Comparison of ethanol productions of maize (Zea mays L.) HTF hybrids and conventional hybrids from Croatian breeding programs

The aim of this study was to determine the differences in grain and ethanol yields between hybrids obtained from breeding programs in the Republic of Croatia and introduced HTF (High Total Fermentable) maize hybrids. The trial was conducted at three sites (Osijek, Beli Manastir and Zagreb) for two consecutive years (2012 and 2013) in three plant densities (60,000, 70,000 and 80,000 plants/ha). Pioneer HTF hybrids for the ethanol production were used as controls to assess the productivity of ethanol of hybrids from the Agricultural Institute Osijek and Bc Institute d.d. The study of ethanol production was carried out by using the Lemuz method. According to ANOVA statistical analysis, statistically significant differences in grain and ethanol yields were not found between HTF hybrids and hybrids of domestic breeding companies. Statistically significant difference was found in ethanol yield by sites ( P <0.05) with highest average ethanol yield determined at Beli Manastir and the lowest in Osijek. Site × year × plant density interaction showed statistically significant difference in ethanol yield between hybrids and the most productive was the OS378 hybrid. Ethanol production of hybrids designated for this purpose did not produce higher ethanol yields than domestic hybrids from the same amount of grain.