Effects of Planting Method and Sowing Date on Yield, Water Use Efficiency and Morphological Traits of Two Grain Maize Cultivars

The present study was performed to evaluate the effects of transplanting and hydro-priming in different planting dates on maize yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and some morphological traits of two grain maize cultivars.

This study was carried out as a factorial split-plot design based on a randomized complete block design at the seed and plant improvement institute, Karaj, Iran in 2017. Planting date (July 1, 11, 23) was allocated to the main plot and planting methods (hydro-priming, transplanting and direct seedling) and maize cultivars (S.C. 704, S.C. 260) were randomly placed in the subplots.

The results showed that grain yield, biomass, leaf area index and leaf dry weight significantly decreased respectively, 58.3%, 26.0%, 8.6% and 10.2% under late planting (23 July) compared with earlier planting (11 July). Transplanting significantly increased grain yield, biomass, leaf area index and leaf dry weight compared with hydro-priming and direct planting methods. Assessing the interaction between sowing date and cultivar revealed that highest grain yield and biomass (9193.2, 19767 kg.ha-1, respectively) were obtained from sowing SC704 in the earliest planting date (1 July). Also the highest WUE for grain production and biomass were observed in SC704 planted in 11 July (1.49, 3.34 kg.m-3, respectively).

Overall, in order to achieve maximum grain yield, biomass and WUE in Karaj region with semi-arid climate, transplanting of SC704 on July 1, can be recommended. Also if planting is delayed transplanting of SC260 could compensate yield loss.