INVESTIGADORES
ECHARTE Laura
artículos
Título:
Effect of Crowding Stress on Dry Matter Accumulation and Harvest Index in Maize
Autor/es:
M. TOLLENAAR; W. DEEN; L. ECHARTE; W. LIU
Revista:
AGRONOMY JOURNAL
Referencias:
Año: 2006 vol. 98 p. 930 - 937
ISSN:
0002-1962
Resumen:
Conflicting results have been reported on the effects of spacing and
emergence variability on grain yield in maize (Zea mays L.). Effects of
spacing and emergence variability on maize grain yield are the net
result of the responses of all plants within the stand. The objective of
this study was to quantify effects of spacing and emergence variability
on crop yield in terms of increased or decreased crowding stress on
resource capture (i.e., dry matter accumulation) and resource utilization
(i.e., dry matter partitioning) of the individual plants within the
crop canopy. Results of previously reported studies were analyzed in
terms of plant dry matter accumulation, leaf area, plant growth rate
during the critical period for kernel set bracketed by silking (PGRs),
grain yield, and harvest index, that is, the proportion of dry matter
partitioned to the grain at maturity. Results show that a moderate increase
in plant-spacing variability does not influence maize grain yield
at the canopy level because reductions in grain yield of plants that
experience enhanced crowding stress is compensated, in part, by increased
yield of plants that experience reduced crowding stress; crowding
stress affected dry matter accumulation but did not affect harvest
index. In contrast, plant-emergence variability reduced grain yield at
the canopy level because the reduction in grain yield was attributable,
in part, to a reduction in harvest index of plants withPGRs less than the
threshold for kernel set. Hence, plants can compensate for factors that
influence resource capture, but cannot compensate for a reduction in
factors that influence resource utilization.