WATER AND AGRONOMIC EVALUATION OF MAIZE HYBRIDS IN RESPONSE TO DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS AND NITROGEN DOSES

Abstract

To achieve water and food safety, it is necessary to identify crops outstanding in regard to efficient water use. In Mexico, the Valles Altos region has frequent water scarcity, so it is necessary to characterize maize genotypes that show outstanding traits under conditions of low water availability. The objective of this study was to identify water productivity, yield and hectolitre weight of white maize hybrids grown in Valles Altos. Ten white maize hybrids were used in the experiment; five from UNAM and five from INIFAP. These hybrids were established under two levels of nitrogen fertilization (low: 80 kg ha-1 and high 160 kg ha-1) in two environments: FESC-UNAM (Cuautitlán Izcalli) and CEVAMEX (Texcoco) in the State of Mexico. The experiment was established as randomized complete blocks, variables were recorded to calculate grain yield at 14 % commercial moisture and related to the volume of water entering each environment, the total water productivity was identified. Statistical analysis was performed with SAS and means were compared with Tukey’s test. With a combined analysis, a significant interaction of environment with hybrids and nitrogen fertilization was found in grain yield. Total water productivity, estimated at an overall mean of 0.78 kg m-3, was significant for environments, hybrids and nitrogen dosage. Grain yield showed an overall average of 4.8 Mg ha-1. In hectolitre weight, a significant difference was found in the environment and hybrid factors, with an overall average of 73.8 kg hL-1. Total water productivity was higher in the FESC-UNAM environment where irrigation was not provided, with no significant difference in grain yield.