Prohexadione calcium can indeed lower ear height, enhance lodging resistance, and increase yield in maize. Its mechanism of action and key application points are as follows:
Mechanism of Action
1. Inhibition of Gibberellin Synthesis: Prohexadione calcium selectively inhibits the biosynthesis of gibberellins (especially GA1) in maize, thereby shortening internode length, reducing plant height, and ear height.
2. Promotion of Root Development and Stem Vigor: While inhibiting excessive vegetative growth, it promotes root growth, enhances stem elasticity and hardness, and significantly improves lodging resistance.
3. No Inhibition of Ear Development: Unlike some traditional growth regulators, prohexadione calcium precisely targets stem elongation without affecting ear differentiation and grain development. Grain filling promotes flower retention and increases grain yield.
4. Improves photosynthetic efficiency and stress resistance: Leaves become dark green and upright, enhancing photosynthetic capacity; simultaneously strengthening drought resistance, disease resistance, and stress resistance.
Yield Increase Effects:
1. Shortens basal internodes by 20%–30%, significantly reducing lodging risk.
2. Increases grain number per ear by approximately 8.7%, and increases thousand-grain weight by 6.3% (Field trial data from Shandong Agricultural University).
3. Leaves no residue, safe for subsequent crops, meeting the requirements of green agriculture and organic farming.
