Determining The Attainable Maximum Grain Yield Amount Based on Radiation Data in Corn Production Under Optimum Growing Conditions: The Case of Konya

Genetic yield potential of newly developed hybrid varieties in grain corn production is accepted as 4000 kg da-1. The average grain corn yield of our country is 941 kg da-1. In order to obtain products close to the genetic yield potential in plant production, the maximum amount of yield (target) that can be reached must be determined correctly. The total amount of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) during the vegetation period, the efficiency of using the captured radiation into chemical energy (dry matter) (RUE) and the harvest index values (HI) determine the target yield amount. Atmospheric conditions such as geographic location, time, relative humidity, pressure, optical depth and aerosol concentration affect the amount of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). RUE and HI values differ according to the genetic characteristics of cultivars such as canopy structure, leaf area index, harvest index, early and late maturity period, climate and environment conditions such as PAR intensity, temperature, humidity, precipitation, soil condition, cultivation practices such as plant densities, irrigation, fertilization, disease and pest control, and the use of intercepted or absorbed total radiation values in the calculation. Theoretically, the maximum potential RUE values that can be reached for maize plant under optimum growing conditions without stress conditions are stated as 5.5 g MJ-1. For maize, an HI value of 0.5 is considered average. According to the radiation data, the maximum yield that can be reached theoretically in corn grain production in Konya was calculated as 2822 kg da-1. In order to reach this calculated yield amount, the amount of nutrients to be removed from the soil by the plant should be determined correctly and soil analyzes should be interpreted correctly. Fertilizer should be applied at the right time and with the right amount of irrigation water by monitoring the plant growth and the amount of plant nutrients removed from the soil.