GREEN EAR AND GRAIN YIELD OF MAIZE GROWN AT SOWING DENSITIES

Abstract

One of the characteristics of maize cultivation in the Northeast region of Brazil is the diversity of production systems. One can find from large companies, which adopt modern cultivars and relatively high sowing densities, to small properties, with traditional cultivars grown at low sowing densities (cultivation in pits spaced more than 1.0 m). The objective with this work was to evaluate the effects of sowing density (30, 40, 50, 60, or 70 thousand plants ha-1) on green ear yield and grain yield of maize cultivars (AG 405 and BR 106). Green ears and grain are assessed and marketed differently. Consequently the optimum densities for obtaining each product may be different. In addition, maize cultivars may respond differently to increased density. Densities were achieved by maintaining a constant spacing between rows (1.0 m) and varying the spacing between pits within the same row. Cultivars and sowing densities were combined in a factorial scheme, arranged in a random block design with five replications. The maximum yield of marketable husked green ears of cultivars AG BR 405 and 106 were obtained with densities of 59 and 62 thousand plants ha-1, respectively. The maximum grain yield of cultivars AG 405 and BR 106 were obtained with densities of 61 and 70 thousand plants ha-1, respectively. In general, to produce marketable green ears, cultivar BR 106 was better in terms of number of ears, but the other cultivar was better in terms of ear weight. Cultivar AG 405 responds better to increased density for grain production.