Green‐maize potential of hybrid and open‐pollinated cultivars at varying levels of applied nitrogen: relationship with grain yield

Two sets (white- and yellow-kernelled) of six cultivars of field-maize, each comprising three hybrids and three open-pollinated (OP) varieties, were evaluated for green-maize productivity under three levels of nitrogen fertilisation (0, 60 and 120  kg  ha−1) at two locations in southwestern Nigeria. The relationship between green-maize and grain yield was also investigated. Numbers of marketable ears and marketable-ear yield were significantly correlated. Green-maize traits and grain yields showed different responses to increased nitrogen fertiliser application: grain yield was significantly greater at 120  kg  ha−1 than at 60  kg  ha−1 whereas marketable-ear yield was not significantly changed by the higher rate. The hybrids showed higher green-maize and grain yield responses than the OPs to fertiliser application. At 60  kg  ha−1 nitrogen application, marketable-ear yield averaged 0.620  kg  m−2 and 0.567  kg  m−2 for white hybrids and OPs, respectively, and 0.576  kg  m−2 and 0.439  kg  m−2 for yellow hybrids and OPs. Marketable-ear yield was significantly correlated with grain yield for both the white and yellow cultivars. Regressions of grain yield on marketable-ear yield were significant and such regression equations can thus be used to estimate marketable-ear yield potential from grain yield data. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd