2.1 Influence of Different Fertilization Treatments on Maize Leaf Area Index
The leaf area index of maize is highest during the silking stage and lowest at the 9-leaf stage, as shown in Figure 1. Maize under fertilization treatment exhibits a significantly greater leaf area index compared to no fertilization treatment. The leaf area index of maize increases gradually with higher fertilization amounts. Specifically, at the 9-leaf stage, the leaf area index of maize under treatments NI, N2, and N3 increased by 21.83%, 26.95%, and 43.40% respectively compared to CK. At the 12-leaf stage, the leaf area index increased by 29.74%, 35.84%, and 42.67% under treatments NI, N2, and N3 compared to CK. During the silking stage, the leaf area index increased by 23.25%, 27.71%, and 32.63% under treatments NI, N2, and N3 compared to CK. 25 days after silking, the leaf area index increased by 10.77%, 14.17%, and 28.75% under treatments NI, N2, and N3 compared to CK. At maturity, the leaf area index increased by 24.41%, 29.17%, and 54.35% under treatments NI, N2, and N3 compared to CK.
Table 3 Statistical analysis table of actual and simulated leaf area index values under different fertilization treatments
Schemes
|
hindex
|
9-leaf spread
|
12-leaf spread
|
Spinning stage
|
25 days after spinning
|
Mature stage
|
CK
|
RMSE
|
0.090
|
0.099
|
0.090
|
0.098
|
0.200
|
R2
|
99.26%
|
99.02%
|
99.19%
|
99.04%
|
95.84%
|
Me
|
0.993
|
0.990
|
0.992
|
0.990
|
0.958
|
N1
|
RMSE
|
0.200
|
0.132
|
0.198
|
0.200
|
0.200
|
R2
|
95.96%
|
98.26%
|
96.08%
|
96.04%
|
95.84%
|
Me
|
0.960
|
0.983
|
0.961
|
0.960
|
0.958
|
N2
|
RMSE
|
0.099
|
0.093
|
0.100
|
0.198
|
0.200
|
R2
|
99.02%
|
99.14%
|
99.10%
|
96.08%
|
96.12%
|
Me
|
0.990
|
0.991
|
0.991
|
0.961
|
0.961
|
N3
|
RMSE
|
0.090
|
0.200
|
0.140
|
0.190
|
0.250
|
R2
|
99.26%
|
95.84%
|
98.07%
|
96.24%
|
93.70%
|
Me
|
0.993
|
0.958
|
0.981
|
0.962
|
0.937
|
Utilizing the APSIM model to analyze the results of fertilization experiments conducted from 2022 to 2023, Table 3 presents the RMSE, R2, and Me values of the model under various fertilization schemes. The model is comprehensively evaluated based on the three statistical measures: RMSE, R2, and Me.
1) N1 Scheme: Throughout the maize growth period, the RMSE values of the model remained relatively stable, ranging from 0.132 to 0.200, indicating a consistent match between the simulated values of the APSIM model and the measured values, resulting in a good simulation effect. The coefficient of determination (R2) is close to 1, ranging from 0.956 to 0.982, indicating a high level of agreement between the model's calculated data and actual data. The Me values of the APSIM model range from 0.958 to 0.983, showing stability and an increasing trend during the critical period of maize development, reflecting effective fitting of the APSIM model to LAI.
2) N2 Scheme: The RMSE values of the model during the entire maize growth period ranged from 0.093 to 0.200, indicating good consistency between the simulated values of the APSIM model and the measured values, resulting in a good simulation effect. The R2 values ranged from 0.960 to 0.991, showing a high level of agreement between the model's calculated data and actual data. The Me values ranged from 0.961 to 0.990, with values exceeding 0.75 in each stage, demonstrating a very good simulation effect.
3) N3 Scheme: The RMSE values of the model ranged from 0.140 to 0.250 during the entire maize growth period, indicating good consistency between the simulated values of the APSIM model and the measured values, resulting in a good simulation effect. The R2 values ranged from 0.937 to 0.992, showing a high level of agreement between the model's calculated data and actual data. The Me values ranged from 0.936 to 0.990, demonstrating a very good simulation effect.
2.2 Impact of Different Fertilization Treatments on Maize Dry Matter Accumulation
The accumulation of maize dry matter increases with the fertilization amount throughout the growth period, as shown in Figure 2. Fertilization treatments exhibit significantly greater maize dry matter accumulation compared to the CK treatment. The leaf area index of maize in the NI, N2, and N3 treatments increased significantly during the jointing stage by 42.92%, 54.03%, and 85.84% respectively, compared to CK. Similarly, during the tasseling stage, the leaf area index increased significantly by 6.85%, 9.31%, and 16.32% in the NI, N2, and N3 treatments compared to CK. Furthermore, during the flowering stage, the leaf area index in the NI, N2, and N3 treatments increased significantly by 2.61%, 2.83%, and 8.81% compared to CK. Finally, during the maturity stage, the leaf area index in the NI, N2, and N3 treatments increased significantly by 7.98%, 11.67%, and 23.59% compared to CK.
Using the APSIM model to assess the results of the fertilization experiment conducted from 2022 to 2023, Table 4 presents the RMSE, R2, and Me values of the model under different fertilization schemes. A comprehensive evaluation of the model is carried out based on the three statistical metrics of RMSE, R2, and Me:
1) N1 scheme: Throughout the maize growth period, the RMSE values of the model remained relatively stable, ranging from 0.110 to 0.332, indicating good agreement between the simulated values of the APSIM model and the observed values. The R2 values are close to 1, ranging from 0.961 to 0.981, showing a high level of correlation between the model's calculated data and the actual data. The Me values range from 0.88 to 0.95, with a gradual increase during key stages of maize development, suggesting a good fit of the APSIM model to maize dry matter accumulation.
2) N2 scheme: The RMSE values of the model remained stable throughout the maize growth period, ranging from0.033 to 0.109, indicating good agreement between the simulated values of the APSIM model and the observed values. The R2 values are close to 1, ranging from 0.968 to 0.987, demonstrating a high level of correlation between the model's calculated data and the actual data. The Me values range from 0.89 to 0.95, with values exceeding 0.75 at each stage, indicating very good simulation effects.
3) N3 scheme: The RMSE values of the model remained stable throughout the maize growth period, ranging from 0.030to 0.060, indicating good agreement between the simulated values of the APSIM model and the observed values. The R2 values are close to 1, ranging from 0.967 to 0.998, showing a high level of correlation between the model's calculated data and the actual data. The Me values range from 0.92 to 0.98, demonstrating very good simulation effects.
Table 4 Statistical Analysis Table of Measured and Simulated Dry Matter Accumulation under Different Fertilization Treatments
Schemes
|
hindex
|
Jointing stage
|
Big flare period
|
Efflorescence
|
Mature stage
|
CK
|
RMSE
|
0.118
|
0.385
|
0.485
|
0.302
|
R2
|
96.42%
|
95.83%
|
95.08%
|
96.84%
|
Me
|
0.86
|
0.91
|
0.92
|
0.96
|
N1
|
RMSE
|
0.118
|
0.200
|
0.332
|
0.110
|
R2
|
98.02%
|
96.14%
|
98.10%
|
96.42%
|
Me
|
0.88
|
0.93
|
0.95
|
0.94
|
N2
|
RMSE
|
0.033
|
0.063
|
0.081
|
0.109
|
R2
|
97.26%
|
96.84%
|
98.07%
|
98.70%
|
Me
|
0.90
|
0.91
|
0.89
|
0.95
|
N3
|
RMSE
|
0.058
|
0.060
|
0.040
|
0.030
|
R2
|
96.77%
|
99.29%
|
99.68%
|
99.84%
|
Me
|
0.92
|
0.96
|
0.98
|
0.94
|