engleski

Irrigation, nitrogen fertilization and genotype impacts on yield and quality of maize grain

Influences of irrigation rates (A1= non- irrigated, A2 = irrigation starting on level of 60% field water capacity or FWC ; A3 = irrigation starting on level of 80% FWC), nitrogen (N) fertilization (0, 100 and 200 kg N ha-1, for the B1, B2 and B3, respectively) and genotype (maize hybrids: OSSK 596, OSK 602, OSSK 617 and OSSK 552) on yield and protein content in maize grain were tested under field conditions on Osijek eutric cambisol during four growing seasons (2006-2009). In general (4- year means comparison), irrigation and nitrogen fertilization resulted by maize yield increases up to 15% (8880 and 10198 kg ha-1, for A1 and A3, respectively) and up to 19% (8700 and 10347 kg ha- 1, for 0 and 200 kg N ha-1, respectively), while differences of yields among the hybrids were in range from 9259 kg ha-1 (OSSK 596) to 9814 kg ha-1 (OSSK 602). Also, protein contents in maize grain were slight decreased by irrigation (8.81% and 8.51% for A1 and A3, respectively) and increased by N fertilization (8.28% and 8.92%, for 0 and 200 kg N ha-1, respectively), while differences of protein contents among the maize hybrids were in range from 8.51% (OSSK 552) to 8.79% (OSSK 617). Depending on the year, effects of irrigation on maize yield increases were from 13% (2006, 2008 and 2009) to 28% (2007). N fertilization effects on yield increases were the lowest in 2007 (+13 %) while in the remaining three years they were higher and reciprocally similar (from 20% to 22 %).

irrigation of maize ; nitrogen fertilization ; protein content

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