Open Access

ARTICLE

Density and structure of corn population on solar radiation penetration

Montemayor Trejo^1,* José Alfredo, Alejandro Zermeño González², Jesús Olague Ramirez¹, Rogelio Aldaco Nuncio¹, Manuel Fortis Hernández¹, Enrique Salazar Sosa^1,3, José Cruz Rodríguez Rios¹, Cirilo Vázquez-Vázquez³

1 Subdirección de Investigación y Graduados Agropecuarios, Instituto Tecnológico Agropecuario N° 10. Carretera Torreón – San Pedro km. 7.5 C.P 27170 Torreón, Coah. México. Tel. 01(871) 7 50 71 98 y 99. montemayorja@hotmail.com.
2 Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro. Buenavista, Saltillo Coahuila México. Tel (844) 4 11 03 53 y 54.
* Investigador responsable. **Se agradece el apoyo del personal de campo, administrativo y mayordomo del Rancho “Cerro del Agua”.
3 Facultad de agricultura y Zootecnia de la Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango(FAZ-UJED). ENMAGEEL1@YAHOO.ES

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2006, 75(all), 47-53. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2006.75.047

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of different population densities and corn foliage structure in the penetration of photosynthetically active radiation, and its relationship to some yield parameters. The work was developed in the spring-summer cycle 2000 at the Ranch Hill Water, located in the kilometer 154 in the highway Saltillo – Matehuala. The Prime Time maize hybrid was established in a 3x2 factorial arrengement under a completely randomized block design and three replications. Two factors were studied: as factor a, three population densities (5.5, 7.4 and 11.1 plants m^-2), and as factor b, different foliage inclinations to light interception. This was achieved by placement of agricultural meshes at both sides of the furrows. Penetration of the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), was measured using a quantum sensor line, with 10 sensors instaled in a bar of 70 cm length. Measurements were taken at a second scale, and averaged every minute. Extinction coefficients in each treatments were calculated using the Lambert Beer equation. The extinction coefficients were -0.9, -1.9 and -2.44 without mesh and -0.63, -0.95 and -1.74 with mesh in the densities of 5.5, 7.4 and 11.1 plants m^-2, respectively. The higher penetration of solar radiation in the lowest crop stratas in the treatments with mesh produced taller plants, of bigger diameter and weight ear.

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