Genetic potential and maize production in Serbia

Abstract

Genetic potential of maize hybrids grown in Serbia is 10-15 t ha-1 , while the average yields are considerably lower. There are many reasons for this. At first, it is well known that drought is present often in some parts of country. Some soils are not suitable in the same degree for intensive maize production, application of mineral fertilizers is insufficient, mechanization is outdated and arable farms are small and fragmented. During the period 19652012 high variations in precipitation were present during the maize vegetation. The yearly average precipitation sum was 688.9 mm, with 397.5 mm during vegetation. According to precipitation amount, years were divided into groups: I 200-300 mm 7, (15%); II 301-400 mm 21, (44%) and III 401-500 mm 14, (30%), and IV in 5 years (11%) more than 500 mm of precipitation was present. The highest average yield in Serbia was achieved in 1991 (5.95 t ha-1) and the lowest in 2000 (2.44 t ha-1). The average yield increase was 114 kg ha-1 per year from 1965 to 1985, and it was 22 kg ha-1 per year from 1986 to 2012. In experiments during the period 1998-2012, when the standard cropping technology (MSY) was applied, the average grain yield was10.46 t ha-1 for hybrids of FAO 300-400, 10.39 t ha-1 for hybrids from FAO 500 and 11.38 for FAO 600-700. There were no significant differences in yield between hybrids from examined FAO groups. According to this, average maize yield includes only 44.2% for FAO 300-400, 44.5% for FAO 500 and 40.6% for FAO 600700 utilized maize genetic potential. The significant improvement of maize production demand the strategic long-term program, where it will be elaborated: merging of land properties, increasing of the areas with irrigation and increasing of the technology level in maize cropping. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR-31037]

Genetic gains in grain yield, morphological traits and yield stability of middle-late maize hybrids released in Serbia between 1978 and 2011

“…Overall, this period can be divided into two segments: before the early 1990s, with a significant yield increase, and after the 1990s, with inconsistent yield increase and with pronounced variations between years. Videnović et al (2013) stated that the average yield increase till 1985 was 114 kg ha -1 year -1 , and from 1986 onwards this value was only 22 kg ha -1 year -1 . Economic decline in Serbia and the region and minimal investments in agriculture are some of the main reasons for this trend shift.…”

“…For instance, during the period from 1965 to 1985 the average yield increase was 114 kg ha -1 year -1 , while in the period from 1986 to 2012 the increase rate was 22 kg ha -1 year -1 (Videnović et al 2013). Yield gains have also been the subject of numerous studies in many other countries.…”

Yields of ns maize hybrids from different breeding periods

“…Glavna karakteristika proizvodnje kukuruza kod nas su jako izražene oscilacije u prinosu od godine do godine. U periodu 1965-1985. prinos je rastao za 114 kg ha -1 godini -1 , a u periodu 1986-2012. za 22 kg ha -1 godini -1 (Videnović et al, 2012). U ovom radu smo ispitivali prinos zrna sa 14% vlage u zrnu kod hibrida kukuruza iz različitih perioda selekcije stvorenih u Institutu za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo Novi Sad (NS hibridi).…”

“…Generalno, ovaj period možemo podeliti na dva dela: do početka 90-ih godina kada smo imali izraženiji rast prinosa i nakon 90-ih godina sa znatno manjim povećanjem prinosa iz godine u godinu i sa izraženijim variranjima između godina. Videnović et al, (2012) navodi da je prosečno povećanje prinosa do 1985 godine iznosilo 114 kg ha -1 godini -1 , a od 1986 pa nadalje svega 22 kg ha -1 godini -1 . Kao osnovni razlog za promenu trenda povećanja prinosa navodi se loša ekonomska situacija u Srbiji i regionu u tom periodu i značajno smanjenje ulaganja u poljoprivrednu proizvodnju.…”

Genotype effects on phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium status in maize

“…) including less tolerance to abiotic stress as affected by the long-term autogamy (TROYER, 2009;RIOS, 2015). In general, genetic potential of maize and other field crops is inadequate efficient because of different ecological constraints (KRESOVIĆ et al, 2011;DIMITRIJEVIĆ et al, 2012;VIDENOVIĆ et al, 2013).…”