Evaluating the Performance of some Egyptian Varieties of Maize at High Plant Densities and Late Dates in the Fall Season in Iraqi Environment (Field Traits)

Abstract

Abstract A field experiment was carried out at Research Station A of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences - University of Baghdad - Department of Field Crops in the Jadriya region for the fall season (2023) with the aim of evaluating the performance of some Egyptian varieties and comparing them with two local varieties of maize at high plant densities and late planting dates. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used in a split-spilt plots arrangement with four replications and three factors. The first factor included planting dates (1st and 10th August), the second factor included plant densities (70 and 90) thousand plants h-1, and the third factor included varieties (Baghdad 3, Al-Maha, TW-78, TW-345, IY-355 and IY-207). The results showed that the plants planted on the first date of 1stAugust were earlier, reaching 50% tasseling, which took 49.04 days, and 50% silking, which took 54.54 days. Plants of the same date were superior in plant height, as they gave 247.08 cm, the ear height reached 150.82, and the number of effective leaves was 13.97 leaves plant-1, While the first density plants took the least number of days to reach 50% tasseling, which amounted to 49.62 days and 54.04 days for silking. The first density also excelled in plant height (247.93) cm, stem height (147.57) cm, and number of effective leaves (13.43) leaf plant-1. The varieties differed significantly in field traits, as the Egyptian variety TW-78 was the earliest by giving it the least number of days to reach 50% tasseling and silking, while the Egyptian variety TW-345 excelled in plant height, ear height, and number of active leaves. The binary interaction (planting dates × plant density) did not appear significant in the mentioned traits, while the results showed the response of the varieties to delaying the planting dates from1st to 10th August for the mentioned traits with the exception of the number of effective leaves. The results showed the response of the varieties by increasing the plant density from 70 to 90 thousand plants per h-1 for the above-mentioned traits except for the ear height, while the triple interaction (planting dates × plant densities × varieties) showed significance for silking, ear height, and the number of effective leaves plant-1.