Correlation analysis for grain yield and other agronomic parameters for 90 single crosses hybrid maize evaluated in three agrological zones in Ghana

A trial was conducted to determine the correlation between grain yield and agronomic parameters of 90 F1 early maturing maize hybrids in 2012 in Fumesua, Ejura and Kpeve; representing the Forest, Forest-Savannah Transition and Coastal- Savannah Transition zones of Ghana, respectively.  The objective of the work was to determine the correlation between grain yield and other agronomic parameters of maize across three locations. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two replicates was used for each location. Results from the correlation analysis revealed that grain yield was significantly and positively correlated with plant height (r = 0.633), cob length (r =0.610) ear height (r =0.410), and cob diameter (r = 0.401). However, there were nonsignificant correlation between grain yield and days to silking. Nevertheless, among agronomic traits, ear height, plant height seed length, seed diameter, cob length and cob diameter were positively and significantly correlated, indicating that increase in any one of these traits could lead to increase in the other. It was recommended that hybrids that showed the highest correlation with grain can be selected to improve grain yield. Key words: Maize, correlation, genotype, hybrid, adaptability, yield, agroecology.