Effect of plant poupulation and weedcides on corn (zea mays l.)‎ Production under calcareous soil conditions

Abstract EN

Two field experiments were carried out at the Maryout Research Station, Desert Research Center during 2001 and 2002 seasons to study the effect of plant population (20, 24 and 28 thousand plants/fed.) and weed control (control, Hoeing twice, Gesaprim, Lasso and Lasso / atrazine) and their interaction on maize (CV.S.C.

10) and weed growth as well as yield of maize.

Statistical analysis of split plot design with four replications over the two seasons was done.

The main results were as follows: 1-Plant height was increased significantly by increasing plant population from 20 to 28 thousand plants / fed.

2-Ear height (cm.) and grain yield per fed.

increased significantly by increasing plant population from 20 to 28 thousand plant / fed.

While, ear length (cm.), ear diameter (cm.), ear weight (gm.), number of rows/ear, number of kernels/row, 100 kernel weight (gm.) and grain yield / plant (gm.) were decreased significantly by increasing plant population.

3-Herbicidal treatments significantly increased plant height.

Regarding to ear characters, it seems that application of herbicides tended to increase significantly ear length and diameter, kernels number / row, number/ear, ear weight (gm.), 100-kernel weight (gm.) and grain yield (ardab / fed.).

in both seasons.

The highest grain yield was recorded by Gesaprium in both seasons.

4-The effect of interaction between plant population and weed control was significant, for all parameters studied except the ear length (cm.) and number kernels/row in both seasons.

Gesaprium or lasso/atrazine under 28000 plant/fed.

gave the highest value compared with other treatments.

While Lasso gave moderate effect, hews with 20000 plant/fed.

treatment gave the least effect in this respect.

5-Herbicidal activity of the tested compounds was estimated as percent of reduction in both fresh and dry weights of weeds compared with unweeded check.

Gesaprium and Lasso / atrazine were the most effective herbicides during the two seasons while lasso have a moderate effect, but hoeing twice was the least effective.

Such results indicate that choosing the most suitable herbicides Gesaprium or lasso/atrazine with 28000 or 24000 plants per fed.

can maximize the grain yield of maize.