Journal of Agriculture
and Environmental Sciences

Assessment of Soil Heterogeneity in an Experimental Field and Possible Effects on Yield Performance of Maize Hybrids (Zea Mays L.) – A Preliminary Study
Athanasios Gertsis, Christos G. Karydas, Savvas Killatzidis

Abstract
The main objective of this study was to examine if the degree and direction of soil heterogeneity in an experimental field would affect yield performances of 10 different maize hybrids (Zea mays L.). Analyses for soil reaction (pH), electrical conductivity (ECs) and soil organic carbon (SOC) were conducted following a sampling grid; bare soil spectral response in the infra-red (IR) range was also recorded in the same locations using a handheld sensor. Geostatistical analyses showed that there was significant variability in soil conditions among strips of maize hybrids (especially for EC), as well as along most of the strips; and also, several hot spots of high or low values were detected for all measured properties. As a result, the experimental design and statistical analysis followed for comparing yield performances of the hybrid varieties was expected to be biased due to differentiated soil conditions. Therefore, a more sophisticated analysis is suggested to be designed, with a view to identifying management zones within the experimental field.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jaes.v4n2a5