Magnesium accumulation, partitioning and remobilization in spring maize (zea mays l.) under magnesium supply with straw return in northeast China.

Magnesium has important effects on maize growth, and the application of magnesium fertilizer with straw return inevitably has an impact on magnesium absorption in maize.A two-year field trial was conducted to investigate the effects of Mg fertilizers with straw return on Mg accumulations, partitioning and remobilization in maize (Zea mays L.) in Northeast China. The treatments included (i) JM3 (straw + magnesium fertilizer), (ii) JM0 (straw + no magnesium fertilizer), (iii) WM3 (no straw + magnesium fertilizer), and (iv) WM0 (no Mg fertilizer+ no Straw). The results showed that the highest Mg accumulation stage in maize was prominent between the tasseling stage (VT) and blister stage (R2), and JM3 treatment accumulated 13.3% and 26.6% more Mg on average than those of the WM3 and WM0, respectively. Mg remobilization in distinct organs was highest in JM3 and there were significant differences between treatments. The total contribution to the grain for the JM3 treatment was higher by 6.0% and 17.9% on average than those for the WM3 and WM0, respectively. The grain yield of JM3 treatment was 0.5% and 5.3% higher than that of WM3 and WM0, respectively.Generally, these outcomes indicated that there was an interaction between magnesium fertilizer and maize straw. The application of magnesium fertilizer significantly promoted the accumulation, distribution to the maize organs, and the remobilization of magnesium. The combination of straw return and magnesium application further increased the accumulation of magnesium in the grain. And all these lead to an increase in yield. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.