Maize variety performance under different management and environmental conditions
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Date
2011-03-30
Authors
Ngolwe, Kasaro R. Agness
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Abstract
The purpose of the study was to compare the performance and
relative stability of grain yield among four different maize
(Zea mays L. ) types and also to investigate some agronomic traits
and their relationship to overall yield stability. The four types
of maize were compared in twelve environments, (3 locations x 4
management levels). Each type, i.e. single cross, double cross,
three-way cross arid open pollinated, was represented by three
entries. A split plot experimental design with three replications
was used, the four management levels were the main plots and
cultivars as subplots. The parameters measured were grain yield,
plant height, shelling percentage and 100 kernel weight. The
results showed that hybrids gave an overall higher yield
performance compared to open pollinated varieties. Mean yields
ranged from 145 kg/ha for MM 752 at Golden valley to 7482 kg/ha
for MM 612 at Mansa. Among the hybrids, there were no significant
grain yield differences between double crosses and three-way
crosses, but there were significant differences P<_ 0.05 between
single crosses and double crosses and between single crosses and
three-" way crosses. In a step wise multiple regression, plant
height and shelling percentage had the most contribution to the
variation observed in grain yield. The linear regression
o
coefficient (b-value), the deviation from regression (Sd ) and
the mean yield were used as stability parameters. All the hybrids
IV
had high linear response compared to the open pollinated
varieties but among the hybrids, double cross hybrids were the
most stable. They had high average yield, a regression
coefficient closer to 1.0 and a low deviation mean square. The
highest linear response was obtained by the single cross hybrid
MM 601 while MMV 600, an open pollinated variety had the lowest
linear response. Double cross variety MME 404 possessed the most
desirable combination of stability characteristics. The
commercial hybrids MM 601, MM 612, MM 603 which are widely grown
in Zambia, exhibited good stability of performance. However, the
open pollinated varieties showed low genetic potential for yield.
The stability analyses for shelling percentage and 100 kernel
weight explained some of the observed differences in yield
stability.
Description
Keywords
Agronomy , Maize