Ii. Variables Climáticas Que Afectan El Maíz Según Fechas De Siembra En La Región De Azuero
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: A study was conducted to determine the effect of key climatic variables on maize production in the Azuero Region of Panama. The experiment was established at the El Ejido Experimental Station, located in Los Santos Province, Panama, and was planted annually from 2015 to 2024. The experimental unit consisted of six rows, each 5.2 m long, with the effective plot defined as the two central rows. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Three factors were evaluated in a 3 × 3 × 2 split-split plot factorial arrangement: the main plot was planting date (August, September, and October), the subplots were production system (rainfed or supplemental drip irrigation), and the sub-subplots consisted of two hybrids commonly used by producers in the region. Principal component analysis indicated that higher plant population, accumulated rainfall, and relative humidity were associated with greater yield potential. Conversely, several climatic variables-vapor pressure deficit (VPD), potential evapotranspiration, mean temperature, solar radiation, and ultraviolet radiation-had adverse effects on grain yield. VPD showed the strongest correlations in both production systems, with negative coefficients of -0.74 (rainfed) and -0.82 (supplemental irrigation). VPD also exhibited the most significant negative regression coefficients in both systems (-10.020 under rainfed conditions and -11.931 under supplemental irrigation), indicating that higher atmospheric demand strongly reduces grain yield.
Source: Ciencia Agropecuaria
Institution: Instituto de Innovación Agropecuaria de Panamá
Language: Spanish
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Climate action
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7215218636