Five maize varieties (S.C. 10, T.W.C 310, Giza 2, S.C. 152 and T.W.C. 352) were evaluated under irrigation various treatments of 40, 60 and 80% of the Available Soil Maisture Depletion (ASMD) a clay fertile soil in the Res. and Agric. Exper. Cen. of the Fac. of Agric at Moshtohor, during 1998 and 1999 seasons. Maize varieties showed highly significant differences in most of the studied traits. In general, Giza 2 was the earliest variety, while S.C. 152 was the latest one, S.C. 10 surpassed the other four varieties in ear weight, ear length, number of grains/row, kernels weight/ear, 100-grain weight, grain yield, crude protein and oil production as well as total carbohydrate production, while, S.C. 352 recorded the maximum ear diameter, Whereas, S.C. 152 and Giza 2 varieties recorded the lowest values in the two seasons.
Results indicated that increasing ASMD from 40 to 60 and up to 80% decreased number of days to 50% tasseling and silking. All studied characteristics of growth, yield and yield components were negatively affected by increasing ASMD. Crude protein yield, oil yield and carbohydrate yield were decreased by increasing ASMD. Generally, the highest yield was produced when maize plants irrigated at 40% of ASMD. Whereas, the lowest yield was recorded at 80% of ASMD. This was true in the two growing seasons.
Interaction between maize varieties and ASMD significantly affected all of studied growth characters, yield and its components in the two seasons. It could be concluded that under the circumstances of this study, S.C. 10 maize variety, could be recommended for higher maize productively and quality when irrigated at 40% of ASMD in Kalubia Governorate, Egypt.
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