Characterization of Sweet Corn Production in Subtropical Environmental Conditions

Jessica Paranhos, Wheeler Foshee, Timothy Coolong, Brian Heyes, Melba Salazar-Gutierrez, Kathelyn Kesheimer and Andre Luiz Biscaia Ribeiro da Silva ()
Additional contact information
Jessica Paranhos: 101 Funchess Hall, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
Wheeler Foshee: 101 Funchess Hall, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
Timothy Coolong: 1111 Miller Plant Sciences, Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Brian Heyes: Mitchell County Extension, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Camila, GA 31730, USA
Melba Salazar-Gutierrez: 101 Funchess Hall, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
Kathelyn Kesheimer: 105 Extension Hall, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
Andre Luiz Biscaia Ribeiro da Silva: 101 Funchess Hall, Department of Horticulture, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: Weather variability in subtropical environmental conditions of the southeastern U.S. impact sweet corn production in the region, which is one of the most important in the country. Understanding sweet corn performance under these environmental conditions is important to help growers with decision making. Thus, the objectives of this study were to evaluate and characterize the performance of ten commercial sweet corn cultivars exposed to several environmental conditions of the southeastern U.S. and to describe impacts of weather variability on cultivar development, yield, and ear quality. Field experiments were conducted in five locations of the southeastern U.S. during the spring and fall of 2020 and 2021. Weather data, biomass accumulation, yield, and ear quality were measured for all cultivar within seasons and locations. Heavy rainfall events created waterlogging conditions for sweet corn development; however, it was the daily air temperature of seasons that mostly impacted yield and ear quality. Daily air temperatures extended the growing season of spring but reduced crop development in the fall. Consequently, biomass accumulation was generally higher in the spring (4243 kg ha −1 ) compared to the fall (1987 kg ha −1 ). Biomass accumulation translated into yield, which was thereby higher in the spring compared to the fall. Cultivars with great potential against environmental stresses and best performance for most locations were Affection, GSS1170, Passion, and SCI336 in the spring, and Affection, GSS1170, and SC1136 in the fall. Ultimately, sweet corn yield was strongly correlated with ear dimensions but poorly correlated with number of grains in a kernel, suggesting that breeding programs trying to increase potential yield should be focused on ear diameter and length.

Keywords: weather variability; yield; ear parameters; multivariate analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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