Effects of nitrogen levels and plant populations on protein content of green corn

Abstract

A study was carried out at Mossoró, RN, Brazil to evaluate the effects of nitrogen levels (0, 40 and 80 kg/ha) and plant populations (30, 50 and 70 thousand plants/ha) on the protein content of “green corn grains” (corn at milk stage) of the cultivar CMS-12-C-1. The experimental design followed a factorial arrangement in randomized blocks with four replications, and the plants were grown under sprinkler irrigation conditions. The effects of the nitrogen and nitrogen levels x plant populations interaction were not significant for the trait studied. The 30 and 50 thousand plants/ha populations determined protein contents of 10.8% and 10.3%, respectively, which did not differ significantly. However, these values were superior to that of 9.3% obtained with the 70,000 plants/ha population.