YIELD, PHYSICAL QUALITY AND NUTRIMENTAL HARVEST INDEX OF CORN GRAIN AS A RESPONSE TO THE APPLICATION OF SYNTHETIC AND ORGANIC FERTILIZATION

Abstract

In Mexico, corn appears as one of the basic crops for human consumption, where the main producing states are Sinaloa, Jalisco, Michoacán and Guanajuato. The nutritional management strategy with the support of organic inputs improves soil conditions, as well as the potential expression of crop characteristics. The objective of the experiment was the evaluation of the effect of synthetic and organic fertilization on the morphology of the corn crop, its yield, as well as the assimilation of nutrients for the expression of physical grain quality. The experiment was carried out in an open field production system in the municipality of Acámbaro, Guanajuato, Mexico where five fertilization treatments were evaluated under a randomized block experimental design. The effect on grain yield, morphological characteristics of the plant and the physical quality of the corn grain was measured. The treatments under organic biofertilization showed the best grain yields with up to 12.02 t ha-1 and a harvest index of 0.47, which translated into an acceptable physical quality of grain, achieving a hectoliter weight >74 kg hL-1. Likewise, the nutritional harvest indices of the treatments with organic biofertilization were higher than those reported to achieve average yields of 10 t ha-1 of grain. The corn plant presented characteristics of adaptability to ensure its productivity, as well as the quality of biomass and grain that was sustained through correct agronomic fertilization management in the treatments where organic biofertilizer was supplied.