Selection of several hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes under low nitrogen condition

Abstract

Low soil N nutrient content is a limiting factor in efforts to increase the maize production. Hybrid maize varieties are generally very responsive to fertilization and have high yields in optimal environments in contrast to abiotic stress conditions such as low nitrogen. Therefore, it is necessary to develop hybrid maize with low N tolerance by genotyping at low N fertilization conditions. This research aims to obtain hybrid maize genotypes tolerant to low nitrogen with high production and to determine characters that have high heritability values. The research was carried out in the Experimental Farm of the Cereals Plant Research Institute, Bajeng Subdistrict, Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi Province. The research was arranged in a Split Plot Design with the main plot is dose of nitrogen (0 kg N/ha, 100 kg N/ha, 200 kg N/ha) while subplots were hybrid maize genotypes consisted of 12 genotypes and 3 comparative varieties (Nasa 29, Bisi 18, and Jakarin 1). The results show that the hybrid genotype tolerant to low nitrogen with high production were AVLN 83-2 x AVLN 124-9 genotypes in the treatment without nitrogen fertilization and AVLN 83-2 x AVLN 32-8, AVLN 83-2 x AVLN 124-4, AVLN 83-2 x AVLN 124-9, AVLN 83-2 x AVLN 100-1, AVLN 122-2 x AVLN 124-9, AVLN 122-2 x AVLN 100-1, and AVLN 118-7 x AVLN 124-9 at a nitrogen dose of 100 kg N/ha. Characters with high heritability values were peeled cobs weight, cobs diameter, cobs length, 1000 seeds weight, and productivity.