Effect of Male Planting Date and Female Plant Population on Hybrid Maize Yield and Evaluation of Use of Hybrid-Maize Simulation Model for Grain Yield Estimation in Hybrid Maize Seed Production

Lennin Musundire,H S Yang,John Macroberts,Pangirayi Tongoona,Shorai Dari,John Derera

doi:10.5539/jas.v10n3p333

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the effect of male planting date (MPD) and female plant population (FPP) on the grain yield (GY) performance of a three-way hybrid and to evaluate Hybrid-Maize simulation model for grain yield estimation in hybrid seed maize production. Fifteen treatment combinations of five MPD as a deviation from the female planting date and three FPP replicated three times were used. The Hybrid-Maize simulation model programme was used to forecast the possible GY outcomes for the fifteen treatments of the experiment using estimated parameters and weather data for the 2006/7 season. The field experiment produced significant (P < 0.005) main effects but non-significant interaction effects for GY, yield components and antheis-silking interval (ASI). Female seed yield was affected by time of male pollen shed relative to female silking: ASI, with highest yields associated with close synchrony (ASI= +/-3 days). ASI had a significant effect on the number of kernels per ear (KPE), with the greatest KPE (318) associated with an ASI of +/-3 days. FPP effects on yield are typical for maize, showing a curvilinear response from low to high density. The optimum population density for GY was 5.4 plants m-2. Simulation output from the Hybrid-Maize simulation model showed an overestimation of GY compare to the observed yield. Furthermore, the model was unable to predict yields for the low FPP of 2.7 plants m-2. We found that Hybrid-Maize simulation model has limited potential for simulating hybrid maize seed production, as it does not accommodate limitations that may occur during the growing season: difference in male and female planting dates, pollen density and dispersion. Hence, the fixed parameters for the Hybrid-Maize simulation model can only be used in maize commercial production.

Highlights

Maize hybrid seed is a source of subsistence, an embodiment of technological change and vital input for commercial maize agricultural production (Tripp, 2001)
There was no close synchrony between pollen shed of male inbred lines and silking of the female single cross (ASI = > 3 days or < 3 days) for all the other male planting dates
Female seed yield was affected by time of male pollen shed relative to female silking (ASI), with highest yields associated with close synchrony (ASI= +/-3 days)

Summary

Introduction

Maize hybrid seed is a source of subsistence, an embodiment of technological change and vital input for commercial maize agricultural production (Tripp, 2001). A response to the expected rise in demand for maize is inevitable according to a report by Rosegrant et al (1995). World demand in 2020 is predicated to rise to about 138% of the 1995 demand. Given the limited opportunities for augmenting maize area in most countries, future output growth must come from intensifying production on current maize land. Shortage of maize hybrid seed in southern Africa is a major challenge considering efforts underway to increase maize production (Havazvidi & Tatterfied, 2006). There is the need to have increased yield per unit land area to sustain the market as well as to offset costs

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion