Dense Planting: A Key Strategy for Closing Maize Yield Gaps in a Changing World

Rising food demand propelled by population growth and changing dietary preferences pose a challenge for closing yield gaps in current cropping areas. Dense planting is a necessary strategy towards meeting this challenge, but more must be done in the context of quantitatively understanding the optimal planting density, relying on complex interactions between genotypes, environmental factors, and agronomic management. Here, we discuss the crucial role of dense planting in closing maize yield gaps, using China\u2019s maize production as an example. Dense planting intensifies competition among plants for resources, and targeting the optimal planting density for a certain environment is a key factor in maximizing yield. Since different studies have yielded different results, multi-method analyses improve confidence in assessing the optimal planting density that maximizes the utilization of available resources for the highest grain yield in each farming system. Furthermore, the increasing sensitivities to drought caused by climate change pose a significant hurdle for the continued growth in planting density and maize production. Future research for closing yield gaps through dense planting should address multiple challenges in the changing world, including climate change, resource depletion and shortage, and soil constraints and degradation, to ensure food security.