Maize response to the environmental impact occurred in the stages of flowering and vegetative cycle

Abstract

In Mexico, the influence of the phenomenon El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the weather conditions governing the yield of crops, especially rainfed maize. For the maize producing region in the rainfed State of Nayarit, Mexico; there are no background that dimension the supposed inf luence. The objective of this research was to determine the impact of the phases of ENSO according to some meteorological variables on the period from planting to f lowering and vegetative cycle. Phenological data base of 15 years of records from the region of Santa María del Oro where INIFAP has placed periodic assessments since 1998 of commercial maize varieties were used. Quantifying the meteorology through the variables: precipitation, degree days of development, potential evapotranspiration, humid days and moisture content; which in turn were related by growing cycle of maize varieties and grouped according to the stage of ENSO that prevailed until the phenological stage of flowering. It was found that, the phases of ENSO influence on a deferred basis depending on the growing season. The Niña events are characterized by wet conditions contrary to the Niño phase. It was found that the early varieties showed differences in rainfall between the three phases of ENSO while the intermediate and late phase is differentiated only the Niño. The phases of ENSO clearly impinge on some meteorological variables which are important in the development of maize under rainfed conditions.