Path Analysis of Green Maize Components from Hybrids Cultivated Under Reduced Spacing

The yield and cause and effect relationships of green-ear production components of hybrids cultivated in reduced spaced environments were investigated aiming to increase the green ear harvest, as well as to identify the main characteristics that contribute most to the productivity. Four row spacings were evaluated using three commercial hybrids. The experiment lasted three months and were evaluated: plant height (PH) and ear insertion height (EIH), leaf area (LA), stem diameter (SD), total number of ears, total ear yield, number of ear with straw and without straw, yield of ears with straw (YES) and yield ear without straw (YEWS), ear length (EL) and ear diameter (ED). In addition, the full correlation in direct and indirect effects was performed by the path analysis of the PH, EIH, LA, SD, EL, ED characters on the YEWS. It was found that the reduction of spacing to 60 cm favors higher YEWS without compromising the quality, size and diameter of the green ears. However, the EL, EIH and SD are the main characters that directly and indirectly influence the yield of green ears of maize hybrids cultivated in reduced spaced environment.