Effect of Row Orientation, Mow Spacing and Plant Population Density on Grain Yield and Other Agronomic Traits in Maize (Zea mays L.)

摘要

The present investigation was conducted at three locations; ic, Sakha, Gemmeiza and Nuabaria Agric. Res. Stos., Field Crops Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center, during the two growing seasons of 2007 and 2008 to study the effect of rows orientation, rows spacing and plant density on maize growth and yield. Single cross hybrid (SC 10) was used in this study. Two field trials were conducted at each location, one for row orientation of East-West (E-W), and the other for North-South (N-S). Number of treatments in each trial was nine treatments which were the combinations of: 1. Three row spaces; i.e., 60,70 and 80 cm, and 2. Three plant population densities; i.e., 20,000,25,000 and 30,000 plants fad"1. Each row orientation treatment was planted in a separateexperiment, arranged according to a split-plot design, with four replications, where row spacing was arranged in the main plots, while, plant population density treatments was arranged in the sub- plots. Combined analysis was performed among row orientation experiments, where replications were nested within row orientation for each year. The previous crop was wheat for all trials. Soil type was clay loam at Sakha and Gemmeiza, whereas, it was calcarious at Nubaria. Results indicated that planting maizeon rows oriented from East to West (E-W) led to a significant reduction in number of days from planting to 50% tasseling and silking, at Gemmeiza and Nubaria in 2007 season, and at Nubaria in 2008 season. This treatment led, also, to a significant increase in plant and ear height at all locations in the two years, except for Sakha in 2008 season, for plant height, and Gemmeiza in 2007 for ear height. The same treatment significantly increased grain yield at all locations in the two years, except at Sakha and Gemmeiza in the second season. Planting maize on rows, spaced 80 cm, significantly reduced the number of days from planting to 50% tasseling and silking at both locations in 2007 and 2008 growing seasons. Maize plants became tall with high ear placement when planted on rows spaced of 80 cm. Planting maize on 80 cm rows led to a significant increase in plant and ear height, as well as grain yield per plant and per faddan, compared with 60 and 70 cm row-spacing's. The effect of plant population density on plant height differed with locations and seasons (environments). Increasing plant population density up to 30,000 plants fad"1 led to a significant reduction in plant height at Gemmeiza, while, increasing plant population density up to 30,000 plants, at Nubaria, resulted in a significant increase in plant height in both growing seasons. For ear height, the effect of plant population density was significant only at Nubaria in 2007 growing season, while, it was_significant at all locations in 2008growing season. Increasing plant population density was associated with a significant reduction in grain yield per plant at all locations in both growing seasons. Grain yield (in ardab per faddan) significantly increased as plant population density increased up to 30,000 plants fad~(-1)