Does row spacing affects plant growth, ear characteristics and yield of sweet corn (Zea mays L.)?

David Isaías Espinosa-Aguilar, José Manuel Gutiérrez-Campos, Miguel Angel Barreto-Torres, Rafael Julio Macedo Barragan

Abstract


Background. Plant density is a component of yield that affects growth, morphology and yield of maize; however, the effect of spatial arrangement, that is, the distance between rows and between plants, on these factors is less known. Objective. To evaluate the effect of row spacing on plant growth, ear characteristics, and yield of sweet corn in Coquimatlán, Colima, Mexico. Methodology. The A7573 maize hybrid was sown under a completely randomized experimental design at a density of 50,000 plants·ha-1 with three spatial arrangements: T1) 100 cm between rows and 20 cm between plants, T2) 80 cm between rows and 25 cm between plants and T3) 60 cm between rows and 33 cm between plants. Results. Plants sown at 100 cm row spacing showed greater height, stem diameter, leaf area, and relative chlorophyll index than plants sown at 80 and 60 cm row spacing. Ears from plants sown at 80 and 100 cm row spacing were longer and wider than those sown at 60 cm. Plants sown 100 cm apart produced approximately 11 and 27% heavier ears than those sown 80 and 60 cm apart, respectively. Yields increased significantly as row spacing increased. A strong correlation was observed between the distance between rows and the relative chlorophyll index (r= 0.78) and between the relative chlorophyll index and ear weight and yield (r= 0.76). Implications. Considering these results, new studies should be carried out focused on evaluating increasing population densities using a spatial arrangement of 100 cm between rows and 20 cm between plants to produce a greater quantity of ears per unit area without reducing its weight and size. Conclusion. Maize sown at a row spacing of 100 cm improved plant growth and ear yield and characteristics.

Keywords


spatial arrangement; maize; relative chlorophyll index; ear length; ear diameter; ear weight

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References


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URN: http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/urn:ISSN:1870-0462-tsaes.v28i3.64779

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.6477

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Copyright (c) 2025 José Manuel Gutiérrez-Campos, Miguel Angel Barreto-Torres, David Isaías Espinosa-Aguilar, Rafael Julio Macedo Barragan

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