Boros, Beáta

Sárvári, Mihály

University of Debrecen Electronic Archive

The main influencing factors effecting the yield of maize 
 
Mihály Sárvári– Beáta Boros 
University of Debrecen Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Managment, Institute of Crop Sciences, 4032 
Debrecen 138 Böszörményi St., sarvari@agr.unideb.hu 
 
 
Keywords: maize, yield, fertilization, plant density, sowing date. 
 
SUMMARY 
 
Maize is one of Hungary’s major cereals. In the 1970s and 1980s, we were in the frontline regarding yields and genetic advancement. 
However, yield fluctuation in maize has increased to 50-60% from 10-20% since the 1980s, which was partly caused by the increase in 
weather extremes due to climate change and by agrotechnical shortcomings. 
The experiments were carried out on typical meadow soil in four repetitions in the period of 2007-2008. In the sowing time experiment, 
sowing was performed on 10 April, 25 April, 15 May under a uniform fertilization of N120, P2O580 K2O 110 kg/ha. In the fertilization 
experiment, the yielding capacity of 10 hybrids with different genetic characteristics was studied in a control (non-fertilized) treatment and 
basic treatment of N40 P2O5 25, K2O 30 kg ha-1 active ingredient and a treatment with fivefold dosages of the basic treatment. In the plant 
density experiment, the relationship between plant density and yield was analysed at plant densities of 45, 60 and 75 thousand plants per ha. 
We found a tight correlation between sowing time and yield and grain moisture content at harvest. We found that grain moisture can be 
reduced by 5-10% by applying an earlier sowing time. 
The agroecological optimum fertilizer dosage was N 40-120, P2O5 25-75, K2O 30-90 kg ha-1 active ingredient at a plant density of 60-90 
thousand plants ha-1 depending on the hybrid and the year. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
According to Berzsenyi and Győrffy (1997), the aim of crop production has been the maximalization of 
growth rate and plant biomass production for several decades. 
N supply has the greatest influence on the amount of yield, Bocz (1976). The N content of soils is an 
important factor in soil fertility (Nyíri, (1993). However, excess N results in yield reduction and harmful 
nitrogen accumulation (Németh and Kádár, 1999). According to the results of Nagy (1997), the natural nutrient 
exploration ability should be taken into consideration besides the fertilizer response. Fertilization has a 
significant effect on the ratio of grain and other plant parts (Nagy, 1978). 
Results from 3 years experiments confirm an important influence of foliar fertilizers in combination with 
heavy fertilization (B2 3 resp. C2, 3) for high yield grain of maize (Szűcs and Molnárová, 2008). 
For environmental considerations, it is important to adjust the fertilization to the requirements of the crop, to 
the dynamics of nutrient uptake and the growing site conditions (Várallyay and Németh, 1996; Németh, 2001). 
With an early sowing time, the grain moisture content at harvest can be considerably reduced (Árendás, 
2000). Very early and early hybrids have a wider optimal sowing time interval than hybrids with longer 
vegetation periods (Sárvári, 2005). 
The optimum plant density of maize hybrids depends not only on the length of the variety’s vegetation period 
but also on the genotype (Nagy, 2000). According to Pepó et al. (2002), the efficacy of maize production can 
only be improved via a hybrid-specific plant density adapted to the growing site and the agronomical conditions. 
 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
The experiments were carried out on typical meadow soil in four repetitions in the period of 2007-2008. The 
organic matter content of the meadow soil was 4.2% and the groundwater level was 2-2.5 m. 
The soil could be characterized by high clay content and poor phosphorus and medium potassium contents. 
Weather varied greatly among the experimental years. 2007 was a dry year, the amount of precipitation in the 
vegetation period of maize was 303.2 mm and 355.6 mm in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The 30-year average of 
precipitation (April-September) was 345.1 mm. The amount of precipitation was 41.9 mm lower and 14.1 mm 
higher in 2007 and 2008, respectively, than the average of 30 years. 
The monthly mean temperatures in the vegetation period of maize were 1.96 oC and 0.6 oC higher in 2007 and 
2008, respectively, than the average of many years. 
Weather data of 2007 and 2008 are presented in Figure 1. 
 
 
Figure 1: Weather data in Hajdúböszörmény 2007-2008 
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Monthly precipitation 30-year average precipitation
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In the plant density and sowing time experiments, the standard nutrient supply was N 120, P2O5 80, K2O 110 
kg ha-1. 
The fertilizer rates (active ingredient kg ha-1) applied in the fertilization experiments were N 40, P2O5 25, 
K2O 30 kg ha-1 as a basic dose while the highest dose was fivefold the basic dose. 
In the sowing time experiment, sowing was performed on 10 April, 25 April, 15 May. In the plant density 
experiment, the relationship between plant density and yield was analysed at plant densities of 45, 60, and 75 
thousand plants ha-1. 
The results were evaluated by analysis of variance and parabolic regression analysis. 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
Weather in 2007 was unfavourable for maize. Plant density and NPK fertilization greatly determined the 
yield of maize hybrids. Without fertilization, the yield was 3.68-5.19 t/ha. The lowest fertilizer dosage of N 40, 
P2O5 25, K2O 30 kg ha-1 increased the yield by 2-3 t ha-1. The optimum fertilizer dosage was N 120, P2O5 75, 
K2O 90 kg ha-1. 
The highest yields were obtained for hybrids PR38B12, PR38V45, PR37Y12 at a plant density of 75 
thousand plants ha-1 and for PR38A79 and PR37N01 at a plant density of 60 thousand plants ha-1, while the yield 
of the hybrid PR35F38 was below 8 t ha-1 at all three plant densities (Figure 2). 
 
Figure 2: The effect of plant density on the yield of maize hybrids in the average 
 
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PR38B12 PR38A79 PR38V45 PR37N54 PR37N01 PR37Y12 PR35F38
45 thousand 60 thousand 75 thousand plants ha -1
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Figure 3: The effect of fertilization on yield of maize 
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X6P944 PR38A79 PR38R37 PR37K92 PR37N01 PR36V52 PR36D79 PR36Y23 PR35F38
2008.
Control 1 tr. 2 tr. 3 tr. 4 tr. 5 tr.
Yield t ha-1
 
 
In 2008, the correlation between fertilization and yield was very tight. The lowest fertilizer dosage of N 40, 
P2O5 25, K2O 30 kg ha-1 increased the yield by 3-5 t ha-1 as compared to the control (non-fertilized) plot, while 
there were only slight differences among the different fertilizer dosages, the cause of which was the significant 
mineralization of organic materials due to the favourable year. 
The yield of the hybrids PR38A79 and PR38R37 was above 6 t ha-1 even without fertilization. The best 
fertilizer responses were obtained for hybrids PR37K92 and PR36Y23 (Figure 3). 
Plant density greatly increased yield. The highest yields of hybrids were achieved at the plant density of 75 
thousand plants ha-1. 
In 2007, the highest yield was obtained for the second sowing time (25 April) for the hybrid PR38A79, while 
all the other hybrids reached the maximum yield at the first sowing time (10 April). The yield of hybrids ranged 
between 5.5 and 9.0 t ha-1 depending on the sowing time. 
 
In 2008, the yield of hybrids ranged between 11 and 14 t ha-1depending on the sowing time due to the 
favourable year. The hybrids had a higher yield when the first sowing time (10 April) was applied (Figure 4). 
 
Figure 4: The effect of sowing time on the yield of maize on Hajdúböszörmény, 2007-2008 
 
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PR38B12 PR38A79 PR38V45 PR37N54 PR37N01 PR37Y12 PR35F38
03 Apr 24 Apr 15 May
Yield t ha-1 2007
 
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X6P944 PR38A79 PR38R37 PR37K92 PR37N01 PR36V52 PR36D79 PR36Y23 PR35F38
18. Apr. 25. Apr. 13. May.
Yield t ha-1 2008
 
 
Sowing time also determined the grain moisture content at harvest. Depending on the hybrid and sowing 
time, the grain moisture content at harvest in 2007 varied between 11.07 and 13.70% (average: 12.39%), 11.33 
and 24.60% (average 17.97%) and 21.73 and 32.60% (average 27.17%) for the first, second and third sowing 
time, respectively. 
In 2008, it was 11.93-17.87 (average 14.90%), 13.33-20.60% (average 16.97%), 15.07-27.07% (average 
21.07%) for the first, second and third sowing time, respectively. 
It can be concluded that the grain moisture content can be reduced by 3-5% and 5-10% when applying the 
first sowing time as compared to sowing on 25 April and 15 May, respectively. 
N fertilization increased the protein content of maize hybrids by 0.5-1.0%, a higher plant density reduced the 
protein content and slightly increased the starch content of the grains. 
CONCLUSIONS 
It can be concluded that the optimum NPK fertilizer dosages of the studied hybrids are N 40-120, P2O5 25-
75, K2O 30-90 kg ha-1 active ingredient depending on the hybrid and the year. Plant density is a major 
determining factor of yield. 
Maize hybrids gave the highest yield at the plant density of 75 thousand plants ha-1. With increasing plant 
density, the individual yield (cob size) was reduced, but the yield per unit area (ha) increased.  
The yield was higher while the grain moisture content at harvest was 5-10% lower at the earlier sowing time 
(10 April), which results in lower drying costs. 
The application of fertilization, plant density and sowing time should be hybrid-specific. 
REFERENCES 
Árendás T.: 2000. A kukoricatermesztés korlátairól és lehetőségeiről. Magyar Mezőgazdasáság.  
Berzsenyi Z. – Győrffy B.: 1997. A vetésforgó és a trágyázás hatása a kukorica termésére és termésstabilitására tartamkísérletben. 
Növénytermelés. 45. 281-296. 
Bocz E.: 1976. Trágyázási útmutató. Mezőgazda Kiadó, Budapest. 257. 
G. Szűcs – J. Molnárová: 2008. The effect of leaf nutrition on the accumulation potential and crop of corn grown (Zea mays L.) for grain in 
relation to the particular year. Agrochémia chemistry. 12. 48. 13-19. p. 
Nagy J.: 1978. Az optimális víz és tápanyagellátás hatása a borsó és kukorica növények növekedésée, fejlődésére és termésmennyiségére. 
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Nagy J.: 1997. A műtrágyázás hatása a kukorica (Zea mays L.) termésére öntözés nélküli és öntözéses termesztésben. Agrokémia és Talajtan. 
46. 1-4. 275-288. 
Nagy J.: 2000. A talajművelés és a műtrágyázás hatása a kukorica (Zea mays L.) termésére aszályos és kedvező évjáratokban. In: Nagy J., 
Pepó Pé. (szerk.) Talaj, növény és környezet kölcsönhatásai III.. Debrecen. 97-119. 
Németh T. – Kádár I.: 1999. Nitrát bemosódásának vizzsgálata és nitrogénmérlegek alakulása egy műtrágyázási tartamkísérletben. 
Növénytermelés. 48. 377-386. 
Németh T.: 2001. A tápanyag-gazdálkodás szerepe a szántóföldi növénytermesztésben. MTA Agrártudományok Osztálya, Budapest. 106-
132. 
Nyíri L.: 1993. Földműveléstan. Mezőgazda Kiadó, Budapest. 438. 
Pepó P. – Szabó P. – Szieberth D.: 2002. Az állománysűrűség szerepe a fajtaspecifikus kukoricatermesztésben. Agrofórum. 13. 3. 34-36.  
Sárvári M.: 2005. Agrotechnikai tényezők hatása a kukorica adaptációs képességére és termésbiztonságára. In: Nagy J. (szerk.) 
Kukoricahibridek adaptációs képességének és termésbiztonságának javítása. Debrecen. 183-203. 
Várallyay Gy. – Németh T.: 1996. A fenntartható mezőgazdasái talajtani-agrokémiai alapjai. MTA Agrártudományos Osztályának 
tájékoztatója. Agrokémiai Kiadó, Budapest. 80-92. 
A főbb termesztési tényezők hatása a kukorica termésére 
 


The main influencing factors effecting the yield of maize

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The main influencing factors effecting the yield of maize

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