The effect of different i̇ntro row space on yield and yield components of some silage maize cultivars under Kirşehir ecological conditions

This study was conducted to determine the effects of different intra-row spacings (16, 18, 20, 22, 24 cm) on some yield and yield characteristics of some promising maize hybrid cultivars (9628HP F1, Kerbanis and PL 524) under Kirsehir ecological conditions in 2019. The experimental design was completely randomized design in split plots with three replications. Main plots were cultivar maize and sub-plots were intra-row spacings. Plant height, stem diameter, single plant weight, leaf/stem ratio, cob height, number of cob, number of leaf, leaf/stem ratio, number of parcel plants, green forage yield, cob yield, dry matter yield and crude protein ratio were determined. According to the results of a single year of study, the means of plant height, were as 178.5-237.3 cm in cultivars, 201.4-207.1 cm in intra-row spacing, the means of stem diameter were as 19.8-23.9 mm in cultivars, 20.6-24.2 mm in intra-row spacing; the means of single plant weight were as 1351.3–1865.3 g in cultivars, 1380.0–1804.4 g in intra-row spacing; the means of leaf/stem ratio were as 38.0-42.5 % in cultivars, 35.8-42.3 % in intra-row spacing; the means of corncob height were as 52.8-77.7 cm in cultivars, 59.9-66.1 cm in intra-row spacing; the means of the number of corncob per plant were as 1.1-1.7 in cultivars, 1.3-1.5 in intra-row spacing; the means of the number of leaf per plant were as 9.6-11.3 in cultivars, 9.8-10.7 in intra-row spacing; the means of leaf/stem ratio were as 39.7-41.9 % in cultivars, 39.2-44.0 % in intra-row spacing; the means of the number of plot plants were as 70.1-70.6 in cultivars, 55.6-86.7 in intra-row spacing; the means of green forage yield were as 4991.0-5940.9 kg/da in cultivars, 4732.8-6093.4 kg/da in intra-row spacing; the means of corncob yield were as 1876.6-2362.8 kg/da in cultivars, 1844.4-2408.6 kg/da in intra-row spacing; the means of dry matter ratio of herbage hay were as 32.6-32.8% in cultivars, 32.1-33.5 % in intra-row spacing; the means of dry matter yield were as 1635.8-1943.0 kg/da in cultivars, 1526.6-2033.9 kg/da in intra-row spacing, and crude protein ratio were as 7.7–8.0 % in cultivars, 7.5-8.3 % in intra-row spacing. While the prominent variety was PL 524, the most suitable intra-row spacings were determined as 22 cm and 24 cm. In the research, as a result of different reactions on different intra-row spacing of cultivars, it was found that the interaction of cultivars x intra-row spacing was very important in green yield and dry matter yield. In Kirsehir ecological conditions, main product cultivar silage maize, when the yield and quality together were estimated, cultivar PL 524 maize with 22 cm or 24 cm from the intra-row spacing cultivating can be recommended.