Abstract
A field experiment to evaluate the production potential of three maize hybrids namely Pioneer-30D55, Pioneer3062, and Pionerr-3012 to varying plant density of P1 (15 cm x 70 cm or 95238 plants m-2), P2 (25 cm x 70 cm or
57142 plants m-2), and P3 (35cm x 70 cm or 40816 plants m-2) was conducted at Govt. Agricultural Extension
Farm, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, during 2005 and 2006. Experiment was laid out in randomized complete block
design with split plot arrangement, including maize hybrids in main plot and plant density levels in sub plots with
four replications. Maize hybrids responded differently to plant density due to their different genetic potential.
Pioneer-30D55 surpassed other hybrids i.e Pioneer-3062 and Pioneer-3012 in crop growth rate (22.28 g m-2day
-1 ),
grain yield (6.16 t ha-1 ), crude protein (7.76 % ) contents in grains, where as Pioneer-3012 surpassed other
hybrids in crude starch (72.40 %) and oil contents (5.41 %) in grains with significant variation between them.
Among various plant density levels, crop planted at 95238 plants ha-2 significantly increased crop growth rate
(24.93 g m-2 day-1), grain yield (6.37 t ha-1), crude starch (71.79 % ) and protein content (7.45 %) in grains than
rest of the plant density levels i.e P2 (57142 plants m-2), and P3 (40816 plants m-2). However, crude contents (5.18
%) in grains were significantly decreased in 95238 plants m-2 than rest of the plant density levels. Thus, Pioneer30D55 at plant density 95238 plants m-2 exhibited the best production potential for growth, grain yield, and crude
starch contents in grains.
