Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems (Dec 2018)
PRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR OF TWELVE THREELINEAL FORAGE CORN HYBRIDS IN A DRY TROPICAL REGION
Abstract
Twelve threelineal corn hybrids and one commercial variety were evaluated at Ahuacatlán, Nayarit; distance between furrows was 75 cm and a seed every 15 cm. Fertilizer was applied at one dosagee of 160-60-00. Treatments were evaluated at a developmental stage of ¾ milk line. Data was analyzed through a randomized complete block design. The best total dry matter yield hybrids included HT-5, HT-12, HT-4, and HT-10: 32.8, 28.4, 28.4 and 27.6 t ha-1, respectively. For leaves dry matter these were HT-6, HT-1, HT-5, HT-9, HT-10, and HT-8: 5.7, 5.3, 5.3, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.0 t ha-1, respectively, for corn ears production HT-10, HT-8, HT-12, HT-6, HT-1, HT-4, and HT-5, with 8.9, 8.9, 8.6, 8.6, 8.6, 8.5, and 8.5 t ha-1, respectively. For stem dry matter HT-5, HT-4, HT-12 and, HT -10: 19.1, 15.4, 15.4, and 13.6 t ha-1, respectively. Three different groups were well defined for anthesis stage: 1) from 91 to 95 days: placebo, HT-5 and HT-7; 2) 86 to 90 days HT-2, HT-9, HT-10, HT-11, HT-6, HT-8, and HT-1, and 3) 80 to 85 days: HT-3, HT-12, and HT-4. Leaf percentage ranged from 16 to 22%, stem from 26 to 35%, and corn ear production from 43 to 58%. It is concluded that the evaluated hybrids showed variability for leaf, stem and corn, which will allow to select, in breeding programs, directly on the impact of forage production attributes. Contrary to stem, the leaf represented a lower percentage of components of the plant and a high positive correlation was observed between the stem: plant relationship with stem dry matter yield and dry matter yield.
