Planting Dates and Harvesting Stages Influence on Maize Yield under Rain-Fed Conditions

Abstract

Understanding the challenges associated with variation in weather conditions and stages of maturity in maize are essential for farmers to achieve continuous production under climate changes. This research evaluated the interactive effect of planting date and stages of maturity at harvest on maize yield (Zea mays L.). Field trials were conducted during the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons at university of KwaZulu-Natal research farm Pietermaritzburg South Africa. Planting dates comprised of early (November), mid (December) and late planting dates (January). While, harvesting occurred at milk stage, dent stage and physiological maturity. A split plotdesign with four replications was used. The main plot and sub-plot consisted of planting dates and harvesting stages respectively. Response of maize to planting dates and harvesting stages was determined by variables of plant physiological growth and yield parameters. Significant differences in growth and physiological parameters were more obvious in 2015/16 season which was a drier season than 2014/15. Early and mid-planting had positive effect on parameters measured at both seasons. However, mid planting date favoured maize growth and yield more in drier season. The interaction of planting dates and harvesting stages significantly influenced grain yield, thousand seed weight, ear length and diameter. Thousand seed weight, ear length and diameter obtained at dent stage under mid planting outperformed its counterpart from physiological maturity under which late planting. With the increase in climate variability there is high risk that maize planted lately would have lower yield irrespective of its planting dates and might not attain physiological maturity. However, maize harvested at dent stage under early and mid-planting dates gave substantially high yield.

Identification of adapted breeding lines to improve barley hybrids for Spain

“…Test hybrids showed worse performance than checks, likely by the combination of two factors: the absence of high‐yielding heterotic responses when crossing F 1 Fs and male restorer parents in the three‐way hybrids, and the inability of the test hybrids to fully exploit their potential in short cycles, as reported in other studies involving hybrids (Akinnuoye‐Adelabu & Modi, 2017; Capristo et al., 2007). Although test hybrids were more advantageous the longer the period from sowing to heading, recent research advocates breeding for earlier barley cultivars for the Mediterranean region to avoid terminal stresses (Cammarano et al., 2019, 2021; Dorrani‐Nejad et al., 2022).…”

Spatial and temporal distribution of optimal maize sowing dates in Nigeria

“…This finding is significant in two distinct ways. First, studies on sowing dates in Nigeria [ 44 , 56 , 57 ] and elsewhere [ 46 , 48 , 49 , 58 ], mainly rely on few seasons of site-constrained experimental trials which cannot show long term trends in sowing dates, particularly in the face of a changing climate. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, our study provides, for the first time, an impact assessment of climate change on maize sowing dates using a long time -series at a large scale for the whole of Nigeria.…”

Effect of Plastic Mulch Color and Transplanting Stage on Baby Corn Plant Performance

“…The immature, unfertilized ears of baby corn, a kind of corn widely used by horticultural farmers around the world [39], are harvested within two to three days of the silk emergence [39]. After seeding, it begins the reproductive phase within 45-55 days and finishes the cycle in 60-70 days [40], [41]. When the ears are 5-10 cm long and 0.8-1.6 cm in diameter at the base or butt-end, they are ready for use [41].…”

“…After seeding, it begins the reproductive phase within 45-55 days and finishes the cycle in 60-70 days [40], [41]. When the ears are 5-10 cm long and 0.8-1.6 cm in diameter at the base or butt-end, they are ready for use [41]. To grow baby corn, either direct seeding or transplanting is possible.…”

“…To complete their growth cycles, plants need a particular amount of heat, measured in "growing degree-days" (GDD) [34]. Plant flowering dates, harvest ripeness, and the interval between two developmental stages are all estimated using GDD [41], [46]. Additionally, it is known that temperature affects how quickly successive new leaves appear at the stem's apex [47].…”