Evaluation of corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids in
corn growing areas of Ecuador
Evaluación de híbridos de maíz (Zea mays L.) En zonas
maiceras del Ecuador
Veliz-Piguave Freddy
1
Valdez-Rivera Danilo
2
Carlos Amador Sacoto
3
Daniel Mancero-Castillo
4
Abstract: This research was conducted during the dry season in two
corn production zones of the Ecuadorian coast, the selected locations
were the province of Santa Elena, El Azúcar sector, and the province
of Los Ríos, Puerto Pechiche sector. The purpose was to evaluate the
adaptability of new high yielding corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids in two
corn production zones of Ecuador. A factorial design with six corn
hybrids and two production zones was used. Statistical analysis
indicated significant differences for: plant height, day of flowering
emergence, disease incidence, ear insertion height, ear diameter and
length, number of rows, 100 kernel weight, ear cover, percentage of
lodged plants, percentage of ears with rot and yield per hectare. The
hybrids with outstanding agronomic and yield characteristics were
ADV248, followed by ADV407 and ADV762L6.
Keywords: adaptation, yield, corn varieties
Published
Edwards Deming Higher Technological
Institute. Quito - Ecuador
Periodicity
October - December
Dates of receipt
Received: June 11, 2023
Approved: September 30, 2023
http://centrosuragraria.com/index.php/revista
vol. 1. Num. 19. 2023.
pp. 1-15
Correspondence author
fveliz@uagraria.edu.ec
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License, Attribution-
NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0
International.https://creativecommons.org/lice
nses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.es
1
Msc. Universidad Agraria del Ecuador. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Guayaquil-Ecuador, fveliz@uagraria.edu.ec
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9808-3080
2
Msc. Universidad Agraria del Ecuador. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Guayaquil-Ecuador, dvaldez@uagraria.edu.ec
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5004-930X
3
Msc. Universidad Agraria del Ecuador. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Guayaquil-Ecuador, camador@uagraria.edu.ec
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5534-5474
4
Msc. Universidad Agraria del Ecuador. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Guayaquil-Ecuador, camador@uagraria.edu.ec
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5534-5474
Evaluation of corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids in corn growing areas of Ecuador.
2
Resumen: La presente investigación fue realizada durante la época
seca en dos zonas de producción maicera de la costa ecuatoriana, las
localidades seleccionadas fueron la provincia de Santa Elena sector
El Azúcar y la provincia de Los Ríos sector Puerto Pechiche, El
propósito fue evaluar la adaptabilidad de nuevos híbridos de maíz
(Zea mays L.) de alto rendimiento en dos zonas maiceras del Ecuador.
Se utilizo un diseño factorial con seis híbridos de maíz y dos zonas de
producción. El análisis estadístico indico diferencias significativas
para: altura de planta, día de emergencia de la floración, incidencia
de enfermedades, altura de inserción de mazorca, diámetro y longitud
de mazorca, número de hileras, peso de 100 granos, cobertura de
mazorca porcentaje de plantas acamadas, porcentaje de mazorcas con
pudrición y rendimiento por hectárea. Los híbridos con destacadas
características agronómicas y productivas fueron ADV248, seguido
de ADV407 y ADV762L6.
Palabras clave: adaptación, rendimiento, variedades maiz
Introduction
Worldwide, corn (Zea mays L.) is a cereal of great economic and
nutritional importance. The main producers of this grass, according to
FAO (2017) are: United States of America with approximately 370
million tons per year, followed by Continental China with 259 million
T/year, Brazil ranks third with 97 million T/year, and lastly Argentina
with 4 million T/year. It is considered a representative cereal that
creates economic sources within the food agroindustry.
The production of this grass is one of the most important agricultural
activities on the Ecuadorian coast, as it is the raw material for the
production of balanced products for the animal industry. In 2017, it was
estimated that the planted area of this species was 388,534 Has with an
average yield of 4Tm/Ha. On the other hand, 79.26% of the planted area
is registered in the provinces of Los Ríos, Manabí and Guayas (National
Institute of Statistics and Geography). (Instituto Nacional de Estadistica
y Censos (INEC), 2017)..
At present, on the Ecuadorian coast it is one of the most important
socioeconomic crops, due to the work it provides to farmers in large
rural areas. The Central Bank of Ecuador (2018) in its report describes
that nowadays, farmers adopt new technologies such as the use of
certified seeds that has become daily in agricultural fields. The planting
of hybrids is a fundamental factor to increase yields, however, it is not
the only factor that has an impact on production, Ortiz (2014) refers
October - December vol. 1. Num. 19 - 2023
3
that there are other factors such as: the zone, climatic conditions,
management and agricultural work (weed management, fertilization,
integrated pest and disease management), the type of investment and
the type of farmer(Roca et al., 2013)..
The release of high-yielding hybrids tolerant to adverse biotic and
abiotic factors will contribute to minimize losses of this grass.
Therefore, the present research work on the adaptability of new maize
(Zea mays L.) hybrids in Ecuador was carried out to determine the yield
in two zones of the Ecuadorian coast.
Materials and methods
The research work was carried out in two areas of the Ecuadorian coast
in the province of Santa Elena, Santa Elena canton, in the town of "El
Azúcar" with UTM coordinates of 547143 E; 9751329 N, at 39 m.a.s.l.,
with an average temperature of 24ºC and average annual rainfall of
1000 mm, with clay loam soils, In the province of Los Ríos canton
Puebloviejo, in the locality "Puerto Pechiche" with UTM coordinates
660176.9 E; 9842171.9 N, at 179 m.a.s.l., with an average temperature
of 24ºC to 26ºC and average annual rainfall of 1867mm. The productive
history in the province of Los Ríos is extensive in short-cycle and
permanent crops, and in the province of Santa Elena there has been a
productive growth in the last five years in short-cycle crops, especially
corn. The research method was based on a factorial design of 6 corn
hybrids and two production zones with 3 replications. The statistical
evaluation was made through an analysis of variance (ANDEVA), with
Tukey's test with a significance at 5%, thus analyzing the adaptability
of the different hybrids tested in each zone. Diseases that occurred at
90 days were identified in the plots studied and the percentage of
damage caused was evaluated using a severity scale.
Table 1. Rating scale for foliar diseases
Ordinal scale Rating
Damage identification
1 Excellent
No damage
2 Resistant
Slight infection in the third of the plant.
3 Moderately sensitive
Severe infestation on the lower leaves of
the plant.
4 Sensitive
Severe infestation in the lower and
middle leaves of the plant.
5 Deficient
Very heavy infestation
CIMMYT, 1999
Evaluation of corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids in corn growing areas of Ecuador.
4
Ten plants were randomly selected in each of the plots with the different
treatments, thus evaluating, through a scale from 1 to 5, the corn cob
cover. The estimation was based on a general average expressed in
scale.
Table 2. Cob cover rating scale.
CIMMYT, 1999
Data were taken on the total number of ears with rot in each of the plots
of the study treatments and these values were given as a percentage
according to the following scale.
Ordinal scale Rating
1 Excellent
2 Regular
3 Exposed tip
4 Exposed grain
5 Completely unacceptable
Table 3. Grading scale for ear rot.
Scale
Damage identification
1
0% infected grains
2
10% of infected grains
3
20% of infected grains
4
30% of infected grains
5
40% of infected grains
CIMMYT, 1999
October - December vol. 1. Num. 19 - 2023
5
Table 4. Treatments under study formed by location
and Hybrid corn
N°
Zone
Corn
Hybrid
Origin/ Country
1
St. Helena
ADV 762L6
Thailand
2
St. Helena
ADV 407
Thailand
3
St. Helena
ADV 248
Thailand
4
St. Helena
HVM 110427
Argentina
5
St. Helena
SOMMA
Colombia
6
St. Helena
DK 7088
Brazil
7
Los Rios
ADV 762L6
Thailand
8
Los Rios
ADV 407
Thailand
9
Los Rios
ADV 248
Thailand
10
Los Rios
HVM 110427
Argentina
11
Los Rios
SOMMA
Colombia
12
Los Rios
DK 7088
Brazil
3. Result
Agronomic variables (plant height and days to male flower
emergence).
Table 5 shows the data for the variable plant height in cm at 100 days
after planting, where the most representative treatments showed a
higher average in the evaluated variable were HVM110427 with 252.70
cm followed by ADV248 with 242.77 cm and DK7088 with 237.33 cm
planted in the zone of Los Ríos, while the HVM110427 treatment
planted in the zone of Santa Elena showed the lowest height with 201.27
cm. In the analysis of variance, there was no statistical significance for
the factors evaluated (hybrids, zones) and their interaction. However,
the variable male flowering emergence of the plant at 60 days, where
the most representative treatment that presented the best average in the
evaluated variable was ADV248 with 60.00 days, having 100% male
flowering planted in the zone of Santa Elena, while the corn hybrid
HVM110427 planted in the zone of Los Ríos presented the lowest
flowering emergence with 98.36% at 61.67 days. The analysis of
variance showed statistical significance for the evaluated factors,
hybrids and zones; therefore, the alternative hypothesis is accepted
because there is a statistical difference for the treatments and zones. In
the interaction of the AxB factor, there was no significance.
Evaluation of corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids in corn growing areas of Ecuador.
6
Table 5. Agronomic variables of maize (plant height and days to male
flower emergence).
NO.
Factor A
Hybrids
Factor
B
Zones
Height
100
Days
/cm
Days to
male
flower
emergence
1
HVM110427
Los
Rios
252,70
a
61,7
a
2
ADV248
Los
Rios
242,77
a
61,0
ab
3
DK7088
Los
Rios
237,33
a
61,0
ab
4
ADV407
Los
Rios
236,10
a
60.3
5
ADV407
St.
Helena
233,30
a
60,3
ab
6
ADV762L6
Los
Rios
233,20
a
61,0
ab
7
DK7088
St.
Helena
232,43
a
61,0
ab
8
ADV762L6
St.
Helena
232,40
a
60,3
ab
9
ADV248
St.
Helena
232,33
a
60,0
b
10
SOMMA
Los
Rios
207,53
a
61,0
ab
11
SOMMA
St.
Helena
207,47
a
60,3
ab
12
HVM110427
St.
Helena
201,27
a
61.00
ab
E.E
13,59
0,25
0,25
C.V
%
C.V
10,27
0,73
0,73
Means with a common letter are not significantly different (p > 0.05).
Table 6 shows the diseases that occurred in the crop at 90 days with
their respective leaf severity scale for the hybrids under study, where
the treatments ADV248, ADV762L6, ADV407 and HVM110427
showed a moderately sensitive scale for diseases caused by the fungus
Curvularia spp, ADV407 and HVM110427 presented a moderately
sensitive scale for the disease caused by the fungus Curvularia spp
(2.71) and resistance for diseases caused by the fungi
October - December vol. 1. Num. 19 - 2023
7
Helminthosporium spp (1.99), Cercospora spp (2.19) and Phyllachora
maydis (2.03); Through the analysis of variance it can be observed that
there is statistical significance for Hemilthosporium spp, Cercospora
spp, Banded blight spp and Phyllachora maydis for the factors under
study, however there is no statistical significance for Curvularia spp in
both factors. Banded blight showed an interaction between the factors,
accepting the alternative hypothesis. As for the coefficient of variation,
Helminthosporium presented a value of 13.82% Curvularia 11.51%
Cercospora 6.58% Banded blight 5.66% and Phyllachora maydis.
Table 6. Identification of foliar diseases
NO
.
Factor A
Hybrid
Factor B
Zones
Helminthosporium
Curvularia
Cercospora
Banded blight
Phyllachora maydis
1
SOMMA
Los Rios
2,33 a
2,50 a
3,00 a
2,00 a
3,33 a
2
SOMMA
St. Helena
2,33 a
2,50 a
1,50 b
1,50 b
1,33 b
3
ADV762L6
Los Rios
2,17 a
2,67 a
3,00 a
1,50 b
3,00 a
4
HVM110427
Los Rios
2,00 a
3,17 a
3,00 a
1,50 b
2,83 a
5
HVM110427
St. Helena
2,00 a
2,50 a
1,50 b
1,50 b
1,00 b
6
ADV762L6
St. Helena
2,00 a
2,83 a
1,50 b
1,50 b
1,00 b
7
ADV248
St. Helena
2,00 a
2,67 a
1,50 b
1,50 b
1,00 b
8
ADV248
Los Rios
2,00 a
2,50 a
3,00 a
1,50 b
3,17 a
9
Dk7088
Los Rios
1,83 a
2,50 a
2,67 a
1,00 c
3,00 a
10
ADV407
Los Rios
1,83 a
3,33 a
3,00 a
1,50 b
3,00 a
11
Dk7088
St. Helena
1,83 a
2,67 a
1,17 b
1,17 c
1,17 b
12
ADV407
St. Helena
1,67 a
2,67 b
1,50 b
1,50 b
1,00 b
E.E
0,16
0,18
0,80
0,50
0,12
C.V
13,82
11,51
6,58
5,66
9,86
Means with a common letter are not significantly different (p > 0.05).
The averages of ear insertion height (AM) at 100 days, ear diameter,
ear length, rows per ear, and ear cover (Table 7).The data of the variable
of the height of ear insertion at 100 days in centimeters, where the most
statistically representative treatments presented a higher average in the
evaluated variable were HVM110427 with 126.83 cm followed by
ADV248 with 120.30 cm ADV407 with 115.87 cm SOMMA with
113.07 cm and DK7088 with 110427 with 110427 with 113.07 cm,07
cm and DK7088 with 110.37 cm planted in the Los Rios zone,
HVM110427 with 118.03 cm followed by DK7088 with 114.33 cm and
Evaluation of corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids in corn growing areas of Ecuador.
8
ADV407 with 109.03 cm planted in the Santa Elena zone, while the
ADV762L6 treatment planted in the Santa Elena zone presented the
lowest average ear insertion height of 103.47 cm.
On the other hand, ear diameter showed the highest average DK7088
with 5.50 cm followed by SOMMA with 5.44 cm and HVM110427
with 5.42 cm planted in the Santa Elena area, while treatments ADV248
with 4.88 cm followed by ADV762L6 and ADV407 with 4.85 cm
planted in the Los Ríos area showed the lowest ear diameter. The ear
length variable, the treatments that presented the highest average in the
evaluated variable were ADV762L6 with 19.37 cm followed by
ADV407 with 19.20 cm HVM110427 with 19.10 cm SOMMA with
18.33 cm DK7088 with 18.00 cm and ADV248 with 17.80 cm planted
in the zone of Santa Elena, while the treatment DK7088 with 15.87 cm
planted in the zone of Los Ríos presented the lowest ear length. The
variable number of rows in the ear, presented a higher average in the
evaluated variable were Dk7088, SOMMA with 18.00 rows sown in the
zone of Los Ríos and Santa Elena, while treatments ADV762L6 and
ADV407 sown in the zone of Los Ríos presented the lowest average
number of rows in the ear with 14.00 rows. Finally, the treatments
HVM110427, DK7088, SOMMA with a score of 2 (regular), planted in
the zone of Santa Elena and Los Ríos, had the highest average ear
coverage, while treatments ADV762L6, ADV248, and ADV407,
planted in the zone of Los Ríos and Santa Elena, had the highest ear
coverage with a score of 1 (excellent). In the analysis of variance, there
was statistical significance in the variables ear insertion height (AM) at
100 days, ear diameter, ear length, rows per ear, ear coverage for the
factors evaluated between hybrids and zones, therefore, the alternate
hypothesis is accepted because there are statistical differences in the
treatments and zones; in the interaction of the AxB factor there was no
statistical significance for the variables evaluated.
Table 7. Ear characteristics of maize hybrids in the study areas.
NO
.
Factor A
Hybrids
Factor B
Zones
AM
(cm)
DM
(cm)
LM
(cm)
HM
(cm)
CM
Scale
(1-5)
1
HVM110427
Los Rios
126,83
a
4,99
def
16,97
def
14,67
bc
2,00
a
2
ADV248
Los Rios
120,30
ab
4,88
ef
16,30
ef
16,00
abc
1,00
b
3
HVM110427
Santa. Elena
118,03
ab
5,42
ab
19,10
abc
15.33
abc
2,00
a
4
ADV407
Los Rios
115,87
ab
4,85
f
16,93
def
14,00
c
1,00
b
5
DK7088
St. Helena
114,33
ab
5,50
a
18,00
abcd
18,00
a
2,00
a
October - December vol. 1. Num. 19 - 2023
9
6
SOMMA
Los Rios
113,07
ab
5,16
bcde
17,53
cde
18,00
a
2,00
a
7
DK7088
Los Rios
110,37
ab
5,07
cdef
15,87
f
18,00
a
2,00
a
8
ADV407
St. Helena
109,03
ab
5,28
abcd
19,20
ab
14,67
bc
1,00
b
9
SOMMA
St. Helena
108,13
b
5,44
ab
18,33
abcd
17,33
ab
2,00
a
10
ADV248
St. Helena
107,90
b
5.32
abc
17,80
abcde
16,00
abc
1,00
b
11
ADV762L6
Los Rios
107,10
b
4,85
ef
17,67
bcde
14,00
c
1,00
b
12
ADV762L6
St. Helena
103,47
b
5,38
abc
19,37
a
14,67
bc
1,33
b
E.E
3,28
0,06
0,30
0,51
0,10
C.V
%
5,04
1,86
2,89
5,55
10,91
(AM) ear insertion height at 100 days, (DM) ear diameter, (LM) ear length, (HM)
rows per ear, (CM) ear coverage, (CM) ear length, (HM) rows per ear, (CM) ear
length.
Means with a common letter are not significantly different (p > 0.05).
In the variable on the percentage of lodged plants in both root and stem,
there was no presence of lodging in any of the treatments, both in the
Los Ríos zone and in the Santa Elena zone, qualifying the hybrids under
study as tolerant to lodging. In the variable on the percentage of ears
with rot, there was no presence of rot in any of the treatments, both in
the Los Ríos and Santa Elena zones, qualifying the hybrids under study
as excellent.
The weight of 100 grains of corn, where the most statistically
representative treatments presented the highest average in the evaluated
variable were ADV762L6 with 40.03 grams, followed by HVM110427
with 39.57 grams and ADV407 with 38.83 grams, planted in the zone
of Santa Elena, while the treatment Dk7088 planted in the zone of Los
Ríos presented the lowest weight of 100 grains of corn with 29.57
grams. The yield per hectare showed a high percentage of yield in the
treatments ADV248 with 9435.79kg, ADV407 with 9241.78kg, and
ADV762L6 with 9208.37kg planted in the zone of Los Ríos, while the
treatments planted in the zone of Santa Elena such as the hybrid ADV47
with 6081.99kg followed by HVM110427 with 6000.92kg and
SOMMA with 5652.71kg presented lower yields in the experimental
study. In the yield variable, the analysis of variance presented a high
statistical significance in the zones, accepting the alternate hypothesis
because there are statistical differences in the zones and there was no
statistical significance for the hybrid factor, therefore, the null
hypothesis is accepted because there is a statistical equality for the
treatments; in the AxB interaction there was no statistical significance.
The coefficient of variation was 10.22% (Table 8).
Evaluation of corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids in corn growing areas of Ecuador.
10
Table 8. Weight of 100 kernels of corn
NO.
Factor A
Hybrids
Factor B
Zones
100
grains
(Gr)
Humidity
%
Yield
(kg/ha)
1
ADV762L6
St.
Helena
40,03
a
14,90
bcd
6533,93
bc
2
HVM110427
St.
Helena
39,57
a
14,53
bdcef
6000,92
c
3
ADV407
St.
Helena
38,83
ab
15,20
bc
6081,99
bc
4
ADV762L6
Los Rios
38,77
ab
13,97
def
9208,37
a
5
ADV407
Los Rios
37,80
ab
13,87
ef
9241,78
a
6
ADV248
St.
Helena
37,17
abc
15,27
b
6672,56
bc
7
HVM110427
Los Rios
37,00
abc
13,73
f
8527,13
ab
8
ADV248
Los Rios
35,80
abc
13,93
def
9435,79
a
9
SOMMA
Los Rios
34,00
bcd
14,23
cdef
8015,67
abc
10
SOMMA
St.
Helena
34,00
bcd
14,73
bcde
5652,71
c
11
DK7088
St.
Helena
32,33
cd
16,87
a
6291,99
bc
12
DK7088
Los Rios
29,57
d
13,80
ef
7697,53
abc
E.E
0,90
0,18
439,28
C.V%
C.V%
C.V%
C.V%
C.V%
C.V%
C.V
4,32
2,09
10,22
Means with a common letter are not significantly different (p > 0.05).
According to the results obtained, for the variable plant height at 100
days, it was observed that the development of plant height is determined
by the genotype used and by the environmental conditions. However,
there are no statistical differences on height in the study treatments.
According to Bodnár et al, (2018) hybrids have different genetic
backgrounds, therefore, they develop differently, inferring the agro-
technical factor and climatic conditions of the area where the crop is
developed.
Male flowering emergence at 60 days was presented by treatments
ADV248, SOMMA, ADV762L6 and ADV407 planted in the Santa
Elena zone. In the present experimental research work, the average
October - December vol. 1. Num. 19 - 2023
11
number of days to male flowering for the two study zones was 60 and
61 days, being considered early. However, Bastidas et al, (2015)
mentioned that early varieties are not considered early when there is a
maximum difference of 1 to 2 days in different locations. On the other
hand, Martinez-Sanchez et al, (2017) that there are cases where, the
results on phenology indicate that it is possible to find early cycle
populations in areas of lower fertility and with higher drought stress,
expressing fashion for male and female flowering at 60 and 61 days in
warm climates. But in this experimental research study they did not
present drought stress in any of the two study zones, but male flowering
at 60 and 61 days according to what the author mentions.
Ear insertion height at 100 days had high statistical significance across
treatments and zones with an ear insertion height of 126.83cm with
wide internodes in treatment HVM110426. Sangoi et al.,.(2002)
indicate that increasing the number of plant population causes
lengthening of the internodes, increasing not only plant height, but also
increasing the height of ear insertion, but there is a decrease in the
diameter of the stem, causing plant lodging. This was not the case in
this experimental research study because there was no stem or root
lodging. However, Quiroz et al, (2017) the humidity and temperature
of the locations is an important factor for the genotype to register its
maximum expression in its development.
The ear length (LM), ear diameter (DM) and number of rows (NH) of
the ear presented high statistical significance (p ≤ 0.05%) in the
treatments and zones, presenting a LM of 19.37cm the ADV762L6
treatment, the highest DM 5.50cm had the DK7088 treatment, the
highest NH of the ear showed the DK7088 and SOMMA treatments
with 18 rows. The NH had an average of 15.89 rows in the ears in this
study. Borroel et al, (2018) depends on the genetic capacity of the
hybrids evaluated to present differences in ear development, number of
rows and that floral emergence also influences these developmental
characteristics. According to Ramírez-Díaz et al. (2015) the crossing
of hybrids with different characteristics, in a varied environment and
with optimal nutrient supply, are essential factors that influence ear
formation and yield. Rodriguez et al,(2016) report in relation to LM
that variability is given by the morphological characteristics of the
genotype. This agrees with what Laverde, De la Cruz and Rojas (as
cited in Borroel et al, (2018)) the biological capacity for growth and
functional ear development is a characteristic that is influenced by plant
genetics, variety or hybrid, crop conditions and environmental
characteristics.
Evaluation of corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids in corn growing areas of Ecuador.
12
According to the CIMMYT ear cover rating scale, treatments
HVM110427, SOMMA and DK7088 had a regular ear cover (2), while
ADV248, ADV407 and ADV762L6 had excellent ear covers (1).
Acosta, Martínez, Colomer and Ríos (2013) in the morphoagronomic
evaluation in a maize population reported excellent (1) and regular (2)
cob coverings without presenting damage to the grain by rotting, which
is similar to the values obtained in this research. According to Guzmán
(2017) indicates that it is essential to select a hybrid with excellent ear
closure because, being exposed to rainfall at different times of the year,
temperature, humidity, different zones during grain filling and
physiological maturation can cause the appearance of diseases in the
corn grain, a fact that was not reflected in this experimental research
study because there was excellent ear coverage and the climatic
conditions were stable.
In the variable evaluated in grain moisture, the highest percentage was
presented by the hybrid DK7088 planted in the Los Ríos area with
16.87% moisture, according to Blanco et al. (2016) The higher the
moisture content of the grain, the greater the biological activity of
external organisms. Therefore, agronomic management from the
beginning of planting to harvest is essential, since, if the grain is wet
there is a reduction in its price, being disadvantageous for the farmer
according to the table described by MAG (2019). The previous authors
express that grain moisture also influences industrial yield. Although in
the dry season the area of Santa Elena presents an increase in relative
humidity and wind speed, grain moisture did not reflect a problem for
this research study.
In terms of yield in this experimental research study, the ADV248
hybrid planted in the Los Ríos area had the highest yield of 9435.79
kg/ha when considering genotypes with desirable characteristics and
adequate agronomic management. According to Iglesias et al, (2018)
a good agronomic management, helps to obtain good yields, since, by
carrying out an effective fertilization the plant will extract the necessary
nutrients for its development in the different physiological stages, an
argument that agrees with Barragán et al, (2018)indicating that hybrids
require high nutritional amounts to obtain good yields and productivity.
This study obtained yield values higher than those indicated by the
Sistema de Información Publica Agropecuaria (2018) the average
October - December vol. 1. Num. 19 - 2023
13
productivity in the province of Los Rios is 6290 kg/ha. While in the
province of Santa Elena has an average production of 6470kg/ha, this
value is similar to that obtained in this study when working with hybrids
ADV248, ADV762L6, ADV407, HVM110427, planted in Santa Elena;
it should be emphasized that this province has the highest corn
productivity in the country according to the SIPA, however, in this
study the highest productivity was obtained in the province of Los Rios
when working with hybrids ADV248, SOMMA and ADV407.
4. Conclusions
The agronomic response of the hybrids under study showed similarity
in the plant height variable in the two zones evaluated; however, in the
variables ear insertion, diameter, length, and ear rows, and flower
emergence, there were statistical differences in the treatments under
study. However, there were ranges in the rating scale of disease
incidence by CIMMYT, being resistant hybrids HVM110427,
ADV762L6 and ADV248 with low percentage of grain moisture and
good cob cover in the evaluated zones.
The hybrids with the highest productivity were ADV248, ADV407,
ADV762L6, HVM110427, SOMMA and DK 7088 in the Los Rios area
with a higher production range of 7697 kg to 9435 kg per hectare.
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