Increasing the number of maize plants per hectare while reducing the amount of nitrogen fertilizer can lead to higher yields. A study in China found that using 30% more plants and 15% less nitrogen increased maize productivity by 6.6%. This was mainly due to more kernels and plant biomass. The key factor for this success was the plants capturing more sunlight for photosynthesis. This approach could help farmers grow more maize sustainably and improve agriculture.