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International Journal of Agricultural Research

Year: 2008 | Volume: 3 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 27-39
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Authors

Manal M. Hefny

A.A. Aly

Keywords

Research Article

Yielding Ability and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize Inbred Lines and Their Crosses

Manal M. Hefny and A.A. Aly
A field experiment was carried out to study the grain yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) components of 16 inbred lines of exotic yellow maize and their crosses. The experiment was cropped at two nitrogen fertilizers; low (70 kg f-1) and high (140 kg f-1), split-plot design was used. The results indicated that, all measured traits were affected significantly by N levels, genotypes and the interaction, except days to 50% tasseling and silking of inbred lines which were not affected by N levels and the N x genotype interaction. N deficiency caused delay in flowering time for male and female inflorescence, accelerated leaf senescence, reduced total dry matter production, N-uptake by plants, grain yield components and grain protein percentage. On the other hand, nitrogen use efficiency for dry matter and grain production and nitrogen harvest index were increased under limited soil N. Inbred lines showed severe reduction for the above variables as compared to crosses. The inbred lines 4, 9, 13 and 15 were distinguished for their superiority in grain yield, nitrogen harvest index, harvest index, nitrogen use efficiency for grain, N-uptake and protein percentage. Three lines, 13, 15 and 16 were the earliest in flowering and represented the highest stay green percentage. While, the inbred lines 1, 8 and 14 were the most N-inefficient for grain production and the lowest for grain yield. In relation to crosses, high nitrogen harvest index, harvest index and nitrogen use efficiency for grain were shown by the crosses (4x1), (8x7), (9x10), (9x12) and (13x15). The crosses (4x1), (9x10), (13x15) and (13x16) surpassed the check and recorded the highest grain yield. The highest stay green percentage was revealed by the single cross Pioneer 3062 followed by the crosses (4x1), (13x15) and (13x16). It is recommended to use the inbred lines; 4, 9, 13 and 15, as a N-efficient source for further studies, whereas using the crosses; (4x1), (8x7), (9x10), (9x12) and (13x15) as N-efficient hybrids for under N limited cultivation. Phenotypic correlation coefficients were higher at low N compared with high application rate. High grain yield was significantly associated with delayed leaf senescence, nitrogen harvest index, harvest index, nitrogen use efficiency for grain and yield plant-1. High nitrogen use efficiency for grain production correlated positively with high yield, yield plant-1, NHI and HI. N-uptake was found to be a function of growth rate at both levels of N fertilizer.
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