Optimizing the Growth of Silage Maize by Adjusting Planting Density and Nitrogen Application Rate Based on Farmers’ Conventional Planting Habits

Silage maize is cultivated due to its high nutritional value as a forage. China’s recent agricultural policy promotes the popularization and cultivation of silage maize. The production of silage maize is affected by planting density and nitrogen application. Based on investigating the planting habits of local farmers, we adjusted the planting density and nitrogen application rate to optimize the growth of silage maize. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of planting density (65,000 plant ha−1 (D1), 80,000 plant ha−1 (D2), and 95,000 plant ha−1 (D3)) and nitrogen rate (150 kg ha−1 (N1), 230 kg ha−1 (N2), and 310 kg ha−1 (N3)) on growth, yield, and quality of silage maize using a two-factor random block design. Planting density and nitrogen fertilizer significantly affected plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and starch of silage maize. In summary, the combination of a planting density of 80,000 plants ha−1 and a nitrogen application rate of 310 kg ha−1 produced a higher crude protein and starch yield and better palatability and quality; this result can aid silage maize growth

Systematic Study on Nonlinear Optical Chromophores with Improved Electro-Optic Activity by Introducing 3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene Derivative Isolation Groups into the Bridge

A series of novel chromophores A, B, C, and D, based on the julolidinyl donor and the tricyanofuran (TCF) and CF3-tricyanofuran (CF3-Ph-TCF) acceptors, have been synthesized and systematically investigated. The 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene derivative isolation group was introduced into the bridge in the chromophores C and D. These nonlinear optical chromophores showed good thermal stability, and their decomposition temperatures were all above 220 °C. Density functional theory (DFT) was used to calculate the energy gaps and first-order hyperpolarizability (β). The macroscopic electro-optic (EO) activity was measured using a simple reflection method. The highest EO coefficient of poled films containing 35 wt% of chromophore D doped in amorphous polycarbonate afforded values of 54 pm/V at 1310 nm. The results indicate that the 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene isolation group can suppress the dipole–dipole interaction of chromophores. The moderate r33 value, good thermal stability, and good yield of chromophores suggest their potential use in the nonlinear optical area