Study and Determination of the Best Plant Density and Planting Patterns of Silage Corn (Zea mays L.), H.S.C. 704 Cultivar

Abstract

1. Summary To examine the effect of plant densities and sowing patterns on yield and agronomical characteristics of corn (hybrid S.C.704), a field experiment was conducted at agricultural research station of Gorgan. This experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design arranged in a factorial with four replications. Forage corn experiment had four levels of plant densities (D1=65000, D2=75000, D3=85000, D4=95000) and with two planting arrangements (p1=single row and p2=double row 15 cm space apart). The results showed; there was significant difference between planting arrangement for total dry matter, number of kernel per ear, kernel per row, ear length and double row produced higher amount for all above characters. In addition, plant density had a significant effect on total dry weight, number of kernel per ear, number of row per year, total fresh weight, ear length at 0.01 probability level and with an increase in plant density amount of biomass increased. The highest forage yield was produced by 95000 plant density and 15-centimeter double row at 5% significant (93.31-ton ha -1 ). It might be concluded that by using double row planting pattern the inter plant competition could be decreased and higher yield might be produced. 2. Keywords: Forage; Hybrid S.C.704; Planting Arrangement; Sowing Density