Evaluation of Yield and Yield Components of Maize in Conditions of Changing Climate
Keywords:
adaptation measure, fertiliser, maize, crop residuesAbstract
This research investigates the effects of industrial fertilisers and the incorporation of plant biomass, including catch crops, on the yield and yield components of maize (Zea mays L.) within a crop rotation system. The field experiment was conducted from 2017 to 2019 at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (48°19ˊ N, 18°09ˊ E). The study period was characterized by warm to exceptionally warm and predominantly dry conditions, except for 2019, which aligned more closely with the long-term average. The experimental treatments, combining the ploughing of above-ground biomass and the application of industrial fertilisers, resulted in the highest yield component values. Notably, the number of grains per cob reached 36, and the number of grains per hectare was 27.49 million. Total seed weight (TSW) was also significantly influenced by fertilisation, with the highest TSW values ranging from 220.1 g to 225.9 g, compared to the unfertilised treatment values of 194.4 g to 207.3 g. The highest maize grain yields, ranging from 5.76 t ha⁻¹ to 6.2 t ha⁻¹, and above-ground biomass production, ranging from 12.45 t ha⁻¹ to 12.60 t ha⁻¹, were achieved in treatments incorporating both industrial fertilisers and the ploughing of biomass from forecrops or catch crops. These results underscore the importance of fertilisation, organic matter incorporation, and a balanced combination of adaptive measures in enhancing maize productivity.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Joanna Korczyk-Szabó, Ľubomíra Hromadová, Milan Macák, Miroslav Habán
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