Agric. sci. dev., Vol(4), No (1), January, 2015. pp.

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Agriculture Science Developments

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The Effects of Planting Date on the Yield and Yield Components of

Corn (Zea mays L.) Cultivar, Single Cross 704
Mostafa Amjadian
Department of Agriculture, Payame Noor University.PO BOX 19395-3697 Tehran, Iran.

Mohsen Farshadfar *
Department of Agriculture, Payame Noor University.PO BOX 19395-3697 Tehran, Iran.

Mehranoosh Gholipoor
Department of Agriculture, Payame Noor University.PO BOX 19395-3697 Tehran, Iran.

Hooman Shirvani
Department of Agriculture, Payame Noor University.PO BOX 19395-3697 Tehran, Iran.
*Corresponding author: farshadfarmohsen@yahoo.com

Keywords

Abstract

Corn
Planting date
Yield
Yield components

The effects of planting date on performance and yield components of maize single cross 704 was carried out
in 2003.this experiment was designed in randomized complete block pattern with 3 replications in the field
of College campus of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in Gorgan. Treatments consisted of four
planting dates (May5, May19, June4 and June19) respectively. The results showed that the planting on
June4 were the best time for planting date in the field of seed performance and many other measurement
qualities while planting date on June19 had the lowest seed performance in corn, due to a severe reduction in
seed numbers had the highest In 1000 seed weight. Between the planting date on May 5 and May19 were
observed no significant differences.

1.

Introduction

Corn has a special place in agricultural products due to favorable properties such as high strength, consistency, high levels of dry substance and
nutrient. Corn planting date will effect on growing date, plant population, plant suitable growth, deleted developing reproductive organs stages
period, pollination and harvest time-so reaching the proper planting time for maize cultivation is particularly important in the success [7].
Mokhtarpoor [7] in his study in Gorgan stated that the most corn and grain weight were obtained in the first planting date (April 9) and the
optimum planting date is on April 30. Swanson and Wilhelam [11] stated that reduced delays in corn planting will cause, decreases in leaf area
index, leaf area duration and total dry matter yield in seed performance. Darini and Mazaheri [4] in their studies in Jiroft announced that the
optimal planting date for corn is on March 5 to March 19. Eskandari [6] in his studies in Arsanjan (Fars province) stated that the diameter of cob
and grain yield were significantly different in sowing dates and the best planting date for corn is on June 19. Najafi Nejad [8] in his studies in
Kerman stated that there were no meaningful differences in terms of yield and yield components between sowing date due to the close distance
to each planting date (ten days). Tamadoon Rastehgar and Amini [12] in the effects of planting date and plant population on corn in Sarry
expressed the best planting date is on May 19. Afhsarmanesh [2] in the effect of planting date on corn yield study in Jiroft stated that the best
planting date in early and late varieties were on January 30 to February 29. Different hybrids have optimum planting dates [3]. Most agricultural
regions of Iran are located on a dry climate. And drought is one of the factors limiting photosynthesis and yield [8]. Abdol Rahman et al [1]
stated
that
the
delay
in
planting
due
to
drought
conditions
can
dramatically
reduce
performance.
Cantarero et al [3] in the study of effect on sowing date and plant density on corn expressed that delay in planting reduces the number of kernels
in corn. Danai [5] stated that with a delay in the planting on August 16, performance was decreased in all numbers. Shunway and Cothren [10]
Sin their studies stated that delay in planting reduces quality performance and performance components of maize. Given the importance and
value of the corn plant and the planting date on corn performance, this study was conducted in Gorgan.

2.

Materials and methods

To consider the effects of planting date on field performance single cross 704 test was conducted in Gorgan College campus of Agricultural
Sciences and Natural Resources in 2003. Gorgan is located in 85/36 degrees latitude and 27/54 degrees longitude. Before the experiment, a soil
sample of 0-30 and 30-60 cm depth of the field was prepared which based on the results it was silt clay loam soil with a pH of 8/7 (Table1).The
experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications on four planting treatments (May 5, May 19, June 4,
June 19). Planting length, row distances and distances between rows deleted was considered 600, 50 deleted and 15 cm deleted, respectively. All
the plots were on 8 rows, too. Seeds before planting were smeared by Toxin, to supply nutrients needed for the plant according to soil test results
(Table1) and fertilizer recommendations Agricultural Research Center 200 kg ammonium phosphate and 250 kg urea were added to the field
before planting. The 6- 4 leaf thinning and irrigation intervals of ten days were done. Weeds controlling was done manually on several
occasions, especially in the early stages of growth. In order to deal with crown canker worm that was seen in the 3-5 plant leaf stage toxins was
used next to the plant with amount of 1 kilogram per hectare during sunset. To eliminate the margin of the plot line, 50 cm were removed from
the beginning and ending of each line. Sampled to determine physiological maturity, grain yield and yield components by using ten plants per
plot was done in intermediate lines of every plot and attributes such as number of grains per row, number of grains in per maize, row number per
maize, maize diameter, maize length, grain weight, cob weight and grain performance (with 14% of moisture) were calculated. Comparing of
elements mean was done by using Duncan's test, analysis of variance and correlation parameters were done by SAS (version6/12) software.

Mostafa Amjadian, Mohsen Farshadfar *, Mehranoosh Gholipoor, Hooman Shirvani

Agriculture Science Developments Vol(4), No (1), January, 2015.

3.

Results and Discussion

The results of the analysis of variance (Table 2) showed that planting date significantly affect on qualities such as height at flowering stage,
number of rows, number of kernels in per maize, maize length, grain weight and grain performance. While it has no significant effect on the row
number, maize diameter and cob dry weight. Comparison of results (Table 3) showed that delayed planting from May5 to May19 has no
significant difference on measuring parameters (except height at flowering stage). Planting date on June 4 in all traits except plant height at
flowering stage, maize diameter and grain weight showed the highest values were obtained. Although this increase in height, except in the case
of flowering stage and seed weight between planting dates on May 5, May 19 and June 19 were not significantly differences. In the 1000 seed
weight, June 19 planting time has higher amount than June 19 and of course the increasing weight in the last planting time 1000 seed weight was
due to severe decrease in the number of the maize seeds. With a delay in planting time from June 4 to June 19 was decreased in height at
flowering stage, the number of seeds in rows, the number of grains per maize, the number of rows, maize diameter, maize length, weight and
seed performance with 53.4, 55.3, 75.5, 32.1, 9.1, 31.2, 42.8 and 75.8 percent respectively; while the weight of every seed were increased 4/1%
that had harmony with the results of Danai [5], Shunway and Cothren [10], Centarero et al [3]. To determine the contribution of each
performance component in the seed performance stepwise regression was used (Tables 4 and 5).Grain performance as a dependent variables and
performance elements were considered as independent variables. The regression results for every planting date indicated that grain had the
highest correlation in the first planting date with the maize length (coefficient 98%).(And this quality was the only input variable to the model
and other characteristics had low correlation with grain performance, grain yield in the second planting date had the most correlation with the
number of rows per maize (98 % coefficient). And in the final planting date, seed performance had the highest correlation with the number of
grains per maize (99 % coefficient). But the model which included four planting dates showed that the first element which entered the model was
the number of the seeds in maize which explained the range of frequencies in performance with 97% of coefficient. The second element which
was introduced into the model to account for 99 % coefficient was the weight of thousand seeds that would show the poor effect of this element
on operating performance changes Entering the number of seeds in the third row into the model coefficient explanation did not change, other
components had slight effect on seed performance. From the above we will conclude that seed performance in the stated four planting date had
the most solidarity with the number of grains in maize and the least with the 1000 seed weight, that the area emphasized on our results. because
the number of grains per maize planted on June 4 situated in the highest performance and other components were in satisfactory condition as
planting date on June 19 had the lowest number of grains per maize (138/73) Also on planting date on June 19 cause of the short growing period
and unfavorable environmental conditions (Table 6) height at flowering and vegetative growth fell sharply while on the planting date on deleted
June 4 corn plant entered into the reproductive stage with sufficient fund which was according to the results of Abdel Rahman et al [1].
According to deleted above and the fact that corn is used as the second crop in Gorgan. Planting date on June 4 with the highest performance not
only gives the seed sufficient time for previous crop, but also prepares the field for corn planting.
Table 1. Physical and Chemical Soil Test
Percent of
saturation

Percent
of sand

Percent
of clay

Percent of
Carbon

Percent of
saturation

percent of
total N

PH

Absorbable
phosphorus (ppm)

Absorbable
Potassium (ppm)

64

20

26

1/29

45

14

7/88

8/04

440

Table 2. Analysis of variance of agronomic qualities in maize (single cross 704) according to a randomized complete block design
SOV

Free degree

Replication
Date planting
Error
Total

2
3
6
11

Height in flowering
Stage(cm)
13
33844/04**
1/8
106921/9

Number of
seeds per row
6/58
**
820/32
94/82
18/61

Number of seeds
per corn
6782/39
119657/46*
6782/39
412049/58

Number of
row
8/85
n.s
13/16
9/38
113/54

Corn diagonal
(cm)
1/3
n.s
1/08
1/73
16/24

Table 2 continued. Analysis of variance of agronomic qualities in maize (single cross 704) according to a randomized complete block design
SOV
Replication
Date planting
Error
Total

Free degree
2
3
6
11

Length of corn (cm)

80
25/3*
4/37
102/48

Thousand seed weight (g)

52606/33
*
95090/66
4702/33
178698/66

Cob weight (g)

4/78
31/94 n.s
9/15
160/29

Yield (kg/ha)
21352
**
0178565/33
2469445/33
1357890/72

Table 3. Comparison of measured traits in maize (single cross 704)

Treatment
Date planting
May 4
May 19
June 4
June 19

Height in flowering
Stage (cm)
253/3 a
233b
c
205/11
d
95/41

Number of seeds
per row
39/46 a
a
33/73
39/73 a
17/73 b

Number of seeds
per corn
548/81a
452/41a
572/81a
138/73 b

number of row
13/81 a
13/41 a
14/31a
9/7 a

Corn diagonal
(cm)
4/01 a
5/31 a
4/47 a
4/06 a

Numbers have no significant differences with common words.

Table 3 continued. Comparison of measured traits in maize (single cross 704)

Treatment
Date planting
May 4
May 19
June 4
June 19

Length of corn
(cm)
15/04 a
15/2 a
20/66 a
14/20 b

Numbers have no significant differences with common words.

thousand seed
weight (gr)
2187/33 a
2176/67 b
2437/33 a
a
2539/33

Cob weight
(gr)
13.94ab
14.57 ab
18.57 a
10.26 b

Yield
(kg/ha)
a
9733
a
7789
a
10933
2640b

The effects of planting date on the yield and yield components of corn (Zea mays L.) cultivar, single cross 704 .
Agriculture Science Developments Vol(4), No (1), January, 2015.

Table 4. Components of grain performance in maize (single cross 704) in each Planting date
Factor explained
0/98
0/98
0/98
0/98

Equation
Y=20958.92-669/78 X4
Y=-557.38-18/44 X5
Y=-16136.7+1888/60 X6
Y=524.71+15/247 X7
Y=Yield (Kg/ha)
X4 =Length of corn (cm)
X5= number of row
X6 = Number of seeds per row
X7= Number of seeds per corn

Date planting
May 4
May 19
June 4
June 19

Table 5. Share of performance components on grain performance (single cross704) in a series of four planting dates
Factor explained
0/97
0/99
0/99

Equation
Y= 87/94+17/95 X1
Y= - 6971/58+19/29+2/7 X2
Y= - 5963/52-12/01 X1+19/56 X2+2/43 X3
Y=Yield (Kg/ha)
X1= Number of seeds per row
X2 = Thousand seed weight (gr)
X3 = Number of seeds per row

Table 6. climatic parameters during the test period

Temperature mean

Humidity mean

Precipitation

Sunny hours

Evaporation

73
177/4
183/8
204/3
179/5
121
40/7

107/9
233/8
249/7
232/2
204/2
240/9
156/8

86/9
29/4
25/4
4/3
6/1
24/1
107

81/8
66
69
69
69
65
72

24/1
23/8
20/9
28/7
26/9
21/5
9/6

Month
April
May
June
July
August
September
October

Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements section is optional and it can be placed before references section.

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