Effect of plant population on ear differentiation and growth in maize

SUMMARY Maize was grown at 2.47, 3.70 and 4.94 plants m ‐2 . Ears were apparently initiated about 2 days later in the densest than in the least dense population, but rate of formation and final number of female floret primordia per row of the ear were similar in the two populations. In the densest population fewer primordia produced fully developed florets than in the least dense population and of those that were produced fewer extruded silks before pollen shedding ceased. Relative growth rates of dry mass and of length of the ear before flowering were unaffected by density, but with the apparent later start of ear growth in the densest population ears were lighter and shorter than in the least dense population. Number of florets per row of the ear at the time of flowering decreased slightly with increase in population. Number of kernels per row decreased with time after flowering, especially in the densest population. At final harvest size and mass per kernel, number of kernels per ear, length and circumference of the rachis, and space per kernel on the rachis all decreased with increase in population. Thinning the intermediate population at various times from shortly before flowering until near final harvest increased mass of grain and shoot, and number of kernels of the remaining plants at final harvest. The extent of the increases decreased progressively the later the thinning. Mass and volume per kernel were increased by thinnings done up to the time of flowering, but were unaffected by thinning from c. 16 days after flowering.