The impact of sowing times on the productivity of corn hybrids of different maturity groups: a review

Corn is one of the most widespread agricultural crops in the world. It is grown on all continents on an area of over 200 million hectares annually. Grain production of this crop is concentrated in 10 major countries. The leading countries in corn production are China and the United States of America, where over 44 and 35 million hectares are occupied under it respectively, and the average grain yield is 6.5 and 11.0 t/ha. Ukraine has all the necessary conditions for corn production, including fertile soils, a favorable climate, and modern agricultural technologies. Thanks to these advantages, the country is among the world’s leading producers and exporters of corn. Ukraine exports significant volumes of corn annually, supplying more than 30 % of the countries of Europe, Asia, and North Africa with the product. According to 2024 data, corn exports exceeded 28 million tons per year, making Ukraine one of the key players in the global grain market. Corn is a raw material for the processing industry, a valuable food and the most important forage crop. To obtain high yields and improve grain quality of this crop, it is necessary to implement effective agricultural technologies, including optimization of the plant nutrition and protection system, soil cultivation etc. A special role in increasing corn productivity is played by the correct selection of hybrids adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of the region. The choice of hybrids with high yield potential, resistance to diseases, pests and adverse weather factors is the key to obtaining high yields. At the same time, it is important to observe the optimal sowing dates, because timely sowing contributes to the formation of a powerful root system, uniform shoots and optimal plant development. Untimely sowing can lead to a decrease in yield due to the negative impact of drought, prolonged rains, the spread of diseases etc. Therefore, scientific research related to improving agricultural technology for growing new corn hybrids, in particular determining the optimal time for sowing them, is quite relevant now.