Could plant density be increased in Andean maize grown at high altitudes?

DIEGO SALVE; MARÍA LUJÁN MAYDUP; GERMÁN SALAZAR; MARIANA ANTONIETTA

Santa Fe

Congreso; XXXIII Argentinian Meeting of Plant Physiology; 2021

Asociación Argentina de Fisiología Vegetal

Although plant density is a critical management variable affecting maize yield, little is known about optimal plant density for Andean maize grown at high altitude environments with larger irradiance availability. Field trials were conducted in Posta de Hornillos, Maimará, Argentina (23º39?S, 65º25?W, 2300 m.a.s.l.) in 2019-20 on a sandy clay loam soil without water or nutrients limitations. Two maize lines, Amarillo de ocho ("A", planophile) and Capia blanco (?B?, erectophile), were grown at two plant densities: 5.71 ?conventional for this area- and 8.57 pl m-2. At the beginning of the critical period, leaf area index increased at high density (P