Finding and optimizing sustainable approaches could increase yield by modifying the structural and physiological traits by reducing lodging and competition for soil water. A higher yield could be achieved by optimizing planting density under appropriate mulching. In this experiment, we studied the effect of mulching (no mulch, straw mulch, and plastic mulch) on soil water consumption, canopy structure, lodging, and yield traits of maize under different planting density rates (52,500–90,000 plants ha^− 1). Results indicated that the lodging was minimum at lower planting densities while the higher density rates induced lodging by reducing the diameter and increasing the internode length. The weight of 100-grains, the number of grains per ear, ear length, and photosynthesis rate were decreased by increasing planting density but grain yield ha^− 1 was increased with planting density up to 67,500 plants ha^− 1 under no mulch and 75,000 plants ha^− 1 under straw and plastic mulch. This showed that the higher planting density could be used by adopting plastic mulch increasing yield and saving soil moisture. The planting density at which the highest grain yield was attained under no mulch was 67,500 plants ha^− 1 which was increased to 7500 plant ha^− 1 under straw and plastic mulch. The yield showed 8–10% increase at plastic mulching at 75,000 plants ha^− 1 as compared to no mulch at 52,500 plants ha^− 1. Thus, higher density could be adopted under plastic mulching, and plastic and straw mulching decreased the lodging rate.

寻找和优化可持续方法可以通过减少倒伏和对土壤水的竞争来改变结构和生理特性来提高产量。通过在适当覆盖下优化种植密度可以实现更高的产量。本试验研究了不同种植密度下（52,500–90,000株 ha − 1）覆盖（无覆盖、秸秆覆盖和塑料覆盖）对玉米土壤耗水量、冠层结构、倒伏和产量性状的影响^。）。结果表明，较低种植密度时倒伏最小，而较高密度则通过减小直径和增加节间长度而引起倒伏。增加种植密度会降低百粒重、每穗粒数、穗长和光合作用速率，但随着种植密度增加（无覆盖条件下为 67,500 株 ha−1 和 75,000 株），籽粒产量ha − ^1增加ha ^{− 1}在稻草和塑料覆盖物下。这说明采用地膜覆盖可以提高种植密度，提高产量，节约土壤水分。无覆盖下粮食最高产量的种植密度为 67,500 株 ha ^{− 1}稻草和塑料覆盖物下的种植面积增加到 7500 ha ⁻¹。^{与不覆盖 52,500 株 ha -1}植物相比，覆盖 75,000 株 ha ^-1植物的产量增加了 8-10% 。因此，覆膜时可采用较高的密度，覆膜和秸秆覆盖可降低倒伏率。