Transplanting techniques have been used successfully in our institute since 1981 to increase maize grain yields. Seeds of variety H-30 were sown using three procedures: 1) seeds sown in sterile soil with seedlings transplanted to the field 15 to 20 days after emergence; 2) seeds sown directly into a wet field; and 3) seeds sown in a dry field where germination started after rainfall. Using the transplanting technique, the time required to reach flowering stage was 67 d. When seeds were sown directly in wet soil the time required was 89 d, and 109 d when the seeds were sown in dry soil. Transplanted plants took 134 d to reach maturity, while those sown in wet soil required 151 d, and those sown in dry soil required 180d. Statistical analyses showed significant differences in grain and cob yield for the treatments. In all cases, transplanted plants produced more grain and cob. Transplanting increased the water use efficiency by 66% or more over the other two treatments.

English

9801|AGRIS 9702

Jose Juan Caballero

CIMMYT Publications Collection