Effect of the plant density and sowing date on kernel yield in early maturing maize

Subject Areas : New Finding in Agriculture

Mohammad Hoseyn  Haddadi ¹ (Member of Agricultural and Natural Resource Research Center of Mazandaran Province, Mazadaran, Iran)
M.  Mohseni ² (Member of Agricultural and Natural Resource Research Center of Mazandaran Province, Mazadaran, Iran)

Received: 2015-11-08 Accepted : 2015-11-08 Published : 2014-02-20

Keywords: Plant density, corn, Sowing date, kernel yield,

Abstract :

In order to determine the best planting  dates and plant densities of corn for kernelyield, two early and very early maturity corn cultivars (SC 108 and SC301) wereplanted separately on three planting dates ( 22 Jun ,1 Jul and11Jul ) for twoyears ( 2009 – 2010) . Plant densities were 75000 , 85000 , 95000 and 105000plants per hectar. A split plot design with three replications was used .Sowing dates and plant densities were alocated to main plots and sub plots, respectively.  Two experimentswere done in two locations , Qaemshahr (Qarakhyle )  and Neka  (Bayekola) , and  with two cultivars ( SC 301 and SC108 ) .Kernel yield for each plot and each treatment were evaluated. The best plantingdate and plant density were determined for two years . In Bayekola location ,for SC301 cultivar , the best density was 75000 plants per hectare with kernelaverage yield of 8.1 t/ha . For SC 108 cultivar , highest kernel yield was 7.3t/ha with 85000 plants per hectare . In Qarakhyle , for SC301 cultivar , thebest density was 75000 plants per hectar with kernel average yield of 7.7 t/ha. In this location , for SC108 the highest kernel yield was 7.2 t/ha and thebest density was 85000 plants per hectar.In general, planting date and plantdensity affected on 1000 kernel weight Result showed that SC301 had higheryield than SC108 after wheat harvest

References:

1- Alessi , J. and Power, J . F. 1975. Response of an early maturing hybrid to planting date and population in the Northern Plains.Agron.J.67:762-765.

2- Allard , R.W. 1960. Principles of plant breeding. John Wiley and Sons Inc. NewYork. 485 pp.

3- Bruns. H . A. 2009. Asurvey of factors involved in crop maturity. Agronomy Journal.101:60-66.

4- Bruns, H. A. and Abbas, H. K. 2005. Ultra-High plant populations and nitrogen fertility effects on corn in the MississippiValley. Agronomy Journal. Vol. 97. No.4. p. 1136.

5- Delorit, R . J ., Greup, L. and Ahlgren, H. L. 1984. Crop production . Hall Inc New Jerssey . 768 pp.

6- Dwyer, L. M., R. I. Hamilton, Hayhoe, H. N. and Royd, S. W. 1991. Analysis of biological traits contributing to grain yield of short to mid – season corn hybrids. Canadian Journal of Plant Science .71:535 – 541.

7- Hashemi, M. H., Herbert, S. J. and Putnam, D. H. 2005. Yield response of corn to crowding stress. American Society of Agronomy.97:839-846.

8- Kucharik, C. J. 2008.Contribution of planting date trends to increased maize yield in the central united states. Agronomy Journal.100:328-336.

9- Monneveux, P., P.H. Zaidi and Sanchez, C. 2005. Population density and low nitrogen affects yield. - Associated Traits in Tropical Maize. Crop Science. Vol. 45(2).

10- Olson, R . A. and Sander, D. H. 1988. Corn production. pp . 639 – 686. In : G.F.Sprague and J. W. Dudley (eds) . Corn and corn improvement.American Society of Agronomy INC. Madison ,Wisconsin . USA.

11- Popp, M., Edwards, J., manning, P. and purcel, L. C. 2006. Plant population density and maturity effects on profitability of short-season maize production in the midsouthern USA.Agronomy Journal.98:760-765.

12- Pohlman, J. M. 1987 . Breeding Filed Crops . AVI Pud co.724pp.

13- Sarlangue, T., F. H. Andrade, P. A. Calivino and Purcell, L. C. 2007. Why do maize hybrids respond differently to variations in plant density. Agronomy Journal.99:984-991.

14- Saseendran, S. A., L. Ma, D. C. Nielsen, M. F. vigil and Ahuja, R 2005. Simulating planting date effects on corn production using RZWQM and CERES maize models. Agronomy Journal.97:58-71.

15- Subedi, D., B. L. Ma and Smith, D. L. 2006. Response of a leafy and non-leafy maize hybrid to population densities and fertilizer nitrogen levels.Crop Sci.49:1860-1869.

16- Wiatrak, P. J., D. L.Wright, J. J. Marios and Sprenkel, R. 2004.Corn hybrids for late planting in the southeast U.S.A.agronomy Journal.96:1118-1124.

17- Widdicombe,W. D.  and Thelen, K. D. 2002. Row width  and plant density  effects on corn grain production in the northern corn belt.Agronomy  Journal.94:1020-1023.

red winter wheat. Agron. Tissue nitrogen levels for dry land hard red winter wheat. Agron. J. 82:561–565.

, Philippines. P: 83.