Improved maize cropping technology to reduce the impact of climate changes
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is the highest ranking crop in terms of area and production in Serbia.
During the whole growing period maize requires high temperatures and sufficient amounts of
precipitation. High yields could be achieved on loose and porous soil with good capacity for
water and those containing easily-accessible nutrients. The agro-ecological conditions for
maize production differ over various regions of Serbia and meteorological parameters can
seriously influence maize cultivation. Natural hazards, such as the occurrence of frosts, heavy
rains in spring, floods, storms, hail, droughts, cause stress and to a significant degree can
reduce or destroy maize yields. The application of appropriate cropping practices mitigates
adverse effects of climate and soil and provides conditions for the maximum utilisation of the
genetic yielding potential of maize hybrids. A system of measures that encompasses proper
crop rotation, primary soil tillage, fertilisation, sowing... date and density, irrigation, as well as
some ecological measures such as intercropping or cover crops, are basic prerequisites for
successful production of maize in Serbia. Many producers do not use these measures at the
appropriate level even though results shows that fertilisation can improve maize yields from
7.87 t/ha to 10.00 t/ha under rainfed and from 9.42 t/ha to 12.32 t/ha under irrigated
conditions. Irrigation can also increase maize yields by more than 30%. In the study, good
agricultural practices as components of an improved technologies that could help to reduce
the impacts of natural hazards and obtain high and stable yields, are identified and validated.
Keywords:
maize / cropping practices / yield / natural disasters / droughtSource:
9. International scientific agriculture symposium “AGROSYM 2018”, Jahorina, 04-07.10.2018. - Book of proceedings, 2018, 631-639Publisher:
- Republic of Srpska, Bosnia : University of East Sarajevo, Faculty of Agriculture