Effect of sowing date and water stress on yield and some agronomic traits of three sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata( hybrids

To examine the effects of sowing date and water stress on yield and some agronomic traits of three sweet corn hybrids, an experiment was carried out as a strip split-plot design with three replications, at College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, during 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. The main plots composed of two sowing dates (4 and 25 June considered as the optimum and late planting date, respectively) and two levels of water stress (Normal irrigation and withholding irrigation at early silking). Three sweet corn hybrids including KSC403su, Passion, and Signet were considered as sub-plots. Delay in sowing date and water stress significantly reduced fresh ear yield and its components, plant height, ear length, and fresh forage yield in all three hybrids. The KSC403su hybrid showed superiority and the highest fresh ear, kernel, and forage yields when seeds were planted on time and irrigated normally. Under withholding irrigation at early silking and planting on time, yield reduced the most by 45% in KSC403su. Under late planting date and water stress condition, the highest yield reduction was observed in Signet by 44% whereas, the lowest yield reduction was observed in Passion. Therefore, it seems that under recent water shortage of Fars Province, planting of Passion can be recommended as a suitable hybrid in such a region to save water.