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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #282606
Title: Influence of corn (zea mays l.) cultivar development on grain nutrient concentration

Author
item FERREIRA, CARLA - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item MOTTA, ANTONIO - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item Prior, Stephen - Steve
item REISSMAN, CARLOS - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item DOS SANTOS, NICOLAS - Monsanto Corporation
item VALASKI, JULIO - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item GABARDO, JUAREZ - Universidade Federal Do Parana

Submitted to: International Journal of Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2012
Publication Date: 10/1/2012
Citation: Ferreira, C., Motta, A., Prior, S.A., Reissman, C., Dos Santos, N., Valaski, J., Gabardo, J. 2012. Influence of corn (zea mays l.) cultivar development on grain nutrient concentration. International Journal of Agronomy. Volume 2012, Article ID 842582. 7 pages. doi:10.1155/2012/842582.

Interpretive Summary: Corn genetic selection can influence not only yield potential but yield quality. Nutritional grain characteristics of varieties representing five technological levels used in Brazil were evaluated (i.e., local cultivars, improved varieties, double, triple and simple hybrids ). Evaluation of cultivars did not indicate an obvious association between grain quality and cultivar development. In this study, soil water availability appeared to exert more influence on grain nutrient concentration than did cultivar development. Similarly, nutrient removal due to grain harvest was also greatly influenced by the impact of rainfall patterns on corn productivity. Genetic differences were noted which may be useful in breeding programs. However, long-term studies covering multiple years of varying rainfall amounts would be useful in elucidating the influence of genetics (and their interaction with weather) on grain nutrient quality and exportation.

Technical Abstract: While corn productivity has been increased by the adoption of high-yield hybrids, there are concerns that increased grain potential may be associated with diminished grain nutrient concentration. Ten corn (Zea mays L.) cultivars representing five technological levels (landrace variety, commercial variety, double, triple and single cross hybrids) were cropped on a Rhodic Ferralsol Eutric soil with high fertility in 2006 (dry year) and 2007 (normal year) in Rolândia County, Paraná State, Brazil. At maturity, grain was evaluated for concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu. In general, differences among cultivars were noted for all nutrients in both years. Concentration of P, K, Fe, and Mn were lower in the dry year, while Ca, Mg, Cu, and Zn were higher. Soil water availability appeared to exert more influence on grain nutrient concentration than did cultivar development; nutrient removal due to grain harvest was also greatly influenced by rainfall patterns and their impact on corn productivity. However, genetic differences were noted which may be useful in breeding programs, but this will required long-term testing in subtropical environments to clarify the interaction of genetics with weather on grain nutrient quality and exportation.