Abstract:

In order to analyze the agronomic traits, yield and yield composition of machine-harvested maize under different density treatments, machine-harvested maize ‘Ludan 608’ was used as the material. Five planting densities of 60000 plants /hm² (D₁), 69000 plants /hm² (D₂), 75000 plants /hm² (D₃), 82500 plants /hm² (D₄) and 90000 plants /hm² (D₅) were set to analyze their agronomic traits and yield. The results showed that plant height, ear height, lodging rate and bare plant rate increased with the increase of planting density, while double ear rate decreased. The highest maize yield was 11231.31 kg/hm² with the planting density of 82500 plants /hm². The LAI increased with the increase in planting density. The accumulation of dry matter in maize at both individual and population levels showed an ‘S-shaped’ growth curve of ‘slow-fast-slow’. The dry matter amount of single plant decreased with the increase in planting density. In the range of D₁-D₄, dry matter amount of population increased with the increase of planting density. And it began to decrease when planting density was more than D₄.

Key words: maize, ‘Ludan 608’, machine-harvested grain, planting density, agronomic traits, yield, LAI, dry matter accumulation