Physiological responses of Corn (Zea

mays) under varying planting

density
DOMINGO D. CONSUELO JR.
NOVEMBER 27, 2018
Outline
• Introduction
• Planting Density as one important factors in crop productivity
• Major Physiological responses in corn/plant most relevant to crop productivity
• Influence of Crop productivity to major plant physiological processes
• Implications of varying density on planting crop productivity
• Conclusion
Introduction
Corn as a cereal crop of the grass family Poaceae

It is a staple crop for more than 200 million people especially in developing countries (Plessis,
2003)

In the Philippines, corn is the second most important crop following rice, 1/3 Filipino farmers
depend on corn for income

One out of three Filipino farmers depend on corn for income (Gerpacio,et al., 2004)
Introduction
Corn production in the Philippines includes both white and yellow corn
◦ White corn – mainly for food
◦ Yellow corn – for feed

Corn or generally crop production embodies various components such as

◦ Tillage
◦ Establishment practices
◦ Planting date
◦ Planting depth
◦ Planting density
◦ Varietal selection
◦ Fertilization
◦ Pest management, etc.
Introduction
This term paper will focus on the Planting Density (PD) of corn as important factor in
production.

In reality, farmers may be opted for either low planting density or high planting density.

The target is the optimum planting density leading also to an optimum yield.
Plant Physiological Processes
Photosynthesis and Respiration
Water Uptake and Transpiration
Assimilation and Mineral Uptake
Translocation and Dry Matter Partitioning
Influence of Planting Density on these
physiological processes.
“Plant population density generally puts pressure on the growth and
yield of maize (Zea mays L.) (Tetio-Kagho & Gardner, 1987; Porter et
al., 1996 as cited in Opoku 2017) due to competition among the
crops for resources such as water, nutrients and sunlight”
Photosynthesis and Respiration

◦ Planting density is greatly associated with Leaf Area Index (LAI),

Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD), and their interaction

◦ Njuguna et al(2016), stated that high PD results to higher values of LAI.

Changes in LAI directly affects plant growth.

◦ For optimum yield, LAI as the main tool (Moosavi et.al., 2012)
Photosynthesis and Respiration
Direct proportionality is observed between leaf area and crop yield.

However, planting density must be optimized in order to also optimized LAI.

Extinction Coefficient (K)

◦ - smaller values of k is more beneficial
Photosynthesis and Respiration
Optimum LAI may be achieved through optimum PD leading also to optimization
of the available PPFD or solar radiation.

In general, increase in PD (above the optimum level) results to reduction in the

Net Photosynthesis

According to Ren et al. (2017), increasing plant density resulted in decrease in

chlorophyll a and b while carotenoids initially decrease then increase through
time
Photosynthesis and Respiration
In high density crops there is an increase of about 15% in light interception
(Toler et al. 2013 as cited in Opoku, 2017).

Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE) – ratio of biomass and radiation interception

within a specific time frame

RUE decreases as LAI is reduced – reduction in leaf area and photosynthetic

light saturation
Photosynthesis and Respiration
As planting density increases, there is also an increase in radiation interception and finally yield.
However, further increase leads to reduction in yield primarily due to competition.
Photosynthesis and Respiration
Increase in PD may lead to increase in Respiration (Rn)

Physiologically speaking, increase in planting density is a form of stress to the

plants

Plants that are subjected to environmental stress tend to increase respiration in

order to compromise for the maintenance of the plant
Transpiration and Water Uptake
Generally, increasing planting density leads also to an increase in transpiration
and water uptake

Ogola et al.(2016) stated that Transpiration was increased as planting density

also increased due to an increase in the crop leaf canopy.

Water uptake will also be increase due to increase in demand for moisture
needed for important physiological processes
Assimilation and Mineral Uptake
As planting density increases assimilation and mineral uptake may be reduced

Increased competition for nutrients in the soil

Assimilation and mineral uptake is generally dependent to the concentration

gradient of nutrients in the soil

As nutrients are being depleted, the soil balance in the soil microflora and fauna
also be affected
Translocation and Dry matter partitioning
According to Opoku(2017), there is an observed reduction in yield as planting
density is increased – mainly attributed to light

Individual corn plants tend to abort production of ears three to four days before
the onset of silk and this continues three days after silking – under low light
condition
Translocation and Dry matter partitioning

Figure 1. Partitioning of dry matter (g) in different parts of a maize plant as influenced by
nitrogen treatments (N 1 , N supplied from V8 to maturity
Implications of varying density on planting
crop productivity
Yield
Thom et al. (1981) as cited in Opoku(2017), suggested that low population
density is more favorable for corn; in order to have a higher grain content

According to Bunting, 1973; Douglas & Dyson, 1972 as cited Opoku(2017), states
that grain dry matter yield is reduced as PD is increased.

This is because of the parabolic and asymptotic relationship of grain and total
DM yield with PD (Downey, 1971; Bunting, 1971 as cited in Opoku 2017)
Yield Quality
Mainly, quality of the ear will be reduced due to decrease in the number
of kernels, increase in number of unpollinated ovaries and in kernel
abortion.

These effects lead to barrenness of the grains.

For the silage, planting density did not have significant effect on
nutritive value.
(Opoku 2017)
Conclusion
Corn is an important crop in the Philippines and around the world. Planting
density is an important component in crop production.
Considering all the physiological processes and their effect on yield, it is very
important that optimum planting density is implemented in order also to
optimize yield.
Thank you, and God Bless
References:
Britannica Encyclopedia Inc. 2018. Corn definition. Available from https://www.britannica.com/plant/corn-plant

Plessis, J.d. Maize production 2003; Department of Agriculture and obtainable from Resource Centre Directorate Agricultural Information Services
Private Bag X144, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa.
Gerpacio, R. V., J. D. Labios, R. V. Labios, and E. I. Diangkinay. Maize in the Philippines: Production Systems, Constraints, and Research Priorities 2004;
Mexico, D.F.: CIMMYT

Moosavi, S.G., Seghatoleslami, M.J., Moazeni, A. (2012). Effect of planting date and plant density on morphological traits, LAI and forage corn (Sc.
370) yield in second cultivation. International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences. Vol., 3 (1), 57-63, 2012. Available online at
http://www. irjabs.com
Opoku E(2017). Effect of row width and plant population density on yield and quality of maize (Zea mays) silage. Retrieved at November 22, 2018
from https://researcharchive.lincoln.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10182/8443/Opoku_MAgrSc.pdf?sequence=10
Ren B., Liu W., Zhang J., Dong S., Liu P., Zhao B(2017). Effects of planting density on photosynthetic and chloroplast characteristics of maize under
high-yielding conditions. Retrieved at November 22, 2018 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28246890
Nitrogen Uptake and Partitioning in Stay-Green and Leafy Maize Hybrids - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from:
https://www.researchgate.net/Partitioning-of-dry-matter-g-in-different-parts-of-a-maize-plant-as-influenced-by_fig1_237214657 [accessed 27 Nov,
2018]