Tsimba, R. and Edmeades , G.O. and Millner , J.P. and et al, . (2013) The effect of planting date on maize grain yields and yield components. Field Crops Research. pp. 1-10.
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Abstract
Four experiments were established in the Waikato and Manawatu regions of New Zealand in 2006 and 2007 to determine planting date (PD) effect on maize (Zea mays L.) leaf growth, grain yield (GY) and yield components. Five or six hybrids of three maturity classes (early, mid and late) were sown on four or five PDs between 18 September and 15 December of each year. Increasing mean daily temperatures in the range 13–19 °C immediately prior to tassel initiation reduced leaf number by 0.1 leaf °C−1. Highest leaf area indices were observed at mean daily temperatures of 17–19 °C. In the lower latitude environment of Waikato, maximum GY was obtained with earlier plantings than Manawatu. Lower spring temperatures, and consequently smaller canopy sizes in Manawatu depressed yields of early plantings. When planted early, late hybrids generally outyielded early hybrids while a better balanced source–sink ratio meant that early hybrids yielded consistently across PDs, matching or outyielding late hybrids when both were planted late. Lower grain filling mean temperatures (15 vs. 18 °C) and average radiation (11 vs. 20 MJ m−2 d−1) reduced yields more for late than early plantings. Grain yield was highly correlated with kernel number (KN) (r = 0.90***) and weight (KW) (r = 0.76***). Lowest KN, KW and GY values were obtained under late plantings, low rainfall (<20 mm) and/or radiation (<18 MJ m−2 d−1) 10–20 d either side of flowering, or when mean temperatures ≤15 °C or irradiance <11 MJ m−2 d−1 occurred during grain filling. Kernel number, KW and GY responses to late planting or water stress were more apparent in late than early hybrids. Kernel weight was more stable than KN under late planting or water stress conditions. Water stress during grain filling affected late PDs more than early PDs. Total biomass and harvest index decreased with delayed planting.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | AcknowledgementsThis work was funded by the New Zealand Tertiary Educa-tion Commission (Bright Future Scheme) and Genetic Technologies Limited. The authors would also like to thank staff at Massey Uni-versity and Genetic Technologies for technical support. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Leaf area index; Maize grain yield; Kernel weight; Kernel number; Harvest index; Planting date |
| Author Affiliation: | Genetic Technologies Ltd., PO Box 105-303, Auckland 1143, New Zealand |
| Subjects: | Plant Production |
| Divisions: | Maize |
| Depositing User: | Mr Siva Shankar |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Jul 2013 08:08 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Jul 2013 08:08 |
| Official URL: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2013.05.028 |
| URI: | http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/11120 |
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