Yield of maize hybrid maternal lines depending on castration and harvesting methods

Abstract

Due to a number of factors, seed maize crops usually produce lower yields than commercial crops. At the same time, seeds must meet high physical, phytosanitary and especially genetic standards. The aim of the research was to identify ways to increase the seed yield of maize maternal lines, taking into account the weather conditions of cultivation, methods of panicle removal and harvesting. Based on the research results, it was found that the average seed yield in 2021 was 3.31 t/ha, and in 2022 – 3.82 t/ha. In 2021, the yield of the Pioneer1 hybrid using castrators was 0.87 t/ha less than the manual removal options, and the other two hybrids by 0.74 and 0.53 t/ha, respectively. In 2022, the pattern remained the same: manual panicle cutting contributed to the formation of a higher seed yield in the Pioneer1 hybrid by 0.77 t/ha, in the Pioneer 2 hybrid by 0.93 t/ha, and in the Pioneer3 hybrid by 0.7 t/ha. The best yield over the years of research was recorded on the maternal line of the Pioneer1 hybrid, which exceeded Pioneer 2 by 1.46 t/ha, and the maternal line of Pioneer 3 – 0.67 t/ha. Using multivariate analysis of variance, the approximate value of the influence of each factor separately on the formation of yield was established, where the largest share was genetic characteristics was 44 %. The second most important was the method of panicle removal – 36 %. The conditions of the years of cultivation had a much smaller share of influence on the formation of seed yield. It has been shown that the yield and quality of seeds of maternal lines is also significantly affected by the harvesting method. Harvesting in cobsmakes it possible to start harvesting at a seed moisture content of almost 11–13 % higher and leads to an increase in the yield of a valuable crop by 1.0 t/ha. As a result, the seed germination rate increased by 6 %, which is of great importance in seed production, as the yield of sowing units per 1 ha was almost 50 percent higher.