Effect Of SEED Distribution and Population On Maize (ZEA MAYS L.) GRAIN Yields.

EFFECT OF SEED DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATION ON MAIZE (Zea mays L.) GRAIN YIELDS

 

Abstract

Maize planting is normally accomplished by hand in the developing world where two or more seeds are placed per hill with a heterogeneous plant spacing and density. The interactions between seed distribution and distance between hills and their ultimate effect on grain nitrogen uptake and yield in maize is not clearly understood. The objective of this study is to determine the significance of yield difference between one, two and three seeds per hill. Field experiments will be established in the spring of 2013 at Lake Carl Blackwell Irrigation Station and Efaw Agronomy Research Station, near Stillwater, Oklahoma. The study will use a randomized complete block design with three replications and ten treatments; and a factorial treatment structure of 1, 2 and 3 seeds per hill at plant spacings of 0.16, 0.32 and 0.48m. A uniform rate of 130 kg N/ha as urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) will be applied pre-plant to all treatments. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measurements will be collected using the Greenseeker^TM hand held crop sensor at V4, V6 and V8 maize growth stages and light interception data will be collected using Line Quantum Sensor. It is expected that there will be increased yield and profit from planting one seed per hill compared to three seeds per hill, using equidistant spacing.