Physiological quality and yield of micronutrient-treated corn seed grown in the late season crop - DOI: 10.4025/actasciagron.v28i4.927

Abstract

The use of micronutrients in order to increase yield has shown significant results, mainly in regions which adopt high levels of technology and management on cultures. Thus, the experiment was carried out aiming to verify the effects of the application of the fertilizer Stimulus PG(20.0% of Zn; 3.0% of B; 1% of Mg and 1.0% of Mo), via seed treatment, on the yield and physiological quality of corn seeds grown in the late season crop (fall/winter). Seeds of five commercial corn hybrids were used (AG-9010, BALU-184, AS-32, CD-304 and FORT) and treated with Stimulus PG (200g dose for each 100 kg seeds) before sowing. The experiment was set in a randomized complete block design containing four repetitions and two treatments arranged in sublots. The treated and non-treated seeds constituted the sublots and the corn hybrids, the plots. The productivity (given by kg ha^-1 and the weigh of 1000 seeds) was calculated through the yield of the seeds in the experimental units. The physiological quality of corn seeds was evaluated by using the germination test (first counting and final counting), accelerated aging, modified cold test and electrical conductivity. The results obtained in this study has revealed that there was no significant effect on the treatment using micronutrients concerning the productivity and weight of 1000 seeds of all the hybrids tested. However, there was an increase on the germination and vigor of the seeds produced in the sublots which received the micronutrient-seed treatment, whose results can vary according to the evaluated corn hybrid and seed germination and vigor tests.