Interaction between climatic conditions and sowing density on yield performance of maize genotypes

Jelena STOJILJKOVIĆ; Vera RAJIČIĆ; Milan BIBERDŽIĆ; Dragan TERZIĆ; Kristina LUKOVIĆ; Ivan TUPAJIĆ; Biljana Šević; Nenad ĐURIĆ

doi:10.15835/nbha53314594

Authors

Jelena STOJILJKOVIĆ Institute for Vegetable Crops, Karađorđeva 71, 11420 Smederevska Palanka (RS) https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7794-4185
Vera RAJIČIĆ University of Niš, Faculty of Agriculture in Kruševac, Kosančićeva 4, 37000 Kruševac (RS) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4468-7073
Milan BIBERDŽIĆ University of Priština-Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Agriculture, Kopaonička bb, 38228 Lešak (RS) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7259-3357
Dragan TERZIĆ University of Niš, Faculty of Agriculture in Kruševac, Kosančićeva 4, 37000 Kruševac (RS) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0109-7460
Kristina LUKOVIĆ Institute for Vegetable Crops, Karađorđeva 71, 11420 Smederevska Palanka (RS) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8910-716X
Ivan TUPAJIĆ Institute for Vegetable Crops, Karađorđeva 71, 11420 Smederevska Palanka (RS) https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7601-3018
Biljana Šević Institute for Vegetable Crops, Karađorđeva 71, 11420 Smederevska Palanka (RS) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4486-2860
Nenad ĐURIĆ Institute for Vegetable Crops, Karađorđeva 71, 11420 Smederevska Palanka (RS) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5048-454X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha53314594

Keywords:

AMMI model, maize, precipitation deficit, temperature stress, yield variability

Abstract

Maize production is increasingly challenged by climate variability, making the optimization of genotype choice and sowing density essential for stable yields. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of sowing density (SD I, SD II, SD III), genotype (ZP 434, NS 4023, ZP 555, NS 5051, ZP 666, NS 6030), and climatic conditions on maize grain yield and its main components (number of grain rows per cob, thousand kernel weight, number of plants at harvest) over four consecutive years (2014-2017). The AMMI model was used to quantify the contribution of genotype (G), environment (E), and their interaction (G×E) to yield variability. Results showed that the highest yields were recorded in 2016 under favorable climatic conditions, with hybrids ZP 555 (15.07 t ha^-1) and NS 5051 (14.68 t ha^-1), while the lowest yields occurred in 2015 due to drought and high summer temperatures, particularly at higher sowing density (SD I), with NS 5051 yielding only 5.73 t ha^-1. The environment accounted for 83.56% of yield variability, whereas the G×E interaction explained 12.26%. Hybrids ZP 555 and NS 5051 exhibited the greatest yield stability. Lower sowing density (SD III) proved advantageous under dry conditions, whereas higher density (SD I) was optimal in favorable years. Grain yield was strongly correlated with the number of grain rows (r = 0.75**) and thousand kernel weight (r = 0.73**). These findings provide valuable insights into hybrid performance under variable climates and offer practical recommendations for optimizing hybrid selection and sowing density to improve maize adaptation to climate change.

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