@article{Zhou2026, 
author = {Yang Zhou and Yongqiao Zhang and Xinhua Lyu and Jiaming Cui and Shuang Li and Pengjia Wu and Xiang Lin and Dong Wang},
title = {Layered nitrogen application increases post-anthesis nutrient accumulation and grain yield of wheat by coordinating root morphology and nutrient transporter gene expression},
year = {2026},
journal = {The Crop Journal},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {997-1007},
keywords = {Layered fertilization, Root morphology, Post-anthesis nutrient accumulation, Root N and P transporter genes, Wheat grain yield},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1016/j.cj.2025.12.016},
doi = {10.1016/j.cj.2025.12.016},
abstract = {Layered nitrogen (N) application to wheat is intended to avert nutrient retention in the topsoil, which limits deep root development and grain yield. In a two-year field experiment on the Loess Plateau comparing two N treatments: 240 kg N ha−1 applied at the 8-cm soil depth or in a 1:2:1 ratio to the 8-, 16-, and 24-cm soil layers, the layered treatment increased grain yield, post-anthesis N accumulation, phosphorus (P) accumulation, root biomass, and soil organic carbon and available P in the 8−24 cm layers. It also upregulated N and P transporter genes in roots across different soil layers. Layered N application optimized the vertical nutrient distribution in the wheat root zone, induced adaptive root architectural development, and activated the transcriptional regulatory network of nutrient uptake, which peomoted post-anthesis nutrient assimilation and ultimately improving grain yield.}
}