Effect of daily thinning on biweekly increment of growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in mountainous agroecosystem
Abstract Maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield are severely affected due to intraspecific competition and agroclimatic conditions when cultivated with high plant densities. Field trials comprising four daily thinning patterns (0, 0.5, 1.0, &1.5% till silking) carried out in three consecutive year...
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2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06433-w |
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| author | Muhammad Arshad Rab Nawaz Sajjad Ahmad Muhammad Atif Irshad Ali Irfan Mir Muhammad Nasir Qayyum Khalid S. Almaary Muhammad Afzaal Zulkfil Ahmed Mohammed Bourhia |
| author_facet | Muhammad Arshad Rab Nawaz Sajjad Ahmad Muhammad Atif Irshad Ali Irfan Mir Muhammad Nasir Qayyum Khalid S. Almaary Muhammad Afzaal Zulkfil Ahmed Mohammed Bourhia |
| author_sort | Muhammad Arshad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield are severely affected due to intraspecific competition and agroclimatic conditions when cultivated with high plant densities. Field trials comprising four daily thinning patterns (0, 0.5, 1.0, &1.5% till silking) carried out in three consecutive years (2019–2021) using RCBD experimental design consisting of three replicates. Growth variables, dry matter allocation and growth rates in maize were examined during five biweekly periods starting from the emergence (15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 days after emergence, DAE) till silking whereas yield parameters i.e., biological yield, economic yield, and sustainability yield index (SYI) were recorded. Biweekly increase in growth variables, dry matter partitioning and growth rates of maize differed significantly due to the influence of daily thinning computed for the periods from 31 to 45, 46 to 60 and 61 to 75 DAE but the same parameters didn’t differ significantly during the first two biweekly periods (1–15 & 16–30 DAE). Increase in growth variables, dry matter distribution, absolute growth rate (AGR), yield and SYI was the greatest where maize was established with 1% daily thinning. This increase in growth and dry matter partition observed highly associated to economic yield and biological yield. Current research highlighted that 3, 4th, and 5th biweekly periods are the most critical stages and daily thinning of 1% is suggested for higher and sustainable economic and biological returns from high density broadcasted maize. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ef0e7bd1cf2f4806998df5f78e05d50a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ef0e7bd1cf2f4806998df5f78e05d50a2025-08-20T03:07:40ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-04-0125111510.1186/s12870-025-06433-wEffect of daily thinning on biweekly increment of growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in mountainous agroecosystemMuhammad Arshad0Rab Nawaz1Sajjad Ahmad2Muhammad Atif Irshad3Ali Irfan4Mir Muhammad Nasir Qayyum5Khalid S. Almaary6Muhammad Afzaal7Zulkfil Ahmed8Mohammed Bourhia9Department of Agriculture & Food Technology, Karakoram International UniversityDepartment of Environmental Sciences, The University of LahoreDepartment of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University IslamabadDepartment of Environmental Sciences, The University of LahoreDepartment of Chemistry, Government College University FaisalabadDepartment of Agriculture & Food Technology, Karakoram International UniversityDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud UniversitySustainable Development Study Centre, Government College University LahoreCollege and Civic Engineering, Northeast UniversityLaboratory of Biotechnology and Natural Resources Valorization, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr UniversityAbstract Maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield are severely affected due to intraspecific competition and agroclimatic conditions when cultivated with high plant densities. Field trials comprising four daily thinning patterns (0, 0.5, 1.0, &1.5% till silking) carried out in three consecutive years (2019–2021) using RCBD experimental design consisting of three replicates. Growth variables, dry matter allocation and growth rates in maize were examined during five biweekly periods starting from the emergence (15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 days after emergence, DAE) till silking whereas yield parameters i.e., biological yield, economic yield, and sustainability yield index (SYI) were recorded. Biweekly increase in growth variables, dry matter partitioning and growth rates of maize differed significantly due to the influence of daily thinning computed for the periods from 31 to 45, 46 to 60 and 61 to 75 DAE but the same parameters didn’t differ significantly during the first two biweekly periods (1–15 & 16–30 DAE). Increase in growth variables, dry matter distribution, absolute growth rate (AGR), yield and SYI was the greatest where maize was established with 1% daily thinning. This increase in growth and dry matter partition observed highly associated to economic yield and biological yield. Current research highlighted that 3, 4th, and 5th biweekly periods are the most critical stages and daily thinning of 1% is suggested for higher and sustainable economic and biological returns from high density broadcasted maize.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06433-wCornDaily thinningFodder maizeHigh-density plantingMountainous agroecosystemPlant population |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Arshad Rab Nawaz Sajjad Ahmad Muhammad Atif Irshad Ali Irfan Mir Muhammad Nasir Qayyum Khalid S. Almaary Muhammad Afzaal Zulkfil Ahmed Mohammed Bourhia Effect of daily thinning on biweekly increment of growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in mountainous agroecosystem BMC Plant Biology Corn Daily thinning Fodder maize High-density planting Mountainous agroecosystem Plant population |
| title | Effect of daily thinning on biweekly increment of growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in mountainous agroecosystem |
| title_full | Effect of daily thinning on biweekly increment of growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in mountainous agroecosystem |
| title_fullStr | Effect of daily thinning on biweekly increment of growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in mountainous agroecosystem |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of daily thinning on biweekly increment of growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in mountainous agroecosystem |
| title_short | Effect of daily thinning on biweekly increment of growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in mountainous agroecosystem |
| title_sort | effect of daily thinning on biweekly increment of growth and yield of maize zea mays l in mountainous agroecosystem |
| topic | Corn Daily thinning Fodder maize High-density planting Mountainous agroecosystem Plant population |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06433-w |
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