Abstract

SANCHEZ TORRES, Jaiver Danilo; LIGARRETO MORENO, Gustavo Adolfo  and  LEIVA BARON, Fabio Rodrigo. VARIABILITY IN GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) IN RESPONSE TO DIFFERENCES IN SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN THE BOGOTÁ PLATEAU, COLOMBIA. Rev. Fac. Nac. Agron. Medellín [online]. 2012, vol.65, n.2, pp.6579-6583. ISSN 0304-2847.

Abstract. Corn growth was studied through a systematic network of 32 points where were collected soil samples to determine pH, N, Ca, K, Mg, Na, Al, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and B. We used the method of principal components to determine which soil variables had an effect on growth and crop yield. Subsequently homogeneous sites according to chemical characteristics were grouped using cluster analysis. In the same points, samples were taken from the plant material at 35, 59, 91,115, 146 and 162 days after sowing (das), and analysis was performed by calculating the crop growth rate (CGR) net assimilation rate (NAR) and leaf area index (LAI), also at 162 das harvest was evaluated. Analysis of crop growth was performed and for each homogeneous cluster were draw growth curves. Crop growth presented a spatial structure which was explained by a group of chemical variables related to soil fertility. Differences in the CGR were due to the variability of NAR and LAI among homogeneous cluster during the growing season, the NAR was different between the homogeneous zones of high and low fertility in the early stages of crop development; meanwhile, LAI was higher throughout the growing season in the most fertile zones.

Keywords : Site-specific agriculture; soil management; crop physiology; homogeneous zones.

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