Abstract

M. Ramezani, R. Rezaie Soukht Abandani , H. R. Mobasser and E. Amiri

In order to investigate the effects of row spacing and plant density on silage yield corn in two plant pattern, an experimental design was a randomized complete block in a factorial, treatments arrangement with three replications in north of Iran in 2009. Row spacing was included 65, 75 and 85 cm that evaluated in plant density 70000 and 80000 plant in ha-1 and plant pattern were conventional row (linear) and new two rows (zigzag). The results indicated that row spacing and plant density did not significantly affect in biological yield and silage yield. New two rows had more biological yield (24%) than conventional row. New two rows pattern increased a plant fresh and dry weight, because plant height, stem diameter, ear length and ear diameter were high. There is negative between plant height and stem diameter. New two rows had increased silage yield of 29% related to conventional row. Difference was 3707 kg ha-1 between new two rows and conventional rows. High row spacing increased leaf fresh weight (10.4%) and stem fresh weight (4.7%), but decreased ear fresh weight (4.6%) relation to low row spacing. High plant density increased leaf fresh weight (1.3%) and stem fresh weight (7.1%) ear fresh weight (6.7%) relation to low plant density. We conclude that silage corn responds to plant pattern and new two rows is higher for biological yield than conventional rows. Finally, new two rows had greater biological yield (19.1 Mg ha–1 ) and silage yield (53.3 Mg ha–1 ) than conventional row, increasing the probability of corn silage harvest before a fall frost.