OPTIMAL PLANT SPACING EFFECTS ON PHENOLOGY AND GROWTH METRICS OF CORN (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

This experiment aimed to investigate the influence of different inter and intra-row spacing on phenology and plant growth metrics of corn (Zea mays L.). The experiment was conducted under field conditions at Qushtapa zones of northern Iraq in the main cropping season of 2020-2021. Three different inter and intra-row spacing treatments (45, 60 and 75 cm) and (10 and 15 cm) respectively, were applied in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications, the total plots were six, each plot on the field was measured 2m width by 3m length (6 m2). The study assessed various plant growth parameters. The results found that inter-row spacing significantly influenced plant height and leaf area index (LAI) at inter-row spacing (45cm). In contrast, leaf area (LA) and leaf area ratio (LAR) significantly had the higher mean value at (75cm) inter-row spacing. Additionally, interaction treatments of inter-row spacing×intra-row spacing recorded highest mean values of plant height at treatment (inter 45cm × intra 15cm), while leaf area (LA) was higher mean value at interaction treatments of (inter 75cm × intra 15cm). As for leaf area index (LAI) this trait showed higher mean value at treatment interaction of (inter 45cm × intra 10cm), leaf area ratio (LAR) and leaf area duration (LAD) postulate higher mean at interaction (inter 75cm × intra 10cm) and (inter 60cm × intra 15cm) respectively. This study explores key growth indicators to comprehensively analyze the growth and productivity of corn plants, shedding light on their canopy development dynamics and overall performance.