How major corn-producing regions in China achieve sustainable yield increase?

Corn is the grain crop with the largest planting area and highest total output in China. In 2022, its planting area reached 43.1 Mha, with a total output of 277 Mt. However, the current average yield of corn in China is only 6.50 t·ha^–1. Moreover, the four major producing regions—the Northeast Spring Corn Region, the North China Plain Summer Corn Region, the Northwest Spring Corn Region, and the Southwest Corn Region—face distinct yield-limiting factors due to differences in climate and soil conditions. How can we ensure food security while achieving sustainable high yields and efficiency improvement in corn production across these regions?

Recently, a research team led by Qiang Gao and Guozhong Feng from the College of Resources and Environmental Sciences at Jilin Agricultural University conducted systematic research to address this issue. By analyzing the climatic characteristics, soil physical and chemical properties, and current planting conditions of China’s major corn-producing regions, the team identified the core limiting factors for each region: black soil in the Northeast has suffered structural degradation and acidification; the North China Plain has low soil organic matter content (1.31%); the Northwest has annual precipitation of only 290 mm with severe soil desertification; and the Southwest faces challenges of high temperatures and seasonal drought. Based on these differences, the study proposed a regionalized technical model centered on integrated soil-crop system management. By optimizing planting density, nutrient management, and agronomic measures, this model synergistically improves both yield and resource use efficiency. The relevant paper has been published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2025615).

This study established a “localized” technical system. For instance, to address the common issue of insufficient planting density, field experiments were conducted to determine the optimal density for each region: 67,600 plants ha^–1 in the Northeast, 79,400 plants ha^–1 in the North China Plain, 104,000 plants ha^–1 in the Northwest, and 54,300 plants ha^–1 in the Southwest. Additionally, controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer technology was introduced to synchronize nitrogen supply with crop demand, reducing nitrogen loss while increasing yields. The research also emphasized the synergistic effect of canopy light-nitrogen matching and soil organic matter improvement. For example, long-term straw returning can increase soil organic carbon by 17.7% and yield by 38.8%.

To promote the implementation of these technologies, the research team developed a “government-industry-university-research-user” collaborative promotion model. Relying on the “Science and Technology Backyard” platform, it closely connects universities, governments, cooperatives, and farmers. Taking Lishu County, Jilin Province as an example, by optimizing water and fertilizer management and moderately increasing planting density, local corn yields have significantly increased, nitrogen use efficiency has improved by 33.4%, and carbon emissions have reduced by 15%. This model not only solves the “last mile” problem in traditional technology promotion but also promotes large-scale land management.

Research results show that after the regionalized technical model is applied nationwide, the total corn output will increase by 11.5% while reducing nitrogen input by 14.7%, providing a feasible path for green agricultural development. This research provides a scientific basis for breaking the bottleneck of China’s corn production through precise matching of regional needs and technological innovation, which is of great significance for ensuring food security.