Factors affecting yield potential of open pollinated corn in small farmers’ fields in the Ecuadorian highlands

Abstract

This literature review describes, from the strict agronomic view point, the actual production situation of the open pollinated corn varieties in the hands of familiar agriculture producers in the Ecuadorian highlands and based on the findings suggests research tasks that could improve it. The discussion does not consider the obvious socio-economic conditions that also affect this production system. The production of soft open pollinated corn varieties for grain and corn in the cob is an interesting option among the crops for familiar agriculture basánwhich farmers use for self-consumption and to generate household income. However, the traditional techniques utilized for corn production like soil preparation and seeding are not conductive to obtain the growth and potential yield that the environment allows. It’s possible to achieve high uniform plant population using the seeding stick carefully and placing one seed at each planting hill at spaces that can vary from 0.7 to 0.8 m between plant rows and 0.18 to 0.25 m Between plants to obtain plant densities greater than 60 000 plants ha-1. This way, plants grow uniformly, utilize light efficiently and can accumulate adequate grain yield. If the objective is to produce corn in the cob, this planting procedure ensures a quantity of good size cobs for the market. On the other hand, it’s compulsory to reduce or eliminate soil movement for planting and weed control tasks by means of no-till. This management practice does not remove the soil, let plant residue accumulate on the surface and seed placement does not disturb the soil. This is perhaps the management practice which will have the most impact in corn production in the long term because it allows soil physical, chemical and biological properties recuperation and accumulates organic carbon in the soil.