The effect of weather conditions, soil type and sowing density on the productivity of maize

Abstract

High maize yields can only be achieved on fertile, loose and well-permeable soils. Previous research indicates that novel maize hybrids respond favorably to higher crop density. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of meteorological conditions, soil type and seeding density on cob length, number of grain rows on the cob, number of sterile plants, grain yield and grain water content of the maize hybrid AS 6E02 (FAO 620) during the growing season. The tests were carried out during 2017 and 2018 through field micro-experiments in the agroecological conditions of the Vranje municipality using the split-plot design with four replications on eutric cambisol, vertisol and alluvium soils. The area of the plot for grain yield was 8.4 m2 . The agronomic practices used in the experiment were standard, as for regular maize production. The years in which the surveys were conducted differed in terms of meteorological conditions, the amount and distribution of precipitation. The smallest average cob length (17.6 cm) for all investigated soils and years was obtained with the narrow-row sowing. The number of grain rows did not vary significantly depending on the sowing density. On a two-year average, the grain yield was significantly higher, influenced by the type of soil in relation to the sowing density. On average for soil types and years, the lowest percentage of sterile plants (1.90%) was found at the sowing density of 75.187 plants per ha. In comparison to 2017, the water content was higher by 8.5 index points in 2018.

Keywords

• maize
• soil
• sowing
• productivity
• seed yield