Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft für Pflanzenbauwissenschaften Band 23

Mitt. Ges. Pflanzenbauwiss. 23: 197 (2011)
Comparative yield performance of newly developed salt-resistant
maize hybrids in non-saline and salt-affected field conditions
Muhammad Saqib 1 and Sven Schubert 2
1 Institute of Soil and Environmental Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 2 Institute
of Plant Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany. E-Mail: drhmsab@yahoo.com
Introduction
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important grain crop with a potential to increase the food
security of the world’s poor if its salt resistance is improved. A field study was
conducted to compare the newly developed salt-resistant maize hybrids (SR 05, SR
12, SR 15 and SR 16; Schubert et al. 2009) with Pioneer 3906 in a salt-affected field.
Materials and Methods
The experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with
four replications using a plot size of 50 m 2 and 150 plants per plot. The soil was
sandy clay loam in texture with pH, EC (dS m -1 ) and SAR (mmol L -1 ) 1/2 :8.1-8.4, 2.0-
2.5 and 6.0-7.5 in non-saline field, and 8.4-8.7, 10.0-12.0 and 14-16 in the saltaffected
field. The local recommended agronomic practices were followed. At
maturity all the plants in each plot were harvested, air-dried and threshed manually.
Results and Discussion
The salt-resistant maize hybrids (SR 05, SR 12, SR 15 and SR 16) produced
significantly higher grain yield, kernel number per plant and harvest index than
Pioneer 3906 under the salt-affected soil conditions (EC 10 dS m -1 ) but did not differ
significantly from Pioneer 3906 under non-saline soil conditions (EC 2.5 dS m -1 ). The
grain yield of the salt-resistant maize hybrids was 21-28% higher than that of the
Pioneer 3906 under the salt-affected soil conditions but the salt-resistant hybrids did
not differ significantly from each other under these conditions. This field study
demonstrates that the salt-resistance of the newly developed salt-resistant maize
hybrids has been improved significantly compared with Pioneer 3906.
References
Schubert, S., A. Neubert, A. Schierholt, A. Sümer, C. Zörb 2009. Development of salt-resistant maize
hybrids: The combination of physiological strategies using conventional breeding methods.Plant
Sci.177:196-202.