Biometric Characteristics and Productivity of Potiguar Corn Cultivar in Different Row Spacing and Fertilizations

Aims: To evaluate the biometric characteristics of production and productivity of Potiguar corn cultivar, which is recommended to the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, in different types of fertilizations and row spacing on irrigated system.

Study Design: It was adopted a randomized block design at 3 x 2 factorial experiment with four replications, the treatments consisted of three fertilizations (OF - Organic Fertilization; OMF – Organomineral Fertilization and MF - Mineral Fertilization) and two row spacing (80 cm and 50 cm).

Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was carried out from June to October 2013, at Fazenda Experimental Rafael Fernandes, in the community of Alagoinha, belonging to the Federal Rural University of Semi-Arido (UFERSA), lying 20 km from the city of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Methodology: The organic fertilization (OF) was performed as minimum recommendation corresponding to 10 t ha-1 of bovine manure. The organomineral fertilization (OMF) was made by applying 50% of the recommended amount of manure recommended in organic fertilization (OF) 5 t ha-1, and 50% of the recommendation of mineral fertilizer (MF). The mineral fertilization (MF) was performed based on the parameters observed in the soil analysis and recommendation for the corn crop in the region due to an expected maximum productivity.

Results: The study showed that biometric parameters of production: ear length, number of grain lines per ear and mass of 1000 grains were not significantly influenced by the factors fertilizations and row spacing. The mineral fertilization associated with the spacing of 80 cm between rows provided greater results in the biometric components ear diameter, mass of ear with husk, mass of ear without husk and mass of grains per ear.

Conclusion: Some of the biometric parameters evaluated were significantly influenced by the factors fertilizations and row spacing. The types of fertilizations studied, regardless of row spacing, did not significantly interfere in the productivity of the Potiguar corn cultivar.