Calculating Growing Degree Days for Different Inbridlines of Maize (<i>Zea mays. </i>L) at Mid Altitude of Ethiopia, Bako

Abstract

Comparing hybrid maize to open-pollinated varieties, the former is widely recognized for its higher producing capacity. However, the production potential of hybrids varies depending on the region and the season. Maize inbreed lines are relatively week and low in yield when compared to hybrid formed from them and open pollinated variety. Hence their seed production is challenged by weather condition like rain fall and temperature. This experiment was conducted on thirteen released inbridlines to calculate the Amount of growing degree days and production potential using a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. The mean GY for inbred lines was 4.08t/. L<sub>10</sub> had the highest yield (5.53 t/ha), followed by L<sub>13</sub> (5.18 t/ha) and L<sub>4</sub> (5.13t/ha). L<sub>12</sub>, L<sub>7 </sub>and L<sub>3</sub> had grain yield above the mean with the mean values of 5.03, 4.14, and 4.10 (t/ha). The ANOVA for Anthesis-Silking Intervals (ASI) showed highly significant differences (p< 0.01). Among inbred parents, L<sub>7</sub>, with an average of (6.66 days) had the longest ASI followed by L<sub>5</sub>, and L<sub>12</sub> with five days of ASI. And The mean of ASI was four days for L<sub>1</sub>, L<sub>3</sub>, L<sub>4</sub> and L<sub>10</sub>. The mean of ASI was 3.58 days, which has highly significant effect on yield. The shortest ASI was observed for L<sub>9</sub> with (1day) followed by L<sub>6</sub> (1.33 days), L<sub>2</sub> (2days) and L<sub>8</sub>, L<sub>11</sub>, L<sub>13</sub> with 3days. L<sub>10</sub> had the highest score of Growing Degree Days (GDD) (°C) for DA and DS with 957.3 and 998, respectively. Whereas the lowest scores of GDD (°C) for DA and DS, observed on for L<sub>2</sub>, Were 815°C and 835°C), respectively.