Thermal risk analysis for winter-spring maize (Zea mays L.) in the Yaqui Valley Sonora, Mexico

Pedro Félix-Valencia, María Monserrat Torres-Cruz and Guillermo Fuentes-Dávila *

INIFAP, Norman E. Borlaug Experimental Station, Apdo. Postal 155, km 12 Norman E. Borlaug between 800 and 900 Yaqui Valley, Cd. Obregon, Sonora, Mexico.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023, 20(02), 230–239
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2023.20.2.2244
 
Publication history: 
Received on 24 September 20231; revised on 02 November 2023; accepted on 04 November 2023
 
Abstract: 
The state of Sonora in Mexico contributed with 2.8 % of the maize national production (788,885.77 t) in 2021; however, its production has been affected by low temperatures. The objective was to analyze the effect of minimum (MINTT < 3 °C) and maximum temperature threshold levels (MAXTT > 33 °C) on maize production. Five commercial fields sown with hybrid Hipotótamo and five with DK-4050 were selected in the Yaqui Valley. Temperature data were obtained from the automated weather station network in the state from December 2021 to June 2022. The minimum temperatures recorded between March 8 and 10, 2022, covered about 35 % of the total area sown with maize in southern Sonora. Foliar damage as shown by necrosis between the 5th and 10th leaf oscillated from 3 to 12 %, and it was associated with a temperature range of 1.05 and 4.30 ºC. Frost severity was not significant, so the crop recovered by the production of new leaves. From April, different periods of days with different continuous hours with MAXTT were recorded by weather stations; the highest number of periods occurred in fields B-419 and B-1101 with six. The highest number of hours with MAXTT was recorded in B-1922 with 374, followed by B-419 with 288. Hipopótamo showed the highest grain yield in field B-1101 (16.62 t ha-1). Damage by MAXTT to maize production during 2021-2022 winter-spring season, caused a reduction of 1.53 t ha-1 in relation to the regional average in the previous season.
 
Keywords: 
Maize, Zea mays, Thermal stress, Grain yield
 
Full text article in PDF: 
Share this