Sarhad J. Agic. Vol.25, No.

2,2009

PHENOLOY AND YIELD OF SWEET CORN LANDRACES INFLUENCED BY PLANTING DATES Zafar Hayat Khan*, Shad Khan Khalil*,Shaheen Nigar**, Iftikhar H. Khalil****, Ikramul Haq*****, Iftikhar Ahmad*****, Asad Ali**** and M. Yasir Khan***
* ** *** **** ***** Department of Agronomy, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan Institute of Development Studies, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan Department of Plant Pathology, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan Department of AEE&C, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to determine the production potential and optimum sowing date for various landraces of sweet corn. The research was carried out at New Developmental Farm, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan during 2007 crop season. Sowing dates were 25 April (D1), 25 May (D2), 16 June (D3), 26 July (D4) and 18 August (D5). Sweet corn landraces Mingora, Mansehra, Swabi, Parachinar and cv. Azam were used. All parameters were significantly affected by sowing dates, landraces and their interaction. Days to 50 % tasseling and 50 % silking decreased as the date of sowing was delayed from D1 to D5. Days to maturity decreased as the date of sowing was delayed from D1 to D3 and then increased again as sowing was delayed from D3 to D5. Sweet corn landrace Swabi produced maximum (17292 kg ha-1) biological yield from D1 sowing compared to minimum (7083 kg ha-1) produced by Parachinar on D5. Azam produced maximum grain yield (4097 kg ha-1) and harvest index (27.21 %) when sown on D4, where as minimum grain yield (621 kg ha-1) and harvest index (7.16 %) was observed for Parachinar and Mingora respectively on D5 sowing. Key Words: Phenology, Yield, Landraces, Sweet corn
Citation: Khan, Z.H., S.K. Khalil, S. Nigar, I.H. Khalil, Ikramul Haq, I. Ahmad, A. Ali and M.Y. Khan. 2009. Phenology and yield of sweet corn landraces influenced by planting dates. Sarhad J. Agric. 25(2): 153-157.

INTRODUCTION Sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata) is primarily grown in North America. However sweet corn consumption has considerably increased over the past 30 years worldwide. Sweet corn differs from field corn in terms of its genetic makeup rather than in its systematic or taxonomic characterization (Marshall, 1987). The pericarp and endosperm tissues of sweet corn are the primary products consumed. Sweet corn is produced for human consumption either as fresh or processed product. Before it ripe and dry it has a sweeter taste than do other corn types because its endosperm contains sugar as well as starch. Sweet corn is grown for local markets in Azad Jammu Kashmir and several areas of NWFP. Planting at proper time and selection of suitable variety are important components of cropping system. Significant effects of sowing dates on fresh ear yield, duration of tasseling, ear diameter, kernel numbers ear-1, fresh ear weight and husk ratio have been reported by Oktem et al. (2004). Earliest planting of corn is preferable because of utilization of the entire growing season, achieving physiological maturity before frost, and proper drying; thereby increasing profit through reduced drying costs (Joseph et al., 1999). Beside corn growth has been affected by planting date as reported by Swanson and Wilhelm (1996). Nafziger (1994) stated that yields increased from mid-April to late April planting dates, then declined as planting was delayed to late May. Ahmadi et al. (1993) investigated planting date and population combinations in four field experiments; and reported significant interaction between planting date and hybrid. Arif et

al. (2001) concluded that planting methods, varieties and their interaction significantly affected cob length, number of grains cob-1, grain weight cob-1, biological yield and grain yield. The present study was therefore initiated to study sweet corn landraces under different sowing dates for various parameters and to workout optimum planting date for Peshawar region. MATERIALS AND METHODS In order to study landraces of sweet corn under different planting dates, an experiment was carried out at New Developmental Farm, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan during 2007. Sowing dates were 25 April, 25 May, 16 June, 26 July and 18 August while landraces were Mingora, Mansehra, Swabi, Parachinar and cv. Azam (check). The crop was planted in 4m 3.6m plots having 6 rows, each 4m long. Treatments were replicated three times in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements. Planting dates were allotted to main plots while landraces were maintained in sub-plots. Treatments were randomized in main and sub-plots. The crop was sown in 60cm spaced out rows with the help of hand hoe. Plant population of 120000 plants ha-1 was maintained by thinning. A basal dose of 120:70 N: P kg ha-1 was used. Urea and SSP were used as sources of N and P2O5, respectively. Table I: Monthly climate data during the growth period of sweet corn in 2007 in Peshawar Months April May June July August September October November December Temperature (C) Maximum Minimum
34.20 36.06 40.12 36.71 37.41 35.13 31.53 26.67 22.63 16.20 19.88 24.71 25.90 26.48 23.37 14.59 10.20 6.74

Mean
25.20 27.97 32.42 31.31 31.95 29.26 23.06 18.44 14.69

Mean Relative Humidity (%)

55.38 49.61 49.35 64.73 65.77 66.72 46.88 73.60 68.22

Standard agronomical practices were followed throughout the growing season. The following observations were recorded during the course of study; I. Days to 50% tasseling II. Days to 50% silking III. Days to maturity IV. Grain yield V. Biological yield VI. Harvest index Days to 50% tasseling and 50% silking were counted from sowing till 50% of the plants in each subplot produced tassels and silk, respectively. Days to maturity were counted from sowing till maturity. Biological yield was measured by harvesting two central rows of each subplot and weighing them. The data were then constructed into biological yield ha-1.

Biological Yield (Kg/ha)

Biological Yield of 2 rows 100,000 No. of rows Row - Row distance Row length 2

Sun dried plants were threshed to record grain yield and then converted in to grain yield ha-1, accordingly. Harvest index was calculated as follows:

Harvest Index (%)

Grain Yield 100 Biological Yield

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Statistical analysis of the data showed that, days to 50% tasseling (Table II) were significantly affected by sowing dates, landraces and their interaction. Maximum days to tasseling were observed in plots sown on D1 with landrace Parachinar, whereas Mingora was the earliest to tassel when planted on D5. These results showed a decrease in days to tasseling from April sowing to August sowing. This decrease may be due to higher temperature and humidity during later months which hasten plant growth and development. These results are in conformity with Daughtry et al., (1984) and Shaw (1988) who reported dependence of tasseling duration on temperature and variety. Shaw and Thom (1951) concluded that the period from emergence to tasseling was more variable than the others. They found a negative relationship between the length of period from planting to tasseling and average temperature. Table II
25th April 25th May 16th June 26th July 18th August Means

Days to 50% tasseling for different landraces/varieties and sowing dates

Sowing dates

Landraces
Azam 60 e 60 e 58 f 53 h 48 l 56 b Mingora 62 c 61 d 56 g 47 m 45n 54 c Mansehra 63 b 61 d 60 e 50 j 47 m 56 b Swabi 62 c 62 c 61 d 52 i 49 k 57 a Parachinar 64 a 62 c 56 g 49 k 47 m 56 b

Means
62 a 61 b 58 c 50 d 47 e

LSD for sowing dates at P<0.05 = 0.29 LSD for varieties at P<0.05 = 0.24 LSD value for interaction at P<0.05 = 0.53 Data on days to 50 % silking are presented in Table III. Sowing dates, landraces and their interaction showed significant effect on days to silking. Parachinar took maximum days to silking on April sowing (D1), whereas Mingora with August (D5) sowing took minimum days. Days to silking are related with tasseling and showed similar trend of decrease with later sowings. Table III Days to 50% silking for different landraces/varieties and sowing dates

Sowing dates
25th April 25th May 16th June 26th July 18th August Means

Landraces
Azam 66 d 63 f 62 g 56 j 53 m 60 c Mingora 67 c 65 e 60 h 52 n 49 p 59 d Mansehra 68 b 65 e 62 g 55 k 52 n 60 c Swabi 68 b 66 d 62 g 59 i 54 l 62 a Parachinar 69 a 68 b 63 f 53 m 51 o 61 b

Means
68 a 65 b 62 c 55 d 52 e

LSD for sowing dates at P<0.05 = 0.45 LSD for varieties at P<0.05 = 0.39 LSD value for interaction at P<0.05 = 0.86

Table IV reveals significant effects of sowing dates, landraces and their interaction on days to maturity. Maximum days to maturity were taken by Parachinar planted on D1 while Mingora took minimum days to maturity when planted on D4. Similar results are reported by Zaki et al., (1994) who reported decrease in days to maturity with delaying of sowing from 16 April to 16 June and then increase again as sowing was delayed from 16 July to 16 August. Table IV Days to maturity for different landraces/varieties and sowing dates

Sowing dates
25th April 25th May 16th June 26th July 18th August Means Azam 114 c 94 i 86 l 92 j 101 h 97 d Mingora 121 b 100 h 89 k 84 m 108 f 100 b

Landraces
Mansehra 112 d 105 g 89 k 89 k 104 g 100 b Swabi 120 b 101 h 85 lm 85 lm 105 g 99 c Parachinar 124 a 107 f 91 j 95 i 110 e 106 a

Means
118 a 101 c 88 e 89 d 106 b

LSD for sowing dates at P<0.05 = 0.64 LSD for varieties at P<0.05 = 0.55 LSD value for interaction at P<0.05 = 1.24 Biological yield was significantly affected by sowing dates and landraces (Table V). Maximum biological yield was recorded with April sowing of Swabi while Parachinar produced minimum biological yield with August sowing. In April sowing plants took maximum days to maturity and this extended growth and development period may be one of the reasons for higher biological yields. Possible climatological variables affecting growth and development of corn are temperature, moisture and relative humidity. These results are in conformity with Arif et al. (2001) who reported significant differences in biological yield due to varietal differences. Table V Biological yield (kg ha-1) for different landraces/varieties and sowing dates

Sowing dates
25th April 25th May 16th June 26th July 18th August Means

Landraces
Azam 13611139d 8681184 j 75000 kl 15069387 c 7292120 kl 10431d Mingora 16597303 b 7847184 k 9236387 hij 13403184 d 9167120 ij 11250 b Mansehra 16597139 b 9514184 ghi 11667120 f 16528593 b 8750120 j 12611 a Swabi 17292208 a 10139184 g 12569139 e 13542208 d 9305178 hij 12569 a Parachinar 16111139 b 7292318 kl 9861303gh 13958208 d 70830 l 10861 c

Means
16042 a 8695 d 10167 c 14500 b 8319 e

LSD for sowing dates at P<0.05 = 354.30 LSD for varieties at P<0.05 = 309.90 LSD value for interaction at P<0.05 = 693 Standard deviation= 3463 Grain yield is the function of integrated effect of all individual yield components and interaction between the genetic makeup and plant environment during the growing period. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that grain yield of sweet corn was significantly affected by sowing dates, landraces and their interaction (Table VI). Azam gave maximum grain yield when planted in July (D4) while Parachinar gave minimum grain yield from August (D5) sowing. Proper growth and development conditions for July sowing may be resulted in higher grain yields. Shorter vegetative growth period for August sown sweet corn and then low temperature

and incident solar radiation during grain filling stage may have resulted in lowest grain yield. Frost at later stages of plants growth may be another reason for lower yields. Grain yield decreased from April sowing to May sowing then increased to maximum in July and again decreased to minimum grain yield in August sowing. Similar results are reported by Herbek et al. (1986) showing decrease in grain yield when sowing delayed from late April to mid-May. Zaki et al., (1994) conformed above results presenting decrease in grain yield from April to May sowing and then increase in yield from June sowing. They reported lower grain yields from August sowing. Ahmadi et al. (1993) reported effects of planting date on yield. They further noted significant interaction between planting date and hybrid. Table VI Grains yield (kg ha-1) for different landraces/varieties and sowing dates

Sowing dates
25th April 25th May 16th June 26th July 18th August Means Azam 3676 b 1817 h 1967 g 4097 a 1039 m 2519 a Mingora 1556 j 945 m 1146 l 2388 e 728 o 1353 c

Landraces
Mansehra 2141f 1281 k 1604 i 2639 d 743 o 1682 b Swabi 1832 h 1373 k 1779 hi 2781 c 804 no 1714 b Parachinar 1573 j 855 n 1148 l 2319 e 621 p 1303 d

Means
2156 b 1254 d 1529 c 2845 a 787 e

LSD for sowing dates at P<0.05 = 38.54 LSD for varieties at P<0.05 = 42.94 LSD value for interaction at P<0.05 = 93.02 Standard deviation= 887 Harvest indices of sweet corn landraces were significantly affected by sowing dates, landraces and their interaction (Table VII). Highest value of harvest index (27.21 %) was noted for Azam sown on D4, whereas lowest (7.78 %) for Parachinar on D5 sowing. This may be due to favorable conditions for growth and development of Azam at D4. Harvest index is dependent on grain and biological yields of the crop and it changes with change in grain and biological yields. Table VII Harvest index (%) for different landraces/varieties and sowing dates

Sowing dates
25th April 25th May 16th June 26th July 18th August Means

Landraces
Azam 27.010.74a 23.851.77 b 26.230.19 a 27.210.58 a 14.250.06 f 23.71 a Mingora 9.380.19 kl 12.050.20 hi 12.420.05 ghi 17.830.34 d 7.940.13 m 11.92 c Mansehra 12.890.28 fgh 13.470.16 fg 13.750.15 fg 16.010.57 e 8.490.07 lm 12.92 b Swabi 10.600.26 jk 13.550.18 fg 14.160.15 f 20.550.39 c 8.630.06 lm 13.50 b Parachinar 9.760.15 kl 11.730.06 hij 11.640.13 hij 16.620.28 de 7.780.55 ij 11.51 c

Means
13.93 d 14.93 c 15.64 b 19.64 a 9.42 e

LSD for sowing dates at P<0.05 = 0.672 LSD for varieties at P<0.05 = 0.612 LSD value for interaction at P<0.05 = 1.37

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