Trends in Maize Grain Yields across Five Maturity Groups in a Long-Term Experiment with Changing Genotypes

Combining experimental studies on grain yield variability with crop model simulations in maize could assist choosing the optimum maturity group for a certain location, counteracting effect of climate change. However, considering specificities Southeast Europe are lacking. The objectives were to put various environmental covariates including stress degree days (SDD) into FAO settings determine impact change growing and compare trends yields over twenty years simulation data grouped five groups (FAO 200–FAO 600). Pre-registration trials planted one location Croatia grown from 1996 2015 used “potential yield”. Correlation coefficients between 12 (GY) across revealed tightest negative associations SDD GY that weakened by later-maturity groups. Similar obtained both data, highlighting 600 as nearly no yield-reducing two decades. Our results indicate early hybrids does not seem be an option future, since these more sensitive omnipresent heat than late hybrids.