Determination of Optimum Planting Rows Ratio of Female and Male Parents of Maize cv. KSC704 for Hybrid Seed Production in Orzoiyeh and Bardsir of Kerman Province in Iran

To determine the optimum planting rows ratio of female and male parents of KSC704 for hybrid seed production, two separate experiments were conducted in two years (2008 and 2009) in two regions of Kerman province (Orzoiyeh and Bardsir). In each region four planting ratios were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications. Planting rows ratios were different Female: Male ratios as follows: 1) common planting ratio (4:1) with four female rows and one male rows in which planting area of female parent was 80% 2) high density planting ratio (4:2) with four female rows and two male rows on the same furrow in which planting area of female was %80, 3) high density planting ratio (4:1) with four female rows and one male row in which planting area of female was %100, and 4) common planting ratio (4:2) with four female rows and two male rows that planting area of female was 67%. Results showed that in Orzoiyeh region, high density planting ratio (4:1) had the lowest seed yield (1300 kg ha-1), number of seed per ear, number of row per ear, number of seed per row and the highest cob (%) than the others. There were not significant differences between other treatments in seed yield. Common planting ratio (4:2), high density planting ratio (4:2) and common planting ratio (4:1) had 2300, 2600 and 2640 kg ha-1 of seed, respectively. In Bardsir, the highest and lowest seed yield obtained from common planting ratio (4:2) with 1850 kg ha-1 and high density planting ratio (4:1) with 990 kg ha-1, respectively. Therefore, planting ratio (4:2), high density planting ratio (4:2) and common planting ratio (4:1) for Orzoiyeh and common planting ratio (4:2) for Bardsir are recommended for KSC704 hybrid seed production.