Relationship between Relative Maturity and Grain Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids in Northwest New Mexico for the 2003–2019 Period

The highly variable weather under changing climate conditions affects the establishment and the cutoff of crop growing season and exposes crops to failure if producers choose non-adapted relative maturity that matches the characteristics of the crop growing season. This study aimed to determine the relationship between maize hybrid relative maturity and the grain yield and determine the relative maturity range that will sustain maize production in northwest New Mexico (NM). Different relative maturity maize hybrids were grown at the Agricultural Science Center at Farmington ((Latitude 36.69° North, Longitude 108.31° West, elevation 1720 m) from 2003 to 2019 under sprinkler irrigation. A total of 343 hybrids were grouped as early and full season hybrids according to their relative maturity that ranged from 93 to 119 and 64 hybrids with unknown relative maturity. The crops were grown under optimal management condition with no stress of any kind. The results showed non-significant increase in grain yield in early season hybrids and non-significant decrease in grain yield with relative maturity in full season hybrids. The relative maturity range of 100–110 obtained reasonable high grain yields and could be considered under the northwestern New Mexico climatic conditions. However, more research should target the evaluation of different planting date coupled with plant population density to determine the planting window for the early season and full season hybrids for the production optimization and sustainability.

[1]  Zhenglin Hou,et al.  Overexpression of zmm28 increases maize grain yield in the field , 2019, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[2]  Yinchang Li,et al.  Yield-Maturity Relationships of Summer Maize from 2003 to 2017 in the Huanghuaihai Plain of China , 2019, Scientific Reports.

[3]  S. Archontoulis,et al.  Planting Date, Hybrid Maturity, and Weather Effects on Maize Yield and Crop Stage , 2019, Agronomy Journal.

[4]  Guijun Yang,et al.  Dynamic plant height QTL revealed in maize through remote sensing phenotyping using a high-throughput unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) , 2018, Scientific Reports.

[5]  J. Shonkwiler,et al.  Cause and Consequence in Maize Planting Dates in Germany , 2017 .

[6]  K. Woli,et al.  Yield-Based Corn Planting Date Recommendation Windows for Iowa , 2017 .

[7]  S. C. Mason,et al.  Plant Population Influence on Maize Yield Components in Croatia and Nebraska , 2016 .

[8]  N. Holbrook,et al.  Cooling of US Midwest summer temperature extremes from cropland intensification , 2016 .

[9]  J. Lauer,et al.  The effects of hybrid relative maturity on corn stover for ethanol production and biomass composition. , 2015 .

[10]  Jianbing Yan,et al.  A rare SNP mutation in Brachytic2 moderately reduces plant height and increases yield potential in maize , 2015, Journal of experimental botany.

[11]  T. Shah,et al.  Genetic analysis and characterization of a new maize association mapping panel for quantitative trait loci dissection , 2010, Theoretical and Applied Genetics.

[12]  Thomas Lübberstedt,et al.  From dwarves to giants? Plant height manipulation for biomass yield. , 2009, Trends in plant science.

[13]  F. Andrade,et al.  Why Do Maize Hybrids Respond Differently to Variations in Plant Density , 2007 .

[14]  J. Porter,et al.  The Physiology of Crop Yield , 2006 .

[15]  E. Blankenship,et al.  Nitrogen application influences the critical period for weed control in corn , 2003, Weed Science.

[16]  J. Lauer,et al.  Harvest Date and Hybrid Influence on Corn Forage Yield, Quality, and Preservation , 2002 .

[17]  Peter R. Thomison,et al.  Delayed Planting Effects on Flowering and Grain Maturation of Dent Corn , 2002 .

[18]  C. Norwood.  Dryland Corn in Western Kansas , 2001 .

[19]  R. Richards.  Selectable traits to increase crop photosynthesis and yield of grain crops. , 2000, Journal of experimental botany.

[20]  M. D. Clegg,et al.  Using Corn Maturity to Maintain Grain Yield in the Presence of Late-Season Drought , 1999 .

[21]  H. Agrama.  Sequential path analysis of grain yield and its components in maize , 1996 .

[22]  F. Andrade,et al.  Sowing date and maize productivity: I. Crop growth and dry matter partitioning , 1994 .

[23]  Zhimin Wang,et al.  Maize Grain Yield and Dry Matter Production Responses to Variations in Weather Conditions , 2016 .

[24]  Muhammad Yaseen,et al.  Twin Rows Minimally Impact Irrigated Maize Yield, Morphology, and Lodging , 2013 .

[25]  B. Jocković,et al.  CORRELATION AND PATH ANALYSIS OF GRAIN YIELD AND MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS IN TEST–CROSS POPULATIONS OF MAIZE , 2011 .

[26]  Kenneth G. Cassman,et al.  Maize Radiation Use Efficiency under Optimal Growth Conditions , 2005 .

[27]  D. Duvick.  Genetic progress in yield of United States maize (Zea mays L.) , 2005 .

[28]  Jean-Marcel Ribaut,et al.  The Role and Regulation of the Anthesis‐Silking Interval in Maize , 2000 .

[29]  Dale L. Fjell,et al.  Selecting Optimum Planting Dates and Plant Populations for Dryland Corn in Kansas , 1999 .

[30]  John Angus,et al.  Phasic development in field crops II. Thermal and photoperiodic responses of spring wheat , 1981 .