study of correlation and path analysis of yield, yield components and some morphological traits in corn hybrids under different fertilizer application methods

to determine the correlation between grain yield and its components in some grain corn hybrids and their cause and effect relationships in various fertilizer application methods, an experiment was carried out as split plot based on randomized complete block design with two fertilizer application methods (urea foliar application and soil application method), four grain corn hybrids (ns 640, konsur 580, jeta 600 and control sc 704) and four replications at khorram abad agricultural research station. anova results showed that fertilization method  had significant effects on ear weight, grain yield, 400 grain weight, cob percent and plant height traits and the greatest amount of ear weight, grain yield and 400 grain weight were obtained from soil application method.the highest grain yield was achieved for ns 640 that was due to higher ear weight, number of grain rows per ear, number of grains per ear row, ear length and plant height. correlation analysis indicated that plant height and ear weight had the largest positive correlation coefficient with grain yield in both urea foliar application and soil application method respectively. results of stepwise regression analysis revealed that in urea foliar application, plant height, number of grain per ear row, ear length and 400 grain weight and in soil application method, ear weight and 400 grain weights are important contributors on grain yield. path analysis revealed in urea foliar application the highest and positive direct effects on grain yield through ear diameter, plant height and number of grain per ear row and in soil application method ear diameter and ear weight had the highest and positive direct effect on grain yield, then they are very important traits for selection.