Maize grain yield as affected by within-row plant distribution

OTEGUI, M.E.; DODDS, P.E.; SLAFER, G.A.; MIGUEZ, F.

CEREAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

AKADEMIAI KIADO RT

Lugar: Budapest; Año: 1993 vol. 20 p. 145 - 150

0133-3720

The effects of within-row plan distribution in maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield have received little attention, and there are conflicting results. Five field experiments were conducted to estimate the impact of within-row plan distribution at the same plant density (59500 plants/m2) on maize production in the Argentinian maize core area. Grain yields, which ranged from 4.7 to 7.16 t/ha across environments, were essentially unaffected by varying plant distribution from uniform (standard deviation of 0 cm) to nearly geometrically (standard deviation of 24.1 cm) distributed plants. Nevertheless, the lack of agreement among different studies on this issue could be due to the environmental characteristics of the experimental areas considered. A hypothesis regarding these differences is proposed.