Optimal plant density and nitrogen rates for improving off-season corn yields in Brazil

• Published in: Scientia agricola Vol. 76; no. 4; pp. 344 - 352
• Main Authors: Faria, Italo Kaye Pinho de, Vieira, José Luís Vilela, Tenelli, Sarah, Almeida, Rodrigo Estevam Munhoz de, Campos, Leonardo José Motta, Costa, Rodrigo Veras da, Zavaschi, Eduardo, Almeida, Risely Ferraz de, Carneiro, Leandro de Mello e Silva, Otto, Rafael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: São Paulo - Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" 01.07.2019; Universidade de São Paulo
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY; corn yield; hybrid; population; second-crop; Zea mays; Zea mays; hybrid; second-crop; corn yield; population
• ISSN: 1678-992X; 1678-992X
• DOI: 10.1590/1678-992x-2017-0295

Integrating plant density and nitrogen (N) management is a strategy for improving corn yields, especially for off-season corn production in the tropics. This study tested the hypothesis that increasing plant densities and N rates promotes yield gains for off-season corn production in high-yielding environments. The aim of the study was to investigate the yield performances of two hybrid versions (DKB PRO and DKB PRO3) submitted to three plant densities (55,000; 65,000 and 75,000 plants ha−1) and four N rates (control, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha−1 N). Field trials were undertaken at Uberlândia-MG (site1 and 2) and Pedro Afonso-TO (site 3), Brazil from which data on corn yield parameters were collected and analyzed. Multivariate analysis separated the three trial areas into two groups, presenting high (sites 1 and 2) and low yields (site 3), which were related to weather conditions. There was no influence of a hybrid version or plant densities on crop yields at site 1 or 2. In contrast, there was a positive response to increasing plant densities and the use of DKB PRO3 at site 3. A significant response to N was observed at sites 2 and 3, following a plateau model. Our results suggest that N application rates and plant densities do have the potential to increase off-season corn yields in low yielding environments.