Responses of Four Corn Hybrids to Plant Density

Abstract

Corn is an important crop in northern Turkey, where it is used mainly as a source of energy for animal and food for human. Two-yr field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of plant density on the green herbage and dry matter yield (Experiment I); the grain yield and yield components (Experiment II) of hybrid corn. In both experiments, four hybrids, Sele, RX-770, RX-899, and RX-947 were grown at 51 282, 60 154, 76 923, and 102 564 plants/ha. Regression equations on the mean green herbage and grain yields of each hybrid estimated optimum plant density of each hybrid. There was a significant difference among hybrids with respect to green herbage and dry matter yield. Maximum green herbage and dry matter yields were obtained at RX-947. Plant density significantly affected green matter and dry matter yields. The highest green herbage and dry matter yields were obtained at 102 564 plants/ha. Hybrid x plant density interactions were not significant for both traits. Differences among hybrids for grain yield and yield components were significant, and RX-899 gave grain yield more than other hybrids. It was observed that plant density had a significant effect on grain yield and yield components. There also was a significant hybrid x plant density interaction for grain yield. The highest grain yield for Sele, RX-770, RX-947 were obtained at 76 923 plants/ha, for RX-899 was obtained at 60 154 plants/ha.