Plant density impact on grain yield of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids on chernozem soil of the Eastern Hungary

Abstract

The plant density response of 12 maize hybrids was tested in a favourable year (2013) under optimum agrotechnical conditions on chernozem soil by applying plant densities of 50, 70 and 90 thousand plants ha^-1. Due to the favourable ecological and agrotechnical conditions yields varied between 11400 and 16300 kg ha^-1 depending upon the hybrid and the plant density. From among the hybrids, 5 and 7 produced the maximum yield at 70 and 90 thousand plants ha^-1, respectively however the yield increment was not significant between 70 thousand plants ha-1 and 90 thousand plants ha^-1. No relationship was found between the season length and the optimum plant density of hybrids. Those hybrids were the most favourable, which gave a stable high yield at different plant densities that is their optimum plant density range was wide (P 9175, P 9494, SY Afinity). Hybrids with a small optimum plant density range (P 9578, DKC 4490, PR 37N01) gave the highest yield at a specific plant density (70 thousand plants ha^-1 or 90 thousand plants ha^-1). A special complex coordinate system was developed for evaluation for the plant density response of maize genotypes specific ecological and agrotechnical conditions can be evaluated jointly.