Table 6 Effects of varieties and fertilizer splitting strategy on maize growth parameters for two growing seasons

SRS 2017

Variety

SAM4VITA

1.3 ± 0.2^a

1.9 ± 0.1^a

97.9 ± 2.2^ab

191.9 ± 14.4^ab

78.2 ± 12.0^b

PVA SYN 18 (F2)

1.3 ± 0.2^a

1.8 ± 0.2^a

96.7 ± 2.6^b

190.3 ± 7.8^b

76.1 ± 6.4^b

ZM 627

1.4 ± 0.1^a

2.0 ± 0.4^a

99.5 ± 2.2^a

199.7 ± 8.7^a

103.6 ± 6.7^a

Splitting

F0

1.1 ± 0.2^b

1.8 ± 0.1^b

96.6 ± 2.8^b

189.9 ± 11.1^b

82.0 ± 18.8^a

F1

1.5 ± 0.1^a

2.2 ± 0.3^a

99.6 ± 3.2^a

204.6 ± 10.9^a

87.45 ± 15.9^a

F2

1.4 ± 0.2^a

1.9 ± 0.1^b

98.1 ± 1.9^ab

189.8 ± 7.2^b

86.9 ± 12.7^a

F3

1.4 ± 0.1^a

1.8 ± 0.3^b

97.8 ± 1.4^ab

191.6 ± 9.1^b

87.5 ± 15.0^a

LRS2018

Variety

SAM4VITA

1.4 ± 0.2^b

1.9 ± 0.2^b

110.8 ± 13.2^b

205.2 ± 18.7^a

82.8 ± 7.2^a

PVA SYN 18 (F2)

1.3 ± 0.2^b

1.9 ± 0.2^b

104.6 ± 9.6^b

191.5 ± 17.8^c

85.8 ± 5.9^a

ZM 627

1.7 ± 0.3^a

2.3 ± 0.3^a

127.6 ± 27.4^a

220.6 ± 18.9^a

82.1 ± 6.7^a

Splitting

F0

1.1 ± 0.1^c

1.7 ± 0.1^b

97.3 ± 7.6^b

178.6 ± 11.7^b

84.4 ± 7.0^a

F1

1.8 ± 0.2^a

2.3 ± 0.3^a

128.8 ± 28.8^a

221.8 ± 14.9^a

79.7 ± 8.0^a

F2

1.5 ± 0.2^b

2.1 ± 0.2^ab

117.1 ± 17.3^a

215.3 ± 14.2^a

86.4 ± 4.9^a

F3

1.4 ± 0.2^b

2.1 ± 0.2^a

114.0 ± 8.5^a

207.4 ± 16.0^a

83.8 ± 5.2^a

p-value season (S)

 < 0.05*

 < 0.05*

 < 0.001***

 < 0.001***

 > 0.05^ns

p-value variety (V)

 < 0.001***

 < 0.001***

 < 0.001***

 < 0.001***

 < 0.001***

p-value splitting (F)

 < 0.001***

 < 0.001***

 < 0.001***

 < 0.001***

 > 0.05^ns

p-value S × V

 > 0.05^ns

 > 0.05^ns

 < 0.001***

 < 0.001***

 < 0.001***

p-value S × F

 < 0.05*

 > 0.05^ns

 < 0.001***

 < 0.001***

 > 0.05^ns

p-value V × F

 > 0.05^ns

 < 0.05*

 < 0.001***

 < 0.05*

 > 0.05^ns

p-value S × V × F

 > 0.05^ns

 > 0.05^ns

0.01**

 > 0.05^ns

 > 0.05^ns