The Effect of Sowing Dates on Yield and Agrıcultural Characteristics of Sweet Corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt.) in Eskisehir Ecological Conditions

This research was carried out to determine the effect of sowing dates on yield and agricultural characteristics of some sweet corn varieties. The experiments were conducted during 2008 at the Eskisehir Osmangazi University Research Field of Agriculture Faculty. Two sowing dates (1 May and 30 May) and seven sweet corn varieties (Lumina, Merit, Sunshine, Jubile, Challanger and Yellow Baby commercial varieties and 2201 experimental variety) were used. The experiment was designed as split plots with four replications. Plant height, first ear height, days to tasseling, days to silking, number of leaves per plant, ear number per plant, ear weight (de-husked), ear length, ear diameter, kernel number of per ear and ear yield were determined. Statistically differences were found among sowing dates and tested varieties for all traits except ear number per plant and ear diameter. Early sowing date had lower plant height, first ear height, number of leaves per plant, ear length, kernel number of per ear and ear weight (de-husked) and yield. On the other hand, early sowing date increased days to silking and tasseling. 30 May sowing date and Sunshine variety gave the highest yield (de-husked). Phenotypic correlation analysis indicated that plant height with first ear height, number of leaves per plant with first ear height, ear weight with ear diameter had significant and positive correlations.