Genetic potential and maize production in Serbia

Abstract

Genetic potential of maize hybrids grown in Serbia is 10-15 t ha-1 , while the average yields are considerably lower. There are many reasons for this. At first, it is well known that drought is present often in some parts of country. Some soils are not suitable in the same degree for intensive maize production, application of mineral fertilizers is insufficient, mechanization is outdated and arable farms are small and fragmented. During the period 19652012 high variations in precipitation were present during the maize vegetation. The yearly average precipitation sum was 688.9 mm, with 397.5 mm during vegetation. According to precipitation amount, years were divided into groups: I 200-300 mm 7, (15%); II 301-400 mm 21, (44%) and III 401-500 mm 14, (30%), and IV in 5 years (11%) more than 500 mm of precipitation was present. The highest average yield in Serbia was achieved in 1991 (5.95 t ha-1) and the lowest in 2000 (2.44 t ha-1). The average yield increase was 114 kg ha-1 per year from 1965 to 1985, and it was 22 kg ha-1 per year from 1986 to 2012. In experiments during the period 1998-2012, when the standard cropping technology (MSY) was applied, the average grain yield was10.46 t ha-1 for hybrids of FAO 300-400, 10.39 t ha-1 for hybrids from FAO 500 and 11.38 for FAO 600-700. There were no significant differences in yield between hybrids from examined FAO groups. According to this, average maize yield includes only 44.2% for FAO 300-400, 44.5% for FAO 500 and 40.6% for FAO 600700 utilized maize genetic potential. The significant improvement of maize production demand the strategic long-term program, where it will be elaborated: merging of land properties, increasing of the areas with irrigation and increasing of the technology level in maize cropping.

Genetički potencijal hibrida kukuruza koji se gaje u Srbiji iznosi 10-15 t ha-1, ali su prosečni prinosi znatno niži od toga. Ima više razloga za to. Najpre, poznato je da se u nekim delovima zemlje često javlja suša. Zatim, nisu sva zemljišta u jednakoj meri pogodna za visoku proizvodnju kukuruza, mineralna đubriva se nedovoljno koriste, mehanizacija je zastarela, posed je veoma usitnjen. U periodu od 1965 do 2012 godine bilo je velikih variranja količina padavina u toku vegetacije kukuruza. Tokom ovog perioda prosečna godišnja suma padavina je iznosila 688,9 mm, a u vegetacionom periodu 397,5 mm. Po količini padavina, godine su podeljene u grupe: I. 200-300 mm 7, (15%); II. 301-400 mm 21, (44%), III. 401-500 mm 14, (30%) i IV u 5 godina (11%) je bilo više od 500 mm padavina. Najviši prosečan prinos u Srbiji je ostvaren 1991. godine (5,95 t ha-1) a najniži 2000 godine (2,44 t ha-1). Prosečno povećanje prinosa iznosilo je 114 t ha-1 godišnje od 1965. do 1985. godine, a 22 t ha-1 godišnje od 1986. do 2012. godine. U periodu 1998-2012, u ogledima sa standardnim agrotehničkim merama (MSY) ostvaren je prosečan prinos zrna od 10,46 u t ha-1 za hibride grupa zrenja FAO 300-400, 10,39 t ha-1 za hibride grupe zrenja FAO 500 i 11,38 t ha-1 za hibride grupa zrenja FAO 600-700. Nije bilo statistički značajnih razlika u prinosima između ispitivanih FAO grupa zrenja. U odnosu na genetički potencijal, prosečan prinos kukuruza iznosi svega 44,2% kod FAO grupa zrenja 300400, 44,5% kod grupe zrenja FAO-500 a 40,6% kod grupa zrenja FAO 600-700. Za značajna poboljšanja proizvodnje kukuruza neophodan je strateški dugoročni program gde će detaljno biti razrađeno: ukrupnjavanje zemljišnog poseda, izgradnja sistema za navodnjavanje na što većim površinama i povećanje nivoa tehnologije gajenja kukuruza.