NITROGEN RATES AND SIDE-DRESSING TIMING ON SWEET CORN SEED PRODUCTION AND PHYSIOLOGICAL POTENTIAL

Claudemir Zucareli,Denis Santiago Costa,Inês Cristina Batista Fonseca,Josemeyre Bonifácio Silva,José Henrique Bizzarri Bazzo

doi:10.1590/1983-21252018v31n210rc

Claudemir Zucareli, Denis Santiago Costa + Show 3 more

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ABSTRACT Sweet corn is an important crop because of its seeds with high total sugar and low starch contents. As common corn, this group requires an adequate amount of nitrogen to reach high yields. However, the studies on nitrogen and sweet corn are performed for ear yield instead of seed yield. As seeds are the main propagation method for this species, we proposed to evaluate the effects of nitrogen rates as side-dressing at different plant stages of a sweet corn seed production. Sweet corn seeds (variety BR 400) were sown in Latosol (Oxisol), and a 3×2+1 factorial scheme was designed with three nitrogen rates (40, 80, and 120 kg ha-1) at two plant stages (V6 and R1) plus the control (no nitrogen side-dressing). The evaluated variables were seed yield, protein content, P and Zn contents, germination, and vigor rates. We concluded that nitrogen applied at a rate of 120 kg ha-1 at V6 increases seed yield and maintains unaltered the protein content in seeds of sweet corn (BR 400 variety). Neither germination nor seed vigor increases when nitrogen rates are increased or administered at different stages of plant development. We also noted a slight decrease in P content or an increase in Zn content of seeds at low nitrogen rates; however, they are insufficient to promote changes in the physiological potential of sweet corn seeds.

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Sweet corn (Zea mays L.), Saccharata group, is a plant with potential to contribute to energy generation by plant biomass (BARROS-RIOS et al, 2015) and can produce seeds with high total sugar and low starch contents, enhancing its quality for human consumption, both in natura or processed (KWIATKOWSKI; CLEMENTE; SCAPIM, 2011)
Based on the hypothesis that the nitrogen can improve seed yield, protein content, phosphorus/ zinc contents, and seed physiological potential, we proposed to evaluate the effects of nitrogen rates as side-dressing applied at different plant stages in sweet corn plants
Treatments showed low seed yields because the study was carried out with the variety BR 400 (Table 2). It is an open-pollinated variety still important for small farmers and has good acceptability but low yield compared with hybrids

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Introduction

Sweet corn (Zea mays L.), Saccharata group, is a plant with potential to contribute to energy generation by plant biomass (BARROS-RIOS et al, 2015) and can produce seeds with high total sugar and low starch contents, enhancing its quality for human consumption, both in natura or processed (KWIATKOWSKI; CLEMENTE; SCAPIM, 2011). For Z. mays plants, nitrogen is an important macronutrient for being one of the most accumulated in plants during their development, only requiring a supplementary addition via side-dressing to reach high yields (OKUMURA et al, 2014). Some studies have reported an increase in grain protein contents by applying high levels of nitrogen either as side-dressing at vegetative stage or at late stages (at silking), improving corn nutritional quality (SILVA et al, 2005; SHARIFI; NAMVAR, 2016). The high protein content in seeds can represent a beneficial balance of amino acids in seeds, enhancing seed development speed and uniformity

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