The Effect of Seeding Rate on Selected Physical Parameters and the Biomass Yield of Maize

This study investigates the effect of the seeding rate of two hybrid cultivars of maize harvested for silage on selected, i.e.: physical parameters (stem length, stem diameter, total plant weight and weight of ears with husks), fresh weight yield and ear yield of maize plants. A field experiment was carried out in 2011-2013 on soil of weak rye complex (cv. Kosmo) and a good rye complex (cv. Kixxo). The results were processed by one-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The analyses revealed that at constant inter-row spacing of 0.75 m, seeding rate (6.5 to 11.9 seeds∙m-2 for cv. Kosmo and 8 to 12∙m-2 for cv. Kixxo) significantly (α=0.05) influenced the evaluated parameters. Higher plant density lowered the weight of plants and ears and resulted in lower stem diameter. Plants grown in treatments with lower seeding rates were larger and heavier. In cv. Kosmo, the highest total yield and ear yield were noted at the seeding rate of 11∙m-2. Maize plants cv. Kixxo sown at the rate of 12∙m-2 were characterized by the highest fresh weight yield and the highest yield of ears with husks. A set of equations were developed to analyze the correlations between seeding rate and the physical parameters of maize plants and between seeding rate vs. green fodder yield and ear yield.