Effects of waterlogging on the yield and growth of summer maize under field conditions

A field experiment was performed to study the effects of waterlogging for different durations (3 and 6 d) on the yield and growth of summer maize at the three-leaf stage (V3), six-leaf stage (V6), and the 10th day after the tasseling stage (10VT). The results after 2 yr indicated that maize development and grain yield responses to waterlogging depended on both stress severity (intensity and duration) and different growth stage. Yield decreased significantly with an increased waterlogging duration during V3 and V6. The yields of maize hybrid Denghai 605 (DH605) in treatments V3-3, V3-6, V6-3, V6-6, 10VT-3, and 10VT-6 were 23, 32, 20, 24, 8, and 18% lower than those of the control (CK), respectively; Yields of Zhengdan 958 (ZD958) were lower by 21, 35, 15, 33, 7, and 12%, respectively. Waterlogging also affected the growth and development of summer maize. Ear characteristics (grains per ear and 1000-grain weight) and plant morphology (plant height, ear height, and leaf area index) decreased, whereas the bald tip length increased significantly. The maximum grain-filling rate decreased under waterlogging; furthermore, the dry matter accumulation decreased and dry matter distribution proportions of the stem and leaf increased. However, the distribution proportion of grain decreased. Maize was most susceptible to waterlogging damage at V3, followed by V6 and 10VT, with damage increasing with increasing waterlogging duration.