Confronted with the dual imperatives of ensuring food security and reducing environmental pollution in China's intensive agricultural systems, this study proposes and validates an innovative crop management paradigm: a High-Density Production System enabled by Precision Stage-Specific Regulation (HD-PSR). Based on a three-year field experiment spanning a wide nitrogen (N) application gradient (0-765 kg N ha-1), we assessed the effects of N rate on grain yield, nitrogen partial factor productivity (PFPN), plant N dynamics (uptake, distribution, and remobilization), soil residual N, and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. The results show that the system achieved a clear yield plateau of 14.7-16.5 t ha-1 at 243.8-306.4 kg N ha-1 , while sustaining efficient internal N uptake and remobilization, providing a strong physiological basis for high yield. Simultaneously, the system markedly reduced the direct N2O emission factor to a consistently low range of 0.3 %-0.9 %, well below the IPCC default. Notably, both cumulative N2O emissions and the emission factor exhibited a strictly linear relationship with N application rate, in contrast to the exponential increases widely reported under conventional fertilization. This linearity is attributed to split application, which prevents the accumulation of soil mineral N that typically triggers microbial N2O emission pulses. A comprehensive benefit index identified approximately 289 kg N ha-1 as the synergistic optimum for high yield and low emissions. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that HDPSR-through deep integration of high-density planting with whole-season, physiology-oriented precision regulation-can simultaneously enhance grain yield and nitrogen-use sustainability, offering a practical systemic pathway for the sustainable intensification of cereal production.

Context Genetic improvement has increased maize grain yield and starch content but decreased protein content. Whether this decline indicates reduced protein productivity, and how N supply regulates yield-quality relationships across cultivar eras, requires further clarification. Objective This study evaluated changes in maize grain quality during cultivar replacement from content and productivity perspectives, and examined N effects on yield-quality coordination. Methods From 2023–2025, six representative maize cultivars released between the 1950s and the 2000s were evaluated in a long-term N fertilization experiment with 0, 150, 225, and 300 kg N ha−1. Grain yield, starch and protein contents, their respective yields, and production efficiencies were analyzed across cultivar eras and N rates. Results With advancing release year, grain yield increased by 101 kg ha−1 yr−1 and starch content by 0.044% yr−1, whereas protein content decreased by 0.046% yr−1. Despite this decline, modern cultivars exhibited significantly higher starch and protein yields and production efficiencies than early cultivars, with protein yield increasing by approximately 65%. N supply affected protein more strongly than starch. Higher N supply narrowed the protein content gap among cultivars from different eras and alleviated the discrepancy in genetic gains between starch and protein production efficiency. Higher N supply showed the potential to further enhance protein output in modern cultivars; compared with N150, N300 increased the protein yield of XY335 by 28%. However, agronomic efficiency of applied N for protein yield (AEN-PY) declined significantly with increasing N rate. Overall, N225 showed a better balance between protein yield and return per unit N input. Conclusions Long-term genetic improvement enhanced maize protein productivity despite declining grain protein content. The simultaneous improvement of maize yield and quality should build on the genetic backgrounds of modern high-yielding cultivars, integrate genetic improvement with sound N management, and comprehensively evaluate performance across multiple dimensions, including grain component contents, output per unit area, and N-use efficiency.

Water conservation and grain yield improvement are primary objectives for sustainable agricultural development in arid and semi-arid regions. Variety selection, planting density, and irrigation management represent crucial agronomic practices that regulate root–crown growth and grain yield in maize. A two-year field experiment was carried out from 2021 to 2022 in Tongliao, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Two widely cultivated maize varieties, DK159 and ZD958, were used as test materials. Two planting densities were designed: 60,000 plants ha−1 (D1, local farmers’ conventional density) and 90,000 plants ha−1 (D2). Five irrigation levels were established: 450 mm (I5, local farmers’ practice, CK), 360 mm (I4), 270 mm (I3), 180 mm (I2), and 90 mm (I1). We investigated the interactive effects of variety, planting density, and irrigation amount on dry matter accumulation pre- and post-silking, root spatial distribution characteristics, and the coordination mechanism of root–shoot growth in maize under shallow-buried drip irrigation. The results indicated that grain yield under DK159 was 5.37–6.69% higher than that under ZD958, and the yield under D2 was 13.32–15.89% higher than that under D1. At the D1 density, no significant difference in grain yield was observed between I2 and I5, with yields ranging from 12.90 to 13.92 t ha−1. At the D2 density, grain yield under I3 was statistically similar to that under I5, ranging from 15.54 to 17.39 t ha−1. Compared with local farmers’ conventional planting density and full irrigation regime, increasing planting density and reducing irrigation amount altered the vertical root distribution of maize. The proportion of roots distributed in the 0–20 cm topsoil layer decreased, while appropriate water deficit markedly increased root proportion in the 40–60 cm subsoil layer. Increasing planting density and moderately reducing irrigation effectively promoted pre- and post-silking dry matter accumulation while maintaining a high harvest index (HI). At silking stage, the root–shoot ratio increased initially and then stabilized with increasing irrigation amount. At maturity, the root–shoot ratio gradually decreased and tended to be stable as irrigation increased. Therefore, the adoption of water-efficient maize varieties, combined with appropriately increased planting density and optimized irrigation regimes, can coordinate root–shoot relationships in the early growth period, facilitate early root establishment and late-stage nutrient accumulation, and thus improve maize yield. Under the conditions of shallow-buried drip irrigation in the supplementary irrigation area of the West Liaohe Plain, the adoption of water-saving maize varieties, appropriately increased planting density, and optimized irrigation regimes can coordinate the developmental relationship between root and above-ground growth, promote early root development and late-stage nutrient accumulation, and thereby simultaneously increase maize grain yield. These results provide practical theoretical and technical references for achieving high-yield and water-saving maize production under similar ecological conditions.

Farmers in China often use nitrogen (N) fertilizers to ensure adequate crop growth. However, inappropriate applications have increased the risk of environmental pollution, lowered maize yields, and reduced profits for farmers. Proper N fertilizer management is crucial for improving yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). This study conducted a three-year experiment involving nine N treatments (0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, 315, and 360 kg ha-1) on a field under nitrogen fertilizer precision management (NFPM) in Northeast China. The results were compared with studies published within the past decade that analyzed yield and dry matter (DM) content under two management practices in Northeast China: conventional nitrogen fertilization management (CNFM) and water-saving fertilization management (WSFM). The findings reveal that maize yield increases with rising N application rates up to 270 kg ha-1, after which yield decreases. The kernel number (KN) and kernel weight (KW) of maize grown under NFPM were 13.7 and 14.7% higher than those grown under WSFM, respectively. Furthermore, they surpassed crops grown under CNFM by 38.4 and 21.2%, respectively. The maximum total yield of the NFPM treatment was 41.8 and 78.8% higher than under WSFM and CNFM, respectively. In addition, compared with CNFM and WSFM, NFPM significantly increased NUE across the various N-level treatments. Optimizing nitrogen management can help farmers to achieve higher yields and promote sustainable agricultural development.

Strategic intensification through increased planting density is a cornerstone of maize yield enhancement in China. However, a comprehensive analysis of the nationwide spatiotemporal patterns in planting density and their association with on-farm yield remains limited. Here, we analyzed 95,040 farmer-plot surveys across 264 counties (2009-2023) to quantify density dynamics and yield associations across five agroecological regions. Nationally, the average planting density increased significantly from 54,300 to 62,200 plants ha(-1) over 15 years (+14.55%; P < 0.01), with an annual growth rate of 353 plants ha(-1). We found marked and persistent regional disparities, with current densities (2019-2023) ranging from 49,574 plants ha(-1) in the Southwestern Maize Region (SWM) to 69,921 plants ha(-1) in the Northwest Irrigated Maize Region (NWIM). The increase in yield response per 1,000 plants ha(-1) increase varied significantly (P < 0.05) among regions, reaching the highest level in NWIM (130 kg ha(-1)) and lowest in the Northern Spring Maize Region (NSM; 60 kg ha(-1)). The Huang-Huai-Hai Plain Summer Maize Region (HPSM), Northwest Dryland Maize Region (NWDM), and SWM showed intermediate responses of 100, 120, and 80 kg ha(-1), respectively. Our findings delineated the current and realized thresholds for intensification across China's agroecosystems, suggesting a practicable density range of 62,000-80,000 plants ha(-1) under prevailing management, with a yield gain potential of 60-130 kg per 1,000 plants ha(-1). To advance towards sustainable intensification, we propose region-specific optimization, scale-appropriate technologies, and institutional innovations to overcome smallholder fragmentation.

Straw return and organic fertilizer application can increase maize yield and soil organic carbon (SOC) but may elevate nitrous oxide (NQO) and carbon dioxide (COQ) emissions. However, few studies have explored the impacts of these practices on maize yield, carbon sequestration, and emission reduction at a national scale. This study conducted a meta-analysis using 2825 paired data points from 491 studies to investigate how environmental factors, initial soil conditions, and agronomic management measures affect maize yield, carbon sequestration, and emission reduction after straw return and organic fertilizer application. Results showed that straw return increased maize yield by 8.05%, SOC by 14.58%, NQO emissions by 15.99%, and COQ emissions by 24.71%. Organic fertilizer application increased maize yield by 5.42%, SOC by 38.72%, and COQ emissions by 12.21%, while reducing NQO emissions by 12.48%. To balance yield increase, carbon sequestration, and emission reduction, the recommended management strategies after straw return and organic fertilizer application are as follows: nitrogen application rate of 200-250 kg ha-1 ; straw return amount exceeding 9000 kg ha-1 ; organic fertilizer application rate of 6000-9000 kg ha-1 ; and straw return duration of 5-10 years. For organic fertilizer application, it is advisable to select materials with a C/N ratio of 10-20%, adopt partial substitution of chemical fertilizers with a substitution rate not exceeding 50%, and maintain application for more than 15 years. These findings provide optimal management strategies for balancing yield increase, carbon sequestration, and emission reduction in Chinese maize production through straw return and organic fertilizer application. Notably, our results confirm the third hypothesis proposed in the introduction, as the regulatory effects of straw return and organic fertilizer on COQ and NQO emissions were found to vary significantly across different soil textures and climatic regions in China.

Context Test weight is a crucial indicator for evaluating the quality and trading pricing of maize, and higher test weight indicates better quality and greater economic returns. However, the test weight dynamic and its relationship with grain filling and yield remains poorly understood. Method In this study, thirty-nine maize cultivars from two sites over two years were used to analyze test weight dynamics during grain filling and their relationships with grain weight, dehydration, and yield. Results The results revealed an S-shaped pattern in test weight dynamic during grain filling, similar to but distinct from that of grain weight. A significant positive linear relationship (slope=0.4) was observed between percentage test weight (x) and percentage grain weight (y). However, 70% of final test weight was achieved at only 40% completion of grain filling. The relationship between test weight and grain moisture content followed a "linear + plateau" pattern, with a threshold moisture content of 39%. During the linear stage, test weight increased by 1.18% (about 8.16 g/L) when grain dehydrated 1%, and final test weight and yield of maize cultivars were not correlated with grain moisture content at maturity. Test weight and yield demonstrated a V-shaped segmented linear relationship, with higher test weight observed at both low- and high-yield levels. Further analysis confirmed that grain weight, rather than grain number per ear, was the determinant of this V-shaped relationship, and a higher source-sink ratio or lower sink-source ratio was helpful for the increase in test weight. Implication Coordinating the source-sink relationship and improving grain weight represent the keys to simultaneously enhancing both yield and test weight through breeding and appropriate cultivation practices.

Surface drip fertigation can accurately regulate nitrogen application, increase the suitable planting density and reduce the nitrogen input. However, there are few studies on the interaction between planting density and nitrogen fertilizer under drip fertigation. Compared with the local planting density and traditional irrigation and fertilization methods (CK), a two-year field experiment was conducted using surface drip fertigation with two planting densities (60,000 plants ha-1 and 90,000 plants ha-1) and three nitrogen rates (180, 240 and 300 kg ha-1). We analyzed nitrogen uptake dynamics and evaluated the effects of density and nitrogen on material accumulation and yield. The results showed that the nitrogen daily accumulation in traditional irrigation and fertilization methods showed a single peak curve, and the nitrogen absorption of surface drip fertigation showed two peaks from the 12th leaf stage to the silking stage (V12-R1) and from the milk stage to the dough stage (R3-R5). Optimized planting density (90,000 plants ha-1) and nitrogen application (240 kg ha-1) significantly enhanced population level performance, increasing leaf area duration (25.98%-71.58%), dry matter accumulation (11.19%-175.05%) and nitrogen accumulation (10.29%-131.56%) across growth stages compared to CK. Importantly, this approach maintained the individual plant biomass and the grain development, ultimately boosting the total nitrogen uptake (36.42%) and yield (48.49%) of the population. Our findings highlight the potential of dense planting and surface drip fertigation to optimize the nutrient use efficiency (balancing nutrient supply and population demand), enhance yield, and provide an efficient strategy for high-yield and high-efficiency maize planting.

Understanding the relationship between grain filling and the accumulation of nutritional components in maize kernels is crucial for elucidating the yield-quality synergy. However, the temporal dynamics of nutritional components during grain filling and their associations with grain weight and moisture content remain poorly understood. In this study, we dynamically monitored grain filling, dehydration, and the accumulation of four nutritional components (starch, protein, fat, and fiber) in 39 maize cultivars. The results revealed that the temporal dynamics of all four nutritional components followed segmented linear patterns: starch content exhibited a ‌”linear increase + plateau”, whereas protein, fat, and fiber contents displayed ‌“linear decrease+plateau”. The threshold timing for stabilization occurred sequentially as fiber<protein<fat<starch, with all components reaching stable concentrations prior to physiological maturity, and significant differences were observed among cultivars. Both the absolute weight (per 100 kernels) and density (weight per volume) of these components demonstrated ‌monotonically increasing trends‌ throughout filling. Notably, no correlation was observed between the moisture content and the four nutritional contents at maturity. However, the relationship between the nutritional weight‌ ‌percentage and ‌grain moisture content‌ was effectively modeled using a three-segment linear equation. Furthermore, the relationship between the ‌nutritional weight percentage‌ and ‌grain weight percentage‌ exhibited a near 1:1 linear correlation, with remarkably consistent patterns across all four components. This study demonstrates that when nutritional component concentrations stabilize prior to maturity—indicating no further compositional gains—the final nutritional output becomes ‌directly proportional to the extent of grain filling and final grain weight‌. Therefore, implementing measures to enhance grain filling efficiency and maximize final grain weight may enable synergistic improvements in both yield and nutritional output.

Canopy nitrogen density (CND) is a critical indicator of plant growth, with applications in nutrient diagnosis, disease monitoring, and carbon cycling. However, optical remote sensing of nitrogen is constrained by VI saturation, particularly in dense canopies. Here, we propose a novel strategy to mitigate saturation by resolving two key issues: (1) the sensing depth of canopy spectra and (2) the quantification of vertical nitrogen heterogeneity. Saturation characteristics of VIs were first analyzed using inflection and saturation points. We found that CND at the inflection point enhanced the linear correlation with canopy spectra. The 3rd-7th leaf layers contributed most to canopy reflectance, accounting for 67.24%-72.15% of canopy spectra and 62.39% of total CND. Beyond the 7th-8th leaf layers, saturation became prominent. To capture vertical heterogeneity, we employed a bell-shaped model, with the coefficient omega linking the inflection point CND to canopy CND across structural variations. Integrating inflection points with vertical heterogeneity characteristics improved the robustness of VI-CND relationships, reducing RMSE by 10.8%-33.9%. This approach offers an intuitive framework to mitigate VI saturation, enabling more accurate CND estimation under diverse field conditions.

Under the premise of 0 increase in nitrogen input and environmental friendliness, optimizing planting density to improve canopy nitrogen distribution is conducive to balancing the contradiction between resource consumption and yield increase, and promoting a cleaner production model of high yield and high efficiency in maize. We studied the effects of nitrogen application on grain yield, grain nitrogen concentration, grain protein concentration, nitrogen utilization efficiency, and vegetative organ nitrogen uptake, distribution, remobilization, economic returns and environmental benefit of two high-yielding maize hybrids under different planting densities (7.5 x104 plant ha- 1 and 12.0 x 104 plant ha- 1) and nitrogen applications (0, 180, 360, and 540 kg N ha- 1) during 2019-2020. The results showed that the maize yield, grain nitrogen concentration and grain protein concentration reached the maximum of 22.7 t ha- 1, 1.9 %, 12.7 % corresponding to planting density of 12.0 x 104 plant ha- 1 and nitrogen application of 360 kg ha- 1. The economic returns were also maximized which was 5.4 x 103 USD ha- 1. Nitrogen utilization efficiency decreased with increasing nitrogen application, while increased with increasing planting density. The nitrogen accumulation and remobilization of plants had a positive response to nitrogen application and planting density. Higher yields were obtained due to higher vegetative organs of pre-silking nitrogen accumulation and stalk nitrogen remobilization and high nitrogen accumulation in the middle leaf. Under this high-yielding condition, both reactive nitrogen losses and greenhouse gas emissions of the optimal combination were 6.1 % lower than the low-yielding combination. Therefore, under high planting density, selecting suitable hybrids, defining the appropriate nitrogen application and optimizing nitrogen distribution in maize canopy can achieve high-yield and efficient production of maize while reduce environmental risks. This study highlights the importance of optimizing canopy nitrogen distribution in maize, and likewise provides new insights into mitigating the negative environmental effects of agricultural production.

BACKGROUND:Maize yield stability is crucial for China's national food security. Conventional irrigation and nitrogen application methods have problems like low yield, inefficiency and environmental pollution. Optimizing water/fertilizer management is therefore imperative. This study reports on a field experiment conducted in Tongliao, Inner Mongolia (2020-2021) that used 'Dika 159' maize grown at a density of 9.0 × 104 plants ha-1. Five nitrogen application frequencies were set up, 0 (F0), 2 (F2), 4 (F3), 6 (F4), 8 (F5) with drip irrigation, in addition to farmers' one-time basal and flood irrigation as the control (F1). RESULTS:Compared that of F1, the leaf area index of F4 increased by 5.05% at the VT (silk emergence) stage and by 73.01% at the R6 (maturity) stage, and the maximum leaf area duration appeared at the VT-R3 (silk emergence-milk ripening) stage. The frequency of nitrogen application mainly affected the post-anthesis photosynthetic rate of maize. F4 and F1 did not differ significantly in their pre-anthesis matter accumulation, but F4's post-anthesis matter accumulation was significantly higher, the maximum dry matter accumulation rate of F4 being 94.44% higher than that of F1. The six-time nitrogen application resulted in the optimum yield (15.82-16.06 t ha-1) and physiological nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE; 7.87-7.44 kg kg-1), and its water-use efficiency (WUE) reached 2.10-2.14 kg m-3, raising the yield by 65.75-69.84%, enhancing the WUE by 62.12-62.79% and improving the PNUE by 29.23-40.11%. CONCLUSION:A greater frequency of nitrogen application (six times) can prolong the functional period of maize leaves, slow leaf senescence, enhancing the post-anthesis photosynthetic capacity of maize to bolster its post-anthesis matter accumulation and kernel weight, improving the yield and water/fertilizer utilization rate. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Dynamic synchronization of nutrient supply demand across maize (Zea mays L.) developmental stages constitutes the pivotal agronomic leverage for yield optimization. For modern high-yield hybrid maize, the regulatory mechanisms by which planting density and nitrogen application rate affect nitrogen accumulation and translocation dynamics under drip fertigation with split nitrogen application remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the nitrogen accumulation and absorption characteristics, as well as the yield and yield components, of high-yield (>= 20 t ha(-1)) maize cultivars under different planting densities and nitrogen application rates delivered through integrated drip irrigation and fertilization. Specifically, Denghai 618 and Xianyu 335 were grown at 7.5 x 10(4) or 12.0 x 10(4) plants ha(-1) and supplied with 0 or 360 kg ha(-1) of nitrogen fertilizer. Increasing the planting density increased the grain yield by 5.1 %, which was mainly achieved by increasing the number of ears. Increasing the fertilization rate increased the grain yield by 40.3 % by increasing the 1000-grain weight. Increasing the nitrogen fertilizer rate significantly increased the contribution of nitrogen accumulation after anthesis to grain nitrogen accumulation and enhanced the pre-anthesis translocation quantity and efficiency of leaves and stems. High planting density notably increased the contribution of nitrogen translocation before anthesis to grain nitrogen content and promoted nutrients recycling from leaves and stems. Compared with a planting density of 7.5 x 10(4) plants ha (-1), 12 x 10(4) plants ha (-1) enabled maize to have a higher nitrogen uptake rate during the V15 similar to R1 stages. Under drip fertigation conditions, after increasing planting density, synchronizing nitrogen management with crop growth stages can significantly improve nitrogen fertilizer utilization efficiency, nitrogen uptake amount, and nitrogen translocation efficiency, thereby enabling a stable increase in maize yield. In this study, we examined how high-yield maize cultivars (producing >= 20 t ha(-1)) absorb and accumulate nitrogen and how this affects their yield and yield components, under different planting densities and nitrogen application rates.

Uneven crop stands arise from natural variations in emergence time, which are influenced by different irrigation measures applied post-sowing. In the pursuit of high-yielding maize populations, the emergence rate and uniformity of maize stands are critical factors. This study investigates the effects of different irrigation methods and drip irrigation at various days after sowing on the emergence uniformity and yield of summer maize. The experiment consisted of six treatments: drip irrigation on the 0th, 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th days after sowing (DAS0, DAS3, DAS6, DAS9, and DAS12), and sprinkling irrigation on the 0th day after sowing (SI0). Agronomic traits, ear characteristics, harvest yield, and indices of population uniformity were evaluated at critical growth stages. Results indicated that timely drip irrigation (DAS0-3) significantly increased the emergence rate and number of harvestable ears by 9.57% (8621.61 plants ha-1) and 10.54% (8017.05 ears ha-1) compared to the SI treatment. Treatment with DAS0-3 resulted in a significant increase of 13.50% in ear length and 24.85% in kernel weight per ear compared to the SI treatment. Maize populations subjected to delayed drip irrigation (DAS6-12) demonstrated a progressive decline in quality throughout the growth period. At the silk stage, the uniformity of plant height and ear height decreased by 47.19 and 44.85%, respectively, compared to the DAS0-3 treatment. Furthermore, at harvest, the uniformity of dry matter accumulation and leaf area index (LAI) was reduced by 28.24 and 41.83%, respectively, relative to the DAS0-3 treatment. Correlation analysis reveals that the uniformity of kernel weight per ear is most significantly associated with yield, as indicated by a correlation coefficient of 0.90**. The yield in the DAS0-3 treatment was significantly higher than that in the SI treatment by 23.71%. The yields of the DAS6-12 treatments were notably lower than those of the DAS0-3 treatment, ranging from 13.18 to 23.97% lower, and were comparable to the yields observed in the SI treatment. The suboptimal implementation of drip irrigation technology has prevented it from realizing its potential for increasing crop yields. Each day’s delay in initiating drip irrigation after the third day post-sowing reduces yield by an average of 0.32 Mg ha-1. Timely drip irrigation following maize seeding significantly enhances emergence rate and population uniformity, increases the number of harvestable ears and kernel weight per ear, ultimately leading to higher final yields. Drip irrigation for seedling emergence within three days after sowing can better bring out the yield-increasing potential of drip irrigation.

Drought stress during the flowering stage adversely affects maize leaf senescence, dry matter accumulation, and grain yield. A field experiment was conducted during the 2022-2023 maize growing seasons at two representative sites in China's Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, implementing three water management strategies: maintaining relative soil water content (RSWC) above 80 % (I80), maintaining RSWC above 60 % (I60), and non-interference (NI) under drought stress. The study investigated the mitigation effects of these strategies on drought stress during the flowering stage of two maize hybrids (LC310 and DH605) under field conditions. Changes in ear leaf green area (GLAear), post-anthesis leaf area duration (post-LAD), post-anthesis dry matter accumulation (Post-DMA), and grain yield were measured. The dynamics of GLAear after anthesis followed a logistic model, the initial senescence period (T1) identified as a key factor in leaf senescence. Well-managed irrigation (I80) significantly mitigated the reduction in the photosynthetic area of middle and lower leaves (8-13) after drought stress, increasing post-LAD by 38.0 % (P<0.05) compared to drought treatments (NI). Additionally, it significantly increased the photosynthetic rate of the ear leaf by 52.6 % (P<0.05) and prolonged the T1 phase by 12.0 days (P<0.05). well-managed irrigation enhanced Post-DMA, increased stem and leaves dry matter translocation to grain yield by 31.1 % and 33.2 % (P<0.05) respectively, compared to NI treatment. Under drought stress, well-managed irrigation significantly increased the yield by 42.4 % (P<0.05). When well-managed irrigation was not guaranteed, a small amount of irrigation (I60) could still increase the yield by 27.5 %. Under drought stress, well-managed irrigation improved post-LAD, prolonged T1, delayed leaf senescence, increased the translocation of dry matter to grains, and boosted grain yield. These findings provide new insights into the role of water management under drought stress from the perspectives of leaf senescence and dry matter translocation.