Variability of elements of individual productivity and grain yield of maize hybrids

Abstract

Purpose of the research is to study registered corn hybrids for economically valuable traits and grain yield. Methods. The research was conducted during 2018–2020 on chernozem typical low humus soils in the production conditions of Cherkasy region. Registered maize hybrids were used for the research: DK 315, DKS 5007, DKS 3939, DKS 5141, KVS 381. The experiment was laid in a two-factor experiment taking into account the requirements of the methodology of research in agronomy. Results. As a result of the study of the variability of the duration of the growing season of maize hybrids, a slight variation was found in the conditions of 2018 and 2020 and an average in the conditions of 2019. In the conditions of 2018, all corn hybrids that were put under study were early ripe, except for KVS 381 and DKS 3939 (medium early). They had a growing season that varied from 100 to 115 days, in 2019 – from 97 to 110 days, and in 2020 – from 90 to 105 days. For the formation of biometric parameters of plants, such as: plant height, their leafiness, parameters of the beginning and others, their variability was established both within years and depending on varietal diversity. In 2018, the height of corn hybrids varied from 250.3 to 300.0 cm, in 2019 – from 246.8 to 297.4 cm, and in 2020 – from 235.8 to 295.3 cm. This trend for corn hybrids was noted for all years of the experiment. In terms of plant height, most corn hybrids are classified as mediumsized (up to 300 cm). When determining the average number of leaves on maize plants, their insignificant variation was found both by hybrids and in the context of the years of study. This indicates that this indicator is weakly dependent on growing conditions and genetically fixed at the level of hybrid form of culture. During the years of research it was found that the number of leaves per plant of maize hybrids in the conditions of research varied from 11.8 to 13.3 pcs. According to the results of accounting of the size of the cob, it was determined that the average length of the cob of maize hybrids varied from 19.5 to 26.0 cm and varied by years and variants of the experiment. It was found that the average weight of maize hybrids cobs varied from 159.3 to 391.3 g, both by years and by studied hybrids. During the study period, the grain yield of corn hybrids was quite variable – from 7.1 to 13.6 t/ha. It was found that in the first year of research, the grain yield of corn hybrids varied from 10.0 to 13.6 t/ha. On the basis of correlation and regression analysis it was established a significant direct relationship between biometric parameters of plants and yield of maize hybrids, based on correlation coefficients. Conclusions. Thus, it was determined that the studied maize hybrids belong to early ripening, except for KVS 381 (mid-early) and form the yield for a period of 90 to 115 days. On average, for three years of research, corn hybrids DKS 5007, DKS 3939 and DKS 5141 were distinguished by the length and weight of the cob. On average, among the studied assortment, the highest grain yield was formed by hybrids DKS 5007 (11.5 t/ha) and DKS 5141 (11.1 t/ha), others – significantly less. The formation of grain yield (by correlation coefficients) of all maize hybrids is significantly influenced by plant height, length and weight of the cob (coefficient – at or above 0.7). The number of leaves on plants has a significant impact on the formation of productivity of hybrid DKS 3939.