Direct-seeded rapeseed, Micro-ridge-furrow, Canopy heterogeneity, Resources utilization efficiency, Light-nitrogen matching, Agriculture, Agriculture (General), S1-972

The effects of micro-ridge-furrow planting (MR) on yield and the efficiency of light, water, and thermal resource use in rapeseed were tested in a three-year field experiment comparing MR to conventional flat planting. MR enhanced canopy heterogeneity by altering the leaf angle between plants on ridges and furrows. The heterogeneous canopy environment increased intercepted photosynthetic active radiation, alleviated canopy temperature stress, and optimized canopy humidity, leading to improvements in light–nitrogen matching and net photosynthetic rate. Consequently, dry matter and yield increased by 13.0% and 11.0%, respectively, while radiation, thermal, and precipitation utilization efficiency increased by 12.3%–16.2%. The corresponding improvements in yield and resource use efficiency were attributed to a heterogeneous canopy environment that improved microclimatic conditions.