| Popis: |
Rice and sugarcane are the two dominant crops produced in Guyana while scorn is not yet cultivated on a commercial scale, resulting in import of corn (30009tonnesannually) at a cost of $11.6 million annually. The domestic commercial production of corn has been emphasized recently by government to meet the local demand of agro industries involving in poultry feed production. Consequently, coordinated trial1 of improved corn varieties was initiated at Ebini (Savannah region)during June-September, 2013 and repeated during the 2013-2014 crop season at Mon Repos in the coastal region. A total of twenty two improved genotypes of hybrid corn along with two local check varieties were tested for their yield performance at Ebini whereas at Mon Repos, the same set with two more composite varieties were tested during October, 2013- January, 2014 cropping season. These new hybrids and composites were procured from CIMMYT, Colombia. Additionally, 22 and 14 new genotypes of hybrid corn were also tested in the Coastal region during 2013-2014 along with composite and a local variety as checks, in trials 2 and 3 respectively. The performance of new hybrid and composite varieties of corn was outstanding with average grain yields ranging from 23.16 to 37.75 q/ha at Ebini during 2013 crop season under rain fed conditions, whereas in the Coastal region the yield was further high in the range of 58.39-86.62 q/ha during 2013- 2014 in trial 1. In trials2 and 3, these ranges were 56.18-95.77 q/ha and 31.02-90.82 q/ha, respectively. These new genotypes except one (GC56) out-yielded local varieties significantly, at both regions and seasons. Based on the average yield of both seasons and regions, the genotypes, GC9,GC13 and GC1 were the most high yielding types with yields of 61.70, 59.70 and 58.60 q/ha, respectively, as compared to 26.11and 32.87 q/ha in the case of check varieties (local yellow and local red), respectively. The cost of production was G$ 82/kg or G$37/lb at Ebini and G$ 32/kg or G$14/lb in the coastal region as compared to imported corn which costs around G$46/lb(2013-2014) and locally produced corn in the near future may easily substitute import of 30000 tons of corn in Guyana. The results also indicated that improved high yielding corn genotypes can successfully be exploited for commercial cultivation in both Savannah and coastal regions in Guyana. |
