Influence of Different Sowing Dates on Yield and Quality of Corn Xianyu 335

Abstract

Using data from Yushu Agricultural Meteorological Station of Jilin from 2018 to 2023, the impact of different sowing dates of corn is investigated focusing on its growth and yield composition as well as grain quality under global warming. It is also debated whether adjusting the sowing date of corn could be a measure for agriculture to adapt to climate change. Results show that the utilization efficiency of accumulated temperature during the growing season of corn varies with different sowing dates. The accumulated temperature is the highest in the first sowing date and lowest in the fourth sowing date, with an average decrease of 8.3% compared to the first sowing date. Different sowing dates of corn have an impact on the growing period. The duration of the first sowing date for corn is extended by an average of 7.5 days compared to the normal sowing date, while durations of the third and fourth sowing dates are shortened by 5.7 days and 13.8 days, respectively. Different sowing dates have an impact on the yield structure of corn. In the first sowing date, there is an increase in the weight of 100 grains of corn in 2 years during 6 years, while a decrease by 4.8% and 8.7% in the third and fourth sowing dates compared to the normal sowing date. The average number of grains per plant in the first sowing date increases by 0.2%, while decreases by 6.0% and 9.3% in the third and fourth sowing date. Overall, delaying the corn sowing date by 10 days and 20 days results in an average yield reduction of 10.9% and 17.1%. Sowing corn 10 days earlier could increase the yield in some years. The change in sowing dates has little effect on the quality of grains. Therefore, an early corn sowing date can be utilized as a strategy to adapt to climate change in certain regions of Northeast China.

Keywords

• corn
• sowing date
• measures to adapt to climate change