The improvement of corn yield and fresh stover weight through two mass selection techniques in dry land

Abstract

This study aims to determine the response of the yield and fresh stover weight of corn under mass selection by pollination control and base index techniques and to determine the increase in yield and fresh stover after seven mass selection cycles. Subdivided blocks were used to reduce the environmental effects during the selection cycles. A randomized complete block design was used to test the selection results. Compared to the initial population, the results showed a 43.46% increase in yield and a 79.21% increase in fresh stover weight after seven cycles of mass selection by pollination control, while the base index technique produced a 59.81% increase in yield and a 103.47% increase in fresh stover weight. Mass selection using the two techniques needs to be continued in future cycles to obtain a higher yield and fresh stover weight.

Keywords

• base index selection
• fresh stover
• mass selection
• selection progress
• selection by pollination control