Comparative analysis of the main economic and biological parameters of maize hybrids that determine their productivity

Abstract

Corn kernels are characterised by the presence of all the nutrients, macro- and microelements necessary for growth and development in an easily digestible form. Considering the differentiation of soil and climatic zones of cultivation, the breeding process is designed to establish hybrids of different maturity groups. The research purposes to evaluate maize hybrids of different maturity groups for a set of economic and biological traits of productivity, high-yield stability, and further cultivation in production conditions suitable for mechanised harvesting. Methods used in the research include informational, theoretical analysis, synthesis, analogy, comparison and generalisation; research identification, and measurement. During the research, a systematic analysis was applied, considering the uniqueness of technical, productive, and economic conditions for growing hybrid corn. The research results demonstrate that to achieve successful regulation of maize hybrids productivity and improve their quality, it is necessary to select for suitability for specific soils and climatic zones, considering the biological requirements for seeds and developing effective agrotechnical means designed for processes occurring at different stages of growth and development. The seeds of corn hybrids, formed by breeding, were determined by a high nutrient content: In mid-early corn, the content of crude protein was 9.2-9.9%, crude fat – 4.2-4.4%, BER (nitrogen-free extractives) – 82.5-83.3%, starch – 71.4-73.7%; in the medium-late group, the content of crude protein ranged from 9.8-10.4%, crude fat from 4.1-4.6%, BER from 80.6-82.2%, and starch from 70.2-74.1%. The medium-early group of hybrids obtained the optimal height of 245-276 cm, the weight of 1000 seeds – 308-344 g, the ratio of node height to plant height – 0.445; the medium-ripening group respectively 296-351 cm, 318-382 g, 0.455