Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of spatial pattern on corn above- and below-ground biomass, grain yield, weed above-ground biomass and soil water and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) dynamics. Field studies were conducted in 2003 and 2004. Three corn hybrids with two spatial pattern (square and rectangular) under weed-free and weedy conditions were tested. Corn grain yield was greater in the square than in the rectangular pattern. This increase was related to better resources use while reducing the competition from weeds. Early in the growing season, there was greater moisture content in the intrarow at square pattern while a lower soil water content was observed at maturity. Conversely, the square pattern registered lower soil water content during the whole corn growing season in the interrow. This soil water profile was an outcome of the uniform corn below-ground biomass distribution. A greater PAR interception with a lower weed above-ground dry matter was obtained in square plant arrangement. The use of uniform spatial pattern appeared as an interesting alternative to increase both the grain yield potential and the corn suppressive ability against weeds in dry-land Argentinean production systems.
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