Effect of Harvesting Time on Grain Yield, Yield Components, and Some Qualitative Properties of Four Maize Hybirds

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of harvest time on yield, yield components, and some qualitative properties of grain corn based on grain moisture content at Khorramabad Agricultural Research Station in 2010. The experimental design was a split plot based on RCBD with four replications. The investigated factors consisted of grain moisture, content at harvest time (20%, 30%, and 40%), and four maize hybrids (NS 640, Konsur 580, Jeta 600, and control SC 704). The results showed that the effect of grain moisture content at harvest time was significant on 400- grain weight, hectoliter weight, and grain electrical conductivity (EC) traits. The greatest electrical conductivity (551 μs/cm/g) was obtained for 40% grain moisture at harvest time. The highest 400-grain weight (103.01 g) and hectoliter weight (0.77 g/cm3) was obtained at the grain moisture content of 20%. The effect of hybrid was significant on all the investigated traits. NS 640 hybrid had the highest yield (8722.50 Kg/ha). Moreover, results suggested that suitable grain harvest time for the maize hybrids was after grain physiological maturity when grains reached 20% moisture content.