Vetésidő és az évjárat hatása a kukorica hibridek terméshozamára és a minőségére | The effect of sowing date and crop year on the yield and quality of maize hybrids

Summary We examined three maize hybrids from Szeged belonging to three different FAO groups (Sarolta FAO 200, Csanád FAO 300 and Kenéz FAO 400) in a field experiment on chernozem soil. During the three years of the experiment (2007–2009), we evaluated the effect of sowing date, genotype and crop year on the yield of the maize hybrids and the grain quality parameters (starch, protein and oil content). Based on the examination results, it was shown that crop year (P<0.001) has the most significant effect. It affects the yield quantity (P<0.001), its protein (P<0.05), as well as its starch (P<0.01), and oil content (P<0.001). There were significant differences between the hybrids as regards their quality parameters and yield. The sowing date significantly affected yield (P<0.01) and the starch content (P<0.001), whereas it had no effect on the protein and oil content. Based on the variance analysis results of the subsequent years, it was shown that the protein and oil content of the grain yield were significantly higher in drought years (2007, 2009) than in 2008, when the weather was favourable. Both in the dry and wet years, the optimal sowing date (24th April) was shown to be the best from the aspects of starch, protein and oil content. The hybrids Sarolta and Csanád had higher starch content, whereas the hybrid Kenéz had higher protein and oil content. The yield of the maize hybrids was different in the three examined years. The obtained average yield of the three hybrids was 6.633 t ha ⁻¹ in 2007, 8.498 t ha ⁻¹ in 2008 and 12.161 t ha ⁻¹ in 2009, which represented a 5.528 t ha ⁻¹ yield fluctuation concerning the three years. The selection of an optimal sowing date is crucial in maize yield – especially in dry years – concerning the adaptation to the different conditions. Of the examined hybrids, Kenéz produced the highest yield in all three years. The experiment results show that the starch, protein and oil content per hectare was determined by the grain yield.