Dependence of seed maize yield on inter-row spacing and sowing density

The seed maize hybrid ZP 677 was tested under irrigated conditions on the DPP Maglic estate in Backi Maglic during 2000 and 2001. Sowing the female component of the hybrid ZP 677 at an inter-row spacing of 70 cm resulted in both higher yield (4.55 t ha-1) and higher number of seeds per unit area (15,407,000) in comparison to sowing at an inter-row spacing of 35 cm, where the corresponding values were 4.39 t ha-1 and 14,667,000, respectively. At sowing densities of 71,425, 85,538 and 99,899 plants ha-1, yields of 4.46, 4.38 and 4.59 th ha-1 were recorded, while the number of seeds per unit area amounted to 14,670,000, 14,769,000 and 15,686,000, respectively. The 1000-seed weight decreased on average for all seed fractions at both inter-row spacings as the sowing density increased. Neither inter-row spacing nor sowing density affected the seed germination obtained with the standard test method, but germination in the cold test exhibited an insignificant increase with an increase in sowing density.