Premium
Relative Photosynthetic Potential for Grain Yield of Various Leaf Canopy Levels of Corn 1
Author(s) -
Pendleton J. W.,
Hammond J. J.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1969.00021962006100060025x
Subject(s) - canopy , agronomy , photosynthesis , grain yield , yield (engineering) , biology , field experiment , plant canopy , botany , materials science , metallurgy
Defoliation treatments were applied to individual plants of Zea mays L. surrounded by normal plants in the field at Urbana, Ill. over a 3‐year period to determine the Relative Photosynthetic Potential (RPP) of various leaf canopy levels and final grain yield. RPP was found to be approximately twice as high in leaves in the top third of the canopy as the middle leaves, and five times as high as leaves in the bottom third. There was also a linear decrease in RPP as defoliation treatments were applied at weekly intervals following tasseling. At extremely low plant populations (4,942 plants/ha), middle canopy areas were most important, whereas at intermediate or high plant populations the top canopy areas were the prime grain yield contributors. Defoliation comparisons of a tolerant vs. intolerant hybrid (at high plant populations) indicated great difference in RPP.