The importance of hybrids and sowing density on maize yield in the southern part of Serbia

Abstract

The aim of the research was to examine the influence of sowing density on the yield of more maize hybrids of different vegetation lengths in the conditions of southern Serbia (Leskovac). For this purpose, during 2016 and 2017, an experiment was set up with 6 maize hybrids (ZP 434, NS 4023, ZP 555, NS 5051, ZP 666, NS 6030) and 3 sowing densities (71428; 57142 and 47619 plants ha-1). The experiment was set up according to the random block system in 3 repetitions and was processed by the method of analysis of variance. The results are shown as a two-year average and they showed that the average grain yield for all densities, depending on the hybrid, ranged from 9.33 t ha-1 in the hybrid NS 4020 to 11.16 t ha-1 in the hybrid ZP 555. Hybrids of medium and long vegetation period had significantly higher grain yields than hybrids with a shorter vegetation period. The average yield for all hybrids, depending on the sowing density, ranged from 10.06 t ha-1 at the highest sowing density to 10.66 t ha-1 at the medium sowing density. Hybrids with a shorter vegetation period achieved the highest average yields at the highest sowing density, while hybrids with a longer vegetation period had the highest average yields at the lowest sowing densities. The hybrids ZP 555 and NS 6030 had the highest average yields of 11.77 and 11.02 t ha-1 at medium and lower sowing densities, respectively. Based on this, it is recommended to sow hybrids of medium and longer vegetation period in the range of 57142 to 47619 plants ha-1.