Agronomic performance of landrace and improved maize varieties in a typic ustifluvent soil of low fertility

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important staple grains for food and nutritional security in Central America; however, it is produced mostly by small farmers on soils with low fertility, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, and with limitations in the use of inputs and amendments. From January to May 2022, agronomic and grain yield traits of 16 landraces and improved maize varieties were evaluated in soil low in organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients, in Zamorano, Honduras. A split-plot arrangement of a randomized complete block design with four replications was utilized, with and without fertilization treatments were distributed in the main plots and varieties in the subplots. Significant differences were observed for simple effects of fertilization and variety, and the fertilization × variety interaction, for most physiological variables, grain yield, and components. The varieties CENTA Pasaquina, Indio Choluteca, Olotillo and Capulín presented the highest yields in both fertilization treatments (p<0.0001). Plant height (r = 0.5195) and to first ear (r = 0.4277), cob appearance (r = -0.6979), shelling index (r = 0.4428) and 100-seed weight (r = 0.4489) were significantly correlated with grain yield. The higher-yielding varieties exhibited desirable agronomic potential and grain quality to follow up an on-farm validation stage on maize production regions of Honduras.