Effects of nitrogen stress on the photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation, chlorophyll fluorescence, and sugar-nitrogen ratio in corn

A field experiment was conducted using three corn cultivars (Jingyu7, Nongda80, and Tangyu10) and three nitrogen (N) application rates (0, 75, and 150 kg N ha(−1)). The objectives of this study were to investigate the responses of photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation (Ph), the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (F(v)/F(m)), leaf dry weight (LDW), leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC), leaf sugar concentration (LSC), and the sugar-to-nitrogen concentration ratio (S/N) to N levels in three different field-grown corn cultivars on three sampling dates. The results showed that the LDW, F(v)/F(m), Ph, LNC, and LSC increased with increasing N levels, and the variation patterns of F(v)/F(m), Ph, and LNC were “low-high-low”. In contrast, S/N decreased with increasing N levels, and its variation pattern was “high-low-high”. The values of LDW, F(v)/F(m), Ph, LNC, LSC, and S/N were greatest under high N conditions, followed by medium N conditions, and finally low N conditions. Significant interactions occurred between Ph, F(v)/F(m), LNC, LSC, LDW, and S/N, with the exception of the interaction between LSC and S/N and between LSC and LDW. The correlation coefficients between Ph and S/N and between F(v)/F(m) and S/N were −0.714 and −0.798, respectively.