Effect of sowing date and irrigation norms on yield components of different sweet corn hybrids

Abstract

This experimental trial was conducted during the 2022/23 growing season in the Bresje village area near Velika Plana, on anthropogenized soil, using a randomized block design with four replications. Sowing was performed in two date: the first in mid-May and the second in mid-July. Three sweet corn hybrids (Enterprise F1 , Union F1 , and Sweet Nugget F1 ) were evaluated. Two irrigation norms were applied: I - full irrigation (100%), II - 50% of full irrigation, and a control treatment under natural moisture conditions. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of sowing date, irrigation, and different sweet corn hybrids on total ear weight, kernel weight and shelling percentage. The best results were achieved by the hybrid Enterprise in the second sowing period, with significantly higher values than in the first period (total ear weight 392.47 g and kernel weight 272.13 g) under full irrigation, except for the shelling percentage, where the highest shelling percentage was observed in the 50% irrigation treatment at 70.44%. The control variants in both sowing periods across all three hybrids showed the lowest values for all parameters. Values shelling percentage did not significantly differ between sowing dates for any hybrid. Based on these findings, the hybrid Enterprise is an excellent choice for sweet corn cultivation in late sowing dates under full irrigation.

Keywords

• agrotehnical measures
• kernel weight
• shelling percentage
• total ear weight