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Agricultural industry

Research Uncovers New Insights into Maize Hybrid Development

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Investigators from the Institute for Vegetable Crops have completed a thorough study on the development of maize hybrids, providing valuable information on the effects of sowing date and climate conditions on the phenological phases of different hybrids. The research, conducted on an alluvial soil in the Leskovac area, spanned two years, from 2016 to 2017. Funded by the Ministry of Education, Science And Technological Development of The Republic of Serbia, the study aimed to identify the duration of each phenological phase and recommend suitable hybrids for the investigated area.

Key Takeaways:

  • The experiment was set up in the Leskovac area on an alluvial soil during 2016 and 2017 to monitor the vegetation period of 6 maize hybrids and three FAO maturity groups (400-600).
  • The research found that the difference in vegetation period between the hybrid with the longest and the hybrid with the shortest vegetation period was 38 days, with a difference in sum of total temperatures (SUT) of 414.7°C and sum of effective temperatures (SET) of 240.0°C.
  • The lowest sum of effective temperatures was measured at 1158.8°C for the FAO hybrid group 400, ZP 434, and the highest at 1398.9°C for the FAO hybrid group 600, NS 6030.
  • The onset of periods with lower air temperatures and the length of the phenological phases lasted longer, with the year in the first sowing period of the individual phases shortened with increasing temperature.
  • The method of the sum of effective temperatures proved to be the most reliable method for determining the vegetation length of the maize hybrids examined.
  • The research was conducted by Stojiljkovic Jelena V. and additional authors Rajicic Vera R., Sevic Biljana R., Tupajic Ivan D., Cvikic Dejan B., Jovanovic Darko M., and Biberdzic Milan O. of the Institute for Vegetable Crops.

Statistics:

  • 6 maize hybrids were monitored in the research, with a total of three FAO maturity groups (400-600).
  • The difference in vegetation period between the hybrid with the longest and the hybrid with the shortest vegetation period was 38 days.
  • The difference in SUT was 414.7°C.
  • The difference in SET was 240.0°C.
  • The lowest sum of effective temperatures was measured at 1158.8°C for the FAO hybrid group 400, ZP 434.
  • The highest sum of effective temperatures was measured at 1398.9°C for the FAO hybrid group 600, NS 6030.

Sources:

  • "Influences of sowing date and climate conditions on the phenological phases of different maize hybrids." Journal of Agricultural Sciences (Belgrade), 2025,70(2):129-144.
  • VerticalNews, "Researchers from Institute for Vegetable Crops Describe Research in Agriculture (Influences of sowing date and climate conditions on the phenological phases of different maize hybrids)." Agriculture Week. July 24, 2025; p 285.

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