PRODUCTIVITY OF SWEET MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L. SACCHARATA) AND NITROGEN SUPPLY AFFECTED BY CULTIVATION SYSTEMS IN NON TYPICAL MAIZE CLIMATE

摘要

Cultivation system is a key factor in sweet maize production, especially for introduction of this underutilized vegetable into non typical - short season common maize environment (to FAO 400 group). The aim of three-year field experiment (northeasternSlovenia, loamy sand soil) was to define the effects of cultivation systems - hoeing frequency (1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 times) during the vegetation period and mulches (polyethylene black foil, wheat straw and hand cutting) - on soil mineral nitrogen (N ) andmaize nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), growth and yield parameters. Higher hoeing frequencies significantly increased total yield (2.543 to 14.900 t/ha) and marketable fresh ear yield without husks (2.003 to 11.637 t/ha), as well as morphological parameters (plant mass, plant length, green mass, cob mass with husks, cob mass without husks, cob diameter, cob length and stem diameter; but not cob ratio). Polyethylene black foil mulch had significantly higher or equal effects on yield, growth parameters, NUEand soil N_(min)as high hoeing frequencies. These results indicate opportunities for organic production"of sweet maize even under European temperate climatic conditions.