Response of white maize hybrids to plant densities and nitrogen fertilizer rates

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted on the Farm of Agric. Res. and Exp. Center of Fac. of Agric. Moshtohor, Benha University, Toukh Directorate, Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt, during the two successive summer growing seasons of 2016 and 2017 to study the effect of three plant population densities i.e. 20000, 24000 and 28000 plants/feddan (fed) and three nitrogen fertilizer rates, i.e. 90, 120 and 150 kg N/fed on the growth traits, yield components, yield and some kernels chemical properties of three white single cross hybrids of maize (S.C. 7071, S.C. 30K8 and S.C. 2031). The obvious results of this investigation can be summarized as follows: Increasing plant population density from 20000 to 28000 plants/fed significantly increased mean values of No. of days from planting to 50 % tasseling and silking, leaf area index, plant height (cm), ear height (cm) No. of barren plants/fed, No. of ears/fed, stover yield/fed (kg) and biological yield/fed (kg) in both seasons. On the other hand, mean values of No. of green leaves/plant, leaf area/plant (cm 2), No. of plants carried two ears/fed, No. of kernels/ear, ear weight (g), shelling (%), 100-kernel weight (g), ear yield/fed (kg), grain yield/fed (kg), harvest index, nitrogen uptake/fed (kg) and protein yield/fed (kg) were significantly decreased in the two seasons. Allmost traits of maize under study were significantly increased by increasing nitrogen fertilizer rates from 90 and 120 to 150 kg N/fed except, No. of days to 50 % tasseling and silking as well as No. of barren plants/fed were significantly decreased with increasing nitrogen rates in the both seasons, nitrogen fertilizer rate of 150 gave the best mean values for all maize traits under study. White single cross hybrids of maize were significantly differed in all maize traits under study in the both seasons. Maize hybrid of S.C. 30K8 was significantly surpassed S.C. 7071 and S.C. 2031 in mean values of No. of plants carried two ears/fed, No. of ears/fed, No. of kernels/ear, grain yield/fed and harvest index as well as gave the lowest mean values of No. of barren plants/fed and the shortest period from planting to 50 % tasseling or silking in the both seasons. Moreover, S.C. 2031 surpassed the other two maize hybrids in mean values of leaf area/plant, leaf area index, ear weight, 100-kernel weight, ear yield/fed, biological yield/fed, nitrogen uptake/fed and protein yield/fed in the two seasons. Meanwhile, S.C. 7071 recorded the highest mean values of No. of green leaves/plant, plant height, ear height, shelling % and stover yield/fed in the two seasons.

Productivity and Physiological Potentiality of Some Silage Maize Genotypes

“…Similar results for this trait were reported by Turgut et al, (2005), Carpici et al, (2010), Baghdadi et al, (2012), Karashin (2014), Kumar et al, (2016). On the other hand, Mandic et al, (2015), Rahuma and muhumed (2018), El-Hosary et al, (2019), Fromme et al, (2019) and Li et al, (2019), reported that, plant height increased with increasing plant density, while, El-Mekser et al, (2009) and Awadalla and morsy (2016), reported that, plant height decreased with increasing plant density.…”

“…Number of leaves plant -1 varied among Egyptian maize hybrids as demonstrated by Awadalla and Morsy, (2016), El-Hosary et al, (2019) and Hegab et al, (2019). Also, international hybrids Mandic et al, (2015), Nwokwu (2016) and Nazly et al, (2019) reported similar results with other hybrid.…”

“…Conversely, Hassan (2000), Mandic et al, (2015), Awadalla and morsy (2016) showed that number of leaves plant -1 was not affected with increasing plant density. Turgut et al, (2005) and Saberi (2019), noticed an increase in number of leaves plant -1 with increase plant density, while, number of leaves plant -1 decreased with the increase in plant density Carpici et al, (2010), Kumar et al, (2016) and El-Hosary et al, (2019). Number of ears plant -1 was noticed similar among maize hybrids Turgut et al, (2005) and Lashkari et al, (2011).…”

“…EL-Metwally et al, (2011), El-Shahed et al, (2013 and Hegab et al, (2019), illustrated that, SC10 gave the highest LAI (3.48 m 2 m -2 ), whereas, TC 352 gave the least LAI (2.71 m 2 m -2 ) Khan et al, (2012) and Baghdadi et al, (2012) noticed that, LAI progressively increased up to 65 DAS and then start declining. As plant density increased, leaf area index LAI increased according Kumar and Walia (2003), Bruns and Abbas (2006), Abuzar et al, (2011), Khalil et al, (2010), Baghdadi et al, (2012), El-Shahed et al, (2013), El-Hosary et al, (2019 and Salifu and Dóka (2019). Also, with increased plant density from 20,000 to 30,000 plant.…”

“…Total dry forage yield was recorded variable among maize genotypes Millner et al, (2005), Stanton et al, (2007), Gaile (2008), Lynch et al, (2012), andEl-Hosary et al, (2019). Meanwhile, a progressive increase in total dry forage yield was obtained with progress of maize-plant development towards physiological maturity with variable rate depending on stage of growth Cusicanqui and Lauer (1999).…”