Respuesta del maíz blanco harinoso tipo chazo a las condiciones agroclimáticas de Cevallos, Tungurahua, Ecuador

Abstract

Corn (Zea mays L.) presents problems of low productivity due to biotic, abiotic and agronomic management factors, as well as the lack of training for corn producers in the correct management of storage systems in the field (bag silos, field silos, and cells) and the lack of research on the adaptation of native varieties. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect on yield of fertilization and planting distance of Chazo-type white floury corn, determining the best fertilization plan. The study was carried out between August and March in Cevallos canton, Tungurahua province, Ecuador, using a split plot experimental design with three replications. Planting was done manually and harvesting was done in dry grain. The qualitative characteristics evaluated were at the cob and grain level, determining that 100% of the evaluated cobs showed excellent coverage, that is, the tip of the cob was very tight; 44% of the harvested cobs were conical in shape and the arrangement of the rows of grain was irregular with 43%. Finally, with regard to the surface of the grain, it was observed that 55% was round. For the quantitative descriptors analyzed: plant height (cm), number of leaves, height of ear insertion, leaf length and leaf width, once the analysis of variance was performed, no statistical differences were detected for the sources of variation fertilization, planting distances, as well as for the interaction of the two factors under study. In the analysis of variance for the variable ear weight, significant differences were identified only for the source of variation fertilization, where 100% fertilization (135 kg N, 30 kg P, 100 kg K, 18 kg Ca, 18 kg Mg, 24 kg S) was superior to the rest of the treatments. The analysis of variance for the yield variable determined that there were no statistical differences for planting distances and the interaction between factors; however, significant differences were identified for 100% fertilization. In the analysis of variance where no statistical differences were found, it can be affirmed that this is possibly due to the genetic characteristics of the native variety of Chazo corn, showing homogeneity in the material. It is recommended to carry out yield evaluations in other altitudinal zones of the Tungurahua province with the material resulting from this research, since this material showed good adaptability to soil and climatic conditions.