A formula for adjusting the grain yield of maize for missing hills in experimental plots

Code (CO)	MSI99P1608
Author (AU)	Rummun, K. Govinden, N.
Title - English (ET)	A formula for adjusting the grain yield of maize for missing hills in experimental plots
Document Type(DT)	Periodical article
Date of publication (DP)	1994
Series (SE)	Revue agric. sucr. Ile Maurice
Source (SO)	73(1-2): 44-51
Language of text (LT)	En
Language of summaries (LS)	En Fr
Abstract (AB)	For a fair comparison between treatments, maize grain yield data from experimental plots should be adjusted with respect to differential plant stands. Several methods based on the relationship between grain yield and plant stand were evaluated and a formula was derived to adjust yields. Seven trials were carried out at various sites in Mauritius during 2 planting seasons in 1991 and 1992 with variety MSIRI 6, recommended for full-season cultivation. Six densities ranging from 3.125 plants/m 2 to 7.031 plants/m 2 were planted in equally spaced rows in a randomized complete block design with 6 replicates. Standard cultural practices were followed. Excellent grain yields were obtained in all trials. Linean regression accounted for over 80 per cent of the variation in grain yield in the range of densities tested. The method which correctly estimated the optimum yield over the range of densities tested was one based on the direct relationship between the grain yield per unit area and the plant density per unit area. The other models gave satisfactory estimates only in the region of the optimum density. The formula to estimate the potential grain yield from the observed grain yield and the observed plant stand was: Potential yield per m2={17.0/observed plant number per m2 + 9.7} x observed yield per m2. With this formula, the optimum yield can be estimated with a precision varying from 0.5 to 7 per cent throughout the range of densities tested. Incidentally, the optimum plant density for variety MSIRI 6 has been revised to 73 500 plants per hectare.
Descriptors - English (DE)	MAIZE POPULATION DENSITY MATHEMATICAL MODEL MODELING
Descriptors - Geographic (DG)	MAURITIUS
Sort Key 1(K1)	Maize
Date record entered (DA)	1994-12-09
Language of analysis (LA)	En
Affiliation (AF)	Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute
Location (LO)	LIB
Processing status (PS)	CAT
MSIRI Staff (MS)	FC