Evaluation on morpho-physiological characters of synthetic maize genotypes on low soil nitrogen level condition

Abstract

A study aimed to evaluate the growth and production of several synthetic maize lines at low nitrogen level was conducted at the Indonesian Cereals Research Institute Experimental Farm in Bajeng District, Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi. The research was carried out from September to December 2018. The study also aimed to determine the nitrogen dose that could be used for selection of synthetic maize genotypes against low nitrogen doses. The study was conducted in the form of an experiment using a Split Plot Design. Five levels of Nitrogen fertilizer were used namely 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg N per hectare. Various genotypes treatment were consisted of 4 synthetic maize genotypes namely Syn 5, Syn 6, Syn 7, Syn 8 and 2 comparative varieties namely Bisma and Lamuru. The results show a significant interaction between the treatment of nitrogen doses and the synthetic maize genotype on the morphological and physiological characters of the maize genotypes. Genotypes gave the best results at nitrogen doses of 100 kg N ha−1 was Syn8 (8.67 tons ha−1) and 50 kg N ha−1 (6.47 tons ha−1). Nitrogen doses of 50 kg N ha−1 and 100 kg N ha−1 can be used for the selection of maize tolerant to low nitrogen condition with productivity of 4.57 tons ha−1 and 8.67 tons ha−1, respectively. There is potential for the Syn8 genotype to be developed for low-nitrogen-tolerant maize varieties due to higher production compared to the comparative variety.