Determination of maize agronomic calendar Based on its climatic Feasibility in south Iran

Abstract

Maize is the third most consumed grain in the world , which is planted in warm climate . The purpose of this study is to compile the agronomic calendar of the 704 single_cross cultivar of maize and to determine the coducive areas for planting it in south regions of Iran based on the temporal needs using phenology information in its different growing stages in three agricultural research farms of Zarghan,Darab , Rodan and Arzoie during 2001-2017. Daily weather statistics presenting the temperature(1996-2016) of 61 Synoptic stations from Meteorological Organization of Iran . Then The relationship between the 15-day mean temperature and the altitude in the linear regression is calculated and maps of the first and second planting times in south Iran was plotted in the GIS. The plant growth degree days and the number of days in every phenology phase are calculated and the occurrence of exposure to growth inhibiting temperatures for all of the stations studied. Map of suitable areas Based on the supply of heat needs integrated with the land use,slope,height layers and the final map are plotted. The results of this study show that In 73% of the study area, thermal conditions are provided for corn cultivation based on the determined planting time;but only 23% area of study(91846.59km2) are suitable of cultivating corn in the study area due to topographic limitations and unsuitable cultivated lands.highly suitable, suitable and moderately suitable areas are 12%, 8% ,3%, respectively. Farmers have the best crop calendars and locations using these maps.