HIGHLIGHTS:
The use of phytohormones and nicotinamide promotes growth and yield in maize crop when used together or alone.
Phytohormones increase maize grain yield by 6.0%.
Nicotinamide increases maize grain yield by 11.6%.
ABSTRACT
The use of biostimulants in second-crop maize (Zea mays) can promote higher physiological activity in plants, resulting in higher grain yield. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of phytohormones and nicotinamide on growth and yield traits of second-crop maize. The statistical design used was a randomized block design arranged in a factorial scheme with two doses of phytohormones (0 and 500 mL ha-1) × five concentrations of nicotinamide (0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg L-1) with four replications. The use of biostimulants favored all variables evaluated for the maize crop. The isolated use of phytohormones and nicotinamide promoted grain yields of 6089.6 and 6242.5 kg ha-1, respectively, representing gains of 6.0 and 11.6%, respectively, compared with the control. The application of 800 mg L-1 nicotinamide resulted in the highest maize grain yield. The use of phytohormones and nicotinamide, isolated or associated, was favorable for the growth characteristics and grain yield of second-crop maize. A synergistic effect was noted between phytohormones and nicotinamide on the first ear insertion height and number of rows per ear.
Key words:
off-season maize; growth regulator; nicotinamide; phytohormones; Zea mays L.
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Source: INMET
** - Significant at p ≤ 0.01 by F-test; W/PHY - phytohormones presence; and WO/PHY - phytohormone absence. Means followed by different letters at the same nicotinamide concentration indicate significant differences by the F test (p ≤ 0.05)
** - Significant at p ≤ 0.01 by F-test
* or ** - Significant at p ≤ 0.05 and ≤ 0.01 by F-test, respectively; W/PHY - phytohormones presence; and WO/PHY - phytohormone absence. Means followed by different letters at the same nicotinamide concentration indicate significant differences by the F test (p ≤ 0.05)
** - Significant at p ≤ 0.01 by F-test
Green lines represent positive corrections, and red lines represent negative correlations. A and P - Absence and presence of phytohormones; 0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 - nicotinamide concentrations in mg L-1