Effect of planting row ratios of parental lines and agronomic techniques on synchronizing of flowering and seed production of maize (Zea mays L.) SCK703 hybrid in Jiroft, Iran

To investigate the effect of different planting row ratios of parental lines and agronomic methods on synchronizing of flowering and seed production of SCK703 hybrid maize, a field experiment was carried out as a strip plot arranegemnts in randomized complete block design with three replications in southern Kerman agricukltural and natural rseraech and education center, Jiroft, Iran, in 2015 growing season. In this experiment, vertical factor included maternal:parental row ratios at three levels (4:1, 4:2 and 6:2) and horizontal factor (agronomic techniques) at four levels included: 1. different sowing dates; the first paternal line sown when the maternal’s radicle reached two centimeters and the second paternal line when 50% emergence of maternal line . 2. different sowing depth; sowing depth for the first and second paternal lines were 6 and 8 centimeter, respectively. Maternal line’s sowing depth was 4 centimeter in all treatments 3. seed hydro-priming of maternal line and 4. seed hydro-priming + 10% additional nitrogen. The effect of different planting row ratios of parental lines was significant on seed yield, however the effect of agronomic techniques applied for synchronizing of flowering was not significant. Grain yield was significantly affected by the interaction of planting row ratios × agronomic techniques. The highest seed yield (3620 kg.ha-1) was obtained from 4:2 parental planting row ratios and hydro-priming + 10% additional nitrogen. This package of treatment was not significantly different from the package of treatments of planting row ratio (4:2) and different sowing date and sowing depth with seed yield of 3590 and 3450 kg.ha-1, respectively. Therefore, for easier caliberation of seed sowing machine, it is more practical to sow the first paternal line in six centimeter depth and the second paternal line in 8 cenetmeter depth (the maternal line sowing depth would be four centimeter in all treatments). The maternal:parental planting row ratio of 4:2 is suitable for Jiroft regions in Iran.