Matching the Optimum Plant Density and Adequate N-rate with High-density Tolerant Genotype for Maxmizing Maize (Zea mays L.) Crop Yield
A. M. M. Al-Naggar, R. Shabana, M. M. M. Atta, T. H. Al-Khalil
Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International · pp. 237–253 · Published 1 Jan 2015
10.9734/JAERI/2015/14260Abstract
Increasing plant density and improving N-fertilizer rate along with the use of high-density tolerant genotypes would lead to maximize maize grain productivity from unit land area. The objective of this investigation was to match the functions of optimum plant density and adequate nitrogen fertilizer application to produce the highest possible yields from unit area with the greatest maize genotype efficiency. A split-split plot design in randomized complete blocks arrangement with three replications was used for yield evaluation across two seasons (2012 and 2013). Main plots were assigned to three N-rates viz., 0 (LN), 120 (MN) and 240 (HN) kg/feddan; fed) (one fed = 4200 m2). Sub-plots were assigned to three plant densities viz., 20,000 (LD), 30,000 (MD) and 40,000 (HD) plant/fed and sub-sub plots to 23 maize genotypes (6 inbreds, 15 diallel F1 crosses made among these inbreds and 2 check hybrids). Nine environments (E) had therefore been created (3 plant densities × 3 N levels). In general, the highest grain yield/plant (GYPP) was obtained from HN with LD (E1), while the highest grain yield/fed (GYPF) was obtained from HN with HD (E3). The environment LN and HD (E9) showed maximum reductions (70.9% and 67.6% in GYPP and 55.5% and 49.6% in GYPF for inbreds and hybrids, respectively) as compared to E1 as a result of both stresses (LN and HD). These reductions in grain yield were associated with reductions in all yield components like number of grains/plant (GPP), ears/plant (EPP), 100-grains weight (100-GW), harvest index, total dry matter, chlorophyll concentration index (CCI) and penetrated light; with maximum reduction in (GPP) and CCI. On the contrary, both stresses together caused increases in barren stalks (BS), anthesis-silking interval (ASI) and economic nitrogen use efficiency (NUEe); with maximum increase in E9. The relationships between the nine environments and GYPF showed near linear regression function for inbreds L54, L29 and L55 and hybrids L18×L53 and L18×L55 with an optimum density of 20,000 plants/fed and N-rate of 240 kg N/fed and a curvilinear regression function for inbreds L17, L18 and L53 and the rest of hybrids with an optimum density of 40,000 plants/fed combined with N-rate of 240 kg N/fed. We could maximize GYPF in the present study to 60.4 ard/fed (one ard = 140 kg) for L17×L54 and 58.7 ard/fed for L17×L18 by using the high density and high N-rate; with a significant superiority in GYPF over the best check cultivar (SC-10) under E9 environment of 26.9% and 23.3%, respectively. The highest yielding genotypes under high-density in this study are characterized with one or more of adaptive traits to high-density and/or low-N.
References (34)
- 1 Principles and Procedures of Statistics: A Biometrical Approach
- 2 The Nature and Properties of Soils [DOI]
- 3 Analysis and Interpretation of Factors Which Contribute to Efficiency of Nitrogen Utilization1 [DOI]
- 4 Post–Green Revolution Trends in Yield Potential of Temperate Maize in the North‐Central United States [DOI]
- 5 Yield Improvement in Temperate Maize is Attributable to Greater Stress Tolerance [DOI]
- 6 Breeding for drought and nitrogen stress tolerance in maize: From theory to practice
- 7 Selection Improves Drought Tolerance in Tropical Maize Populations: I. Gains in Biomass, Grain Yield, and Harvest Index [DOI]
- 8 Causes for Silk Delay in a Lowland Tropical Maize Population [DOI]
- 9 Selection for Drought Tolerance Increases Maize Yields across a Range of Nitrogen Levels [DOI]
- 10 Maize Morphophysiological Responses to Intense Crowding and Low Nitrogen Availability: An Analysis and Review [DOI]
- 11 Efficiency of Secondary Traits for Improving Maize for Low‐Nitrogen Target Environments [DOI]
- 12 Factors that contribute to genetic variation for nutrient efficiency of crop plants [DOI]
- 13 Yield Response of Corn to Crowding Stress [DOI]
- 14 Agronomic Responses of Corn Hybrids from Different Eras to Deficit and Adequate Levels of Water and Nitrogen [DOI]
- 15 Corn Response to Nitrogen Rate, Row Spacing, and Plant Density in Eastern Nebraska [DOI]
- 16 Responses of Maize to Plant Population Density. II. Reproductive Development, Yield, and Yield Adjustments [DOI]
- 17 Population Density and Low Nitrogen Affects Yield‐Associated Traits in Tropical Maize [DOI]
- 18 Improvement for tolerance to low soil nitrogen in tropical maize I. Selection criteria [DOI]
- 19 Association between traits in tropical maize inbred lines and their hybrids under high and low soil nitrogen
- 20 Influence of Plant Population and Nitrogen‐Fertilizer at Various Levels on Growth and Growth Efficiency of Maize [DOI]
- 21 Response of sweet corn hybrid to varying plant densities and nitrogen levels [DOI]
- 22 Morphological and Physiological Traits in Maize Associated with Tolerance to High Plant Density1 [DOI]
- 23 Corn Silage and Grain Yield Responses to Plant Densities [DOI]
- 24 MAIZE HYBRIDS RESPONSE TO NITROGEN RATES AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT
- 25 Text Book of Soil Science
- 26 Baby corn single-cross hybrids yield in two plant densities [DOI]
- 27 RESISTANCE TO DROUGHT AND DENSITY STRESS IN CANADIAN AND EUROPEAN MAIZE (Zea mays L.) HYBRIDS [DOI]
- 28 Combining Ability for Nitrogen Use in a Selected set of Inbred Lines from a Tropical Maize Population [DOI]
- 29 Effect of hybrid and plant density on grain yield and yield components of maize (Zea mays) [DOI]
- 30 Photosynthetic and bioluminescence properties of maize inbred lines with upright leaves
- 31 Plant population and hybrid considerations for dryland corn production on drought-susceptible soils [DOI]
- 32 Hybrid and plant density effects on nitrogen response in corn
- 33 Genetics of Maize Rapid Silk Extrusion and Anthesis Silking Synchrony Under High Plant Density [DOI]
- 34 Long‐Term Selection in a Commercial Hybrid Maize Breeding Program [DOI]
Cited by 6
A. M. M. Al-Naggar, R. Shabana, M. S. Hassanein, T. A. Elewa, A. S. M. Younis, A. M. A. Metwally · Journal of Applied Life Sciences International · 2017
Babatope Samuel Ajayo, Maize Improvement Program, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P.M.B. 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria, Baffour Badu-Apraku · AIMS Agriculture and Food · 2021
Showing 2 of 6 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.
Related research
- The Effects of Genotype, Soil Water Deficit and Their Interaction on Agronomic, Physiologic and Yield Traits of Zea mays L. — shares topic coverage
- Regression of Grain Yield of Maize Inbred Lines and Their Diallel Crosses on Elevated Levels of Soil-Nitrogen — shares topic coverage
- Prolificacy and Pre-Weaning Mortality of West African Dwarf Sheep Raised Intensively in a Hot Humid Environment — shares topic coverage
- Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) to Deficit Irrigation Combined with Reduced Nitrogen Rate is Genotype Dependent — shares topic coverage
- Differential Responses of Maize (Zea mays L.) Genotypes to Elevated Plant Density Combined with Deficit Irrigation — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
59
Page views
0
PDF downloads
37
Outbound clicks
6
Citations
Views over time
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.