Optimizing canopy-spacing configuration increases soybean yield under high planting density

作者：Ruidong Li, Cailong Xu, Zongsheng Wu, Yifan Xu, Shi Sun, Wenwen Song, Cunxiang Wu · 发表于：The Crop Journal · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.cj.2024.12.005 · 被引用次数：17 · 研究领域：Soybean genetics and cultivation、Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems、Crop Yield and Soil Fertility

Dense cropping increases crop yield but intensifies resource competition, which reduces single plant yield and limits potential yield growth. Optimizing canopy spacing could enhance resource utilization, support crop morphological development and increase yield. Here, a three-year study was performed to verify the feasibility of adjusting row spacing to further enhance yield in densely planted soybeans. Of three row-spacing configurations (40–40, 20–40, and 20–60 cm) and two planting densities (normal 180,000 plants ha −1 and high 270,000 plants ha −1 ). The differences in canopy structure, plant morphological development, photosynthetic capacity and their impact on yield were analyzed. Row spacing configurations have a significant effect on canopy transmittance (CT). The 20–60 cm row spacing configuration increased CT and creates a favorable canopy light environment, in which plant height is reduced, while branching is promoted. This approach reduces plant competition, optimizes the developments of leaf area per plant, specific leaf area, leaf area development rate, leaf area duration and photosynthetic physiological indices ( F v / F m , ETR, P n ). The significant increase of 11.9%–34.2% in canopy apparent photosynthesis (CAP) is attributed to the significant optimization of plant growth and photosynthetic physiology through CT, an important contributing factor to yield increases. The yield in the 20–60 cm treatment is 4.0% higher than in equidistant planting under normal ...