Evaluation of Grain Yield and Some Agronomic Traits of Tow Corn (Zea mays) Varieties as a Second Crop under Drought Stress and Application of Cycocel

Subject Areas : Journal of Crop Ecophysiology

M.  Roshdi ¹ (Assistant Prof., Khoy Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khoy, Iran)
M.  Yarnia ² (Associate Prof., Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran)
F.  Hashemzadeh ³ (Former PhD. Student of Agronomy, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran)

Received: 2010-04-25 Accepted : 2011-05-02 Published : 2011-05-22

Keywords: Drought stress, Cycocel, Corn varieties,

Abstract :

To evaluate grain yield and some agronomic traits of tow corn varieties as a second crop under drought stress and application of cycocel an experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station of Jahad-Keshavarsi of Khoy during summer growing season of 2005.  Experimental design was a split-split plot based on RCBD with four replications. The factors consisted of irrigation as the main factor with three levels (irrigation after 70±5, 100±5 and 130±5 mm evaporation from class A pan), varieties 260 and 301 of corn as subfactor and application of different rates of cycocel (with and without application) as sub-subfactor. Results showed that drought stress reduced plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves and the leaf area index, biological yield and grain yield. Application of cycocel increased the stem diameter, biological yield and grain yield as compared with not application of cycocel. Generally, It can be concluded that irrigation after 70 mm evaporation and the application of cycocel can play major roles in increasing corn grain yield.