engleski

Environmental and management effects on grain quality of maize hybrids

Research to date in Croatia has provided limited information on environmental and management effects on grain quality of maize (Zea mays L.). Field experiments were conducted during 2000 through 2002 to evaluate environmental and management effects on grain yield and quality responses of maize hybrids. Four hybrids of similar maturity ranking (FAO 400) were planted to achieve an optimum (60-65 000 plants per hectare) and suboptimal (37-38 000 plants per hectare) plant populations and grown under the low-N (100 kg N ha-1) and high-N (200 kg N ha-1) fertilization. Environmental conditions significantly affected maize hybrid responses for grain yield, oil and protein contents, and consequently, oil and protein yields per hectare. When averaged across all treatments, grain protein content was significantly larger at high N rate and suboptimal plant population, whereas oil content remained unchanged by N fertilization. Hybrid-specific differences for grain yields and quality traits were consistent in all environments and regardless of contrasting N fertilization rates and plant populations, showing the importance of hybrid selection for Croatian farmers.

Grain yield; Nitrogen; Oil content; Plant population; Protein content

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