COMPARISON OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) GROWTH AND NITROGEN PARAMETERS UNDER HYDROPONIC AND FIELD CONDITIONS

Abstract

A comparison of biomass and nitrogen (N) parameters from 23 maize (Zea mays L.) inbreds was conducted between hydroponic culturing during two growth chamber studies and soil in the field for two harvests during 1984. The growth chamber studies and first field harvests were sampled at a similar growth stage (approximately nine-leaf); the second field harvest was at anthesis. Shoot dry matter accumulation was greater under hydroponic than under field conditions at a similar vegetative growth stage. Significant inbred differences for shoot biomass, reduced and total N contents and reduced and total N concentrations were determined for the growth chamber and both field harvests. Correlation coefficients were low and not significant (P < 0.05) between inbred parameters in the growth chamber and in the field. In summary, traits from hydroponic plants were not predictive of those from field plants. However, N parameters and biomass of inbreds harvested in the field at a mid-vegetative stage were predictive of inbred performance at anthesis.Key words: Zea mays L., maize, biomass, nitrogen, field, hydroponic