Development of key yield components in maize under different plant densities

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study on the formation of key yield structure components in maize, specifically the number of kernel rows per ear and the number of kernels per row, depending on planting density. The aim of the research was to determine and assess the impact of plant density on the formation of yield structure elements in maize hybrids with different maturity periods. Research methods included observation, laboratory analysis, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, field trials, visual assessment, and comparative-calculation methods. The study was conducted in 2024 at the experimental field of the Department of Crop Production and Horticulture of Vinnytsia National Agrarian University, under the farming conditions of Organic-D LLC. The soil cover of the experimental site is represented by grey forest soils with a light loamy mechanical composition. Research Results. It was found that maize hybrids differed significantly in the formation of the number of kernel rows per ear and the number of kernels per row, depending on their maturity group, biological characteristics, and plant density. An extended vegetation period in maize hybrids contributed to an increase in the number of kernel rows per ear, with mid-maturing hybrids showing the highest value for this trait (16.4 rows). The maximum number of kernel rows among early-maturing hybrids was recorded in Anovi KS (FAO 220) – 15.6 rows and ES Sirius (FAO 200) – 14.9 rows. Among mid-early hybrids, the highest values were observed in ES Perspektiv (FAO 240) – 16.2 rows and DKC 3609 (FAO 260) – 16.5 rows at a plant density of 70 thousand plants/ha. For mid-maturing hybrids, DKC 3939 (FAO 320) formed 17.5 rows at a plant density of 50 thousand plants/ha, and Harmonium (FAO 380) – 16.8 rows at a density of 60 thousand plants/ha. The number of kernels per row increased with the advancement of the FAO maturity group and varied with different plant densities. Conclusions. On average across the experiment, the number of kernels per row was: early-maturing hybrids – 38.4 kernels, mid-early hybrids – 39.1 kernels, and mid-maturing hybrids – 39.6 kernels. The highest values of kernels per row were recorded for: Anovi KS – 38.5 kernels and ES Sirius – 41.3 kernels at 70 thousand plants/ha, ES Perspektiv – 37.9 kernels and DKC 3609 – 42.4 kernels at 60 thousand plants/ha, DKC 3939 – 40.9 kernels and Harmonium – 42.2 kernels at 50 thousand plants/ha.