Effects of Environment Variables on Maize Yield and Ear Characters

摘要

The global warming brings important effects to the ecological system, agricultural environment and crop yields. Summer maize variety ZD 958 was planted at different sowing dates and densities. Relationship between yield, ear characters and climatic factors were studied. Results showed that rainfall was the key limiting factor affecting maize production; the effective accumulated temperature after florescence was the important factor affecting bald ear tips and shrunken kernels; rainfall after florescence was the major factor affecting row grains and kernels deep; correlation between yield and average light intensity, rainfall, effective accumulated temperature reached an evident level during growth period. Rainfall had the largest direct effect on yield, and the indirect effect from effective accumulated temperature by average light intensity on yield expression was strong, while indirect effect between effective accumulated temperature and average light intensity was week. Rainfall after florescence had the maximum direct effect, while rainfall and average light intensity affecting on yield decreased significantly, direct effect effective of accumulated temperature increased obviously. 2a trials in 2011 and 2012, early sowing (April 25th) with middle density (67 500 plants·hm~(-2)) had the higher yield, increased 71.28% and 58.88% compared with high density (90 000 plants·hm~(-2)) with late sowing (May 25th) treatments. Interaction between sowing date and density had an significant effect on bald kernels and kernels deep, but little influence on row grains and barren ear tip.