Reaction of Sweet Maize to the Use of Polyethylene Film and Polypropylene Non-Woven Fabric in the Initial Growth Phase

Abstract

Sweet maize (Zea mays L. var. saccharata Bailey) is a valuable vegetable adapted to growing in temperate climate conditions. Temperature, especially in the beginning of the growing period, has a crucial effect on vegetation and yield. The best maize initial growth requires soil temperature above 10 °C. Maize covered by polyethylene film and polypropylene non-woven fabric leads to an increase in temperatures which accelerates crop growth. Three years (2012–2014) of field experiments were carried out at the Research and Didactic Station in Psary, belonging to the Department of Horticulture of Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences. A three-factorial experiment was established using the randomized subblock method in three repetitions in the years 2012–2014. Cobs were harvested in the milk-dough phase of grain maturity. Hybrid Rustler F1 produced, on average, 35.4% more marketable yield than Signet F1. On average, 10.2% more cobs and 22.7% more cobs (with Hybrid Rustler F1 and Signet F1, respectively) were harvested in cases when the sowing was performed in the third decade of April. The use of covers contributed to a significant increase in the yield compared to the yield of uncovered plants. Transparent foil also contributed to a significant increase in the number of cobs harvested in the marketable yield.