Jiayi Wu , Huijuan Xu , Baixin Song

Modern Agriculture Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Field Crop, 2024, Vol. 7, No. 2   
Received: 09 Feb., 2024    Accepted: 20 Mar., 2024    Published: 07 Apr., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This study compares traditional and modern maize cultivation practices, focusing on their respective impacts on yield, sustainability, and adaptability to mechanization. Traditional practices, such as maize-soybean intercropping, often suffer from low light and radiation use efficiency, and are incompatible with modern mechanization, leading to lower yields and profitability. Conversely, modern practices, including optimized tillage, high-density planting, and balanced nutrient management, have shown significant improvements in yield and resource use efficiency. For instance, high-density planting combined with optimized nitrogen fertilization can increase maize yield by up to 28.8%. Additionally, integrated agronomic management practices have been found to enhance nitrogen use efficiency and overall crop productivity. Continuous maize cultivation without proper soil conservation measures, however, can lead to declining yields over time, highlighting the need for sustainable practices. This study underscores the importance of adopting modern, scientifically-backed cultivation techniques to achieve higher yields, better resource efficiency, and long-term sustainability in maize farming.

Maize cultivation; Traditional practices; Modern practices; Yield efficiency; Sustainable agriculture