Increased Plant Density Drives Maize Yield Gains in North America

In North America, the optimum plant density (OPD) has been observed to increase at a steady rate of 700 plants per hectare per year from 1987 to 2016. This increase in plant density has been found to have a significant impact on maize yield gain, contributing to a range of 8.5% to 17%. These findings, published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, highlight the importance of plant density in maximizing crop productivity in North America.