Effect of variety and humidity on the loss of maize crop after shelling in shelling and drying factories of maize (Zea mays) in Iraq

Abstract

In order to know effect of the variety and the optimum humidity to reduce the percentage of loss in the yield of maize during the process of shelling the maize factories, this research was conducted during the autumn season of 2011 in Hawija district, west of Kirkuk governorate, using six entered varieties (CADIZ, DKC1120, DKC1188, DRACHMA, RONALDINIO and RANT) were cultivated according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The shelling was carried out at three levels of humidity (23-26%, 27-30% and 31-33%). The following characteristics were studied (number of rows in ear, number of grains per row, total yield kg/du, outturn ratio of grain yield at the three moisture levels, and the percentage of loss of grain yield at the three moisture levels). The results indicated that there are significant differences between the varieties at a probability level of 1% for all the studied traits, and the results of the means test showed the superiority of the DRACHMA variety at the best rates for all the traits studied, as it gave a yield amounted to 3708.2 kg/du, and it also gave the lowest percentage, it was 3.95% Low humidity 23-26%. The low humidity percentage also achieved the lowest rates of loss percentage during the shelling process for all varieties.