Evaluation of Yield and Yield Components of Maize (Zea mays) Influenced by Plant Density, Planting Pattern and Date

In order to study the effect of planting date, planting pattern and plant density on yield and yield components of Zea mays cv.Maxima an experiment was conducted as split-plot factorial design on the base of complete randomized block with three replications at the research farm of University of Zanjan in 2009. Treatments consisting of different levels of planting date (15 May and 30 May) in main plots and different levels of plant density (75000, 82.500 and 90000 plant.ha-1) and planting patterns (one row and zigzag double row on the ridge) in the form of factorial in subplots. Using second planting date (30 May), zigzag double row planting pattern and the density of 75000 plant.ha-1 resulted in high grain yield (15.030 kg.ha-1), ear number per plant (1.43), thousand grain weight (265 g) and length of ear (22.3 cm). Therefore, this treatment could be recommended for Zanjan area. A significant phenotypic correlation indicated a strong positive relationship between grain yield and number of grains per ear.