrogen application rate > straw mulching rate. Based on the natural precipitation of the current year, the optimal yields and cultivation measures for each year type were as follows: in dry years, an optimal yield of 2203.65 kg/ha was achieved by increasing precipitation by 20%, applying 153.13 kg/ha of nitrogen, and mulching with 4500 kg/ha of straw; in normal years, an optimal yield of 2838.77 kg/ha required a 20% increase in precipitation, 170.76 kg/ha of nitrogen, and 4500 kg/ha of straw mulching; in wet years, an optimal yield of 3447.11 kg/ha required a 20% increase in precipitation, 188.58 kg/ha of nitrogen, and 4500 kg/ha of straw mulching. In conclusion, within the simulated experimental range, increasing precipitation, nitrogen application rate, and straw mulching amount under no-tillage conditions can enhance the simulated yield of spring wheat, but the degree of impact varies with precipitation year types. For local spring wheat, water, fertilizer, and mulching strategies should be formulated according to the specific year type to achieve high and stable yields.

Water is a key factor influencing the growth and development of rice. Exploring mechanisms for efficient water utilization is vital for rice production. During the process of plant growth and development, the root system secretes various compounds into the surrounding environment, known as root exudates. These substances regulate plant growth and development by triggering rhizosphere effects and constitute an indispensable part of plant growth process. This paper systematically reviews the types, biosynthetic pathways of root exudates, and their physiological response mechanisms under drought stress. By providing an in-depth analysis of the function mechanisms of rice root exudates in water regulation, this review identifies existing problems in current research and proposes suggestions for future research directions.

In order to precisely formulate weed control strategies for soybean field under maize-soybean and wheat-soybean rotation modes, the species and quantities of weeds were investigated in these two rotation modes. The results showed that during the two-year experiment, the weed occurrence in the maize-soybean rotation mode was 1.89 and 1.49 times higher than that in the wheat-soybean rotation mode, respectively. In the maize-soybean rotation mode, a total of 11 weed species were consistently observed over the two years, including two gramineous weeds and nine broadleaf weeds. The dominant weed species were the gramineous Echinochloa crusgalli and the broadleaf Chenopodium album and Abutilon theophrasti. The subdominant species were the gramineous Eriochloa villosa and the broadleaf Amaranthus retroflexus and Solanum nigrum. For the wheat-soybean rotation mode, eight weed species were commonly observed over the two years, including two gramineous weeds and six broadleaf weeds. The dominant species included the gramineous E.crusgalli and the broadleaf C.album and A.theophrasti, while the subdominant species was the broadleaf Solanum nigrum. The maize-soybean rotation mode exhibited two weed occurrence peaks: one from late May to mid-June, and another from late June to early July, with the weed occurrence during the first peak period being greater than that during the second. Conversely, the wheat-soybean rotation mode showed only one weed occurrence peak, primarily concentrated in early to mid-June.

In order to screen the suitable mowing period with high forage yield, good quality and good silage fermentation quality of triticale in Northern Henan. Triticale varieties ʻYounengʼ and ʻLeishenʼ were used as experimental materials, and four mowing periods were set up to determine the dry matter yield, nutritional quality and silage fermentation quality. The results showed that from the heading stage to the milk stage, the dry matter yield of triticale gradually increased, with Youneng and Leishen reaching the highest of 15.64 and 16.67 t/ha, respectively. The whole plant moisture content, crude protein and crude ash contents all decreased with the delay of mowing period, the neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber contents increased first and then decreased, and the principal component analysis of nutritional indicators indicated that the nutritional quality score peaked at the heading stage. The pH of silage was 4.05-4.50, the lactic acid content was 2.11%-4.00%, with no detection of butyric acid. Youneng and Leishen had better fermentation quality when mowed from flowering to filling stage, from heading to filling stage, respectively. In summary, Youneng and Leishen are suitable for mowing at the flowering and heading stages, respectively. At these stages, both varieties achieve high dry matter yields along with excellent nutritional and silage fermentation quality.

A field experiments was conducted to investigate the effects of different microbial fertilizers of biological and compound formulations on soil physicochemical properties, growth and development, disease resistance, photosynthetic characteristics, economic traits, chemical composition, and sensory evaluation of tobacco leaves. The results showed that the application of microbial fertilizer could effectively improve the soil available nutrients, ameliorate soil acidification, and promote the growth and development of flue-cured tobacco, showing better plant height, leaf length, stem girth and effective leaf number. Among all the treatments, the treatment of biological agents, purple spotted fungus had the most obvious effect. In addition, the application of purple spotted fungus increased the net photosynthetic rate, intercellular CO₂ concentration and relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value). Compared with the CK treatment, the application of microbial fertilizer affected the occurrence of tobacco disease. The application of root rot control agent (double dosage) and thick- walled verticillium improved the resistance to common mosaic virus, while the application of root rot control agent, purple spotted fungus, oxmayl and fluorescent pseudomonad improved the resistance to black shank disease. The appearance quality of flue-cured tobacco, economic properties, chemical composition of cured tobacco leaves and the total score of sensory evaluation were the best in the treatment of biological agents. This indicated that the application of purple spotted fungus in biological-based microbial fertilizer could improve soil physicochemistry properties to a certain extent, promote the growth and development of flue-cured tobacco and improve disease resistance. At the same time, it could cause changes in the appearance quality and chemical composition of flue-cured tobacco, thus improving the quality and yield quality of flue-cured tobacco.

Northern Japonica rice region is susceptible to cold damage, and breeding cold-tolerant rice varieties is the most direct and effective means to address this issue. In this study, 45 accessions of northern Japonica rice were used as experimental materials. Under 14 °C cold stress, seven indicators including germination potential, germination rate, germination index, vigor index of shoot, vigor index of root, average germination days, and germination coefficient were measured. Multivariate statistical methods such as correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), membership function comprehensive analysis, and cluster analysis, were employed to evaluate cold tolerance. The results showed that all germination indicators exhibited varying degrees of decline under cold stress, with the vigor index of root showing the most obvious decrease. By calculating the membership function values of each indicator, the seven indicators were transformed into two comprehensive indicators through PCA. Cluster analysis was then used to categorize the 45 accessions into four groups, successfully screening 13 cold-tolerant materials. Furthermore, a regression equation was established, which identified that germination potential, germination rate, vigor index of root, and germination coefficient are the key indicators for evaluating cold tolerance in northern Japonica rice at the germination stage.