PREDICTION OF CORN GRAIN PRODUCTIVITY AS A FUNCTION OF ALTITUDE AND PLANT POPULATION

This study aimed to evidence the best arrangement of plants according to altitudes to potentialize corn grain yield. An information survey was performed in the 2019/20 harvest, using 144 producers responsible for corn grain production fields totaling 2,301.3 hectares in 144 environments of Rio Grande do Sul. Within 144 environments, 14 corn hybrids were arranged: DKB 240 PRO, DOW 2A620, AG 9045 PRO3, AS1555 PRO3, AS1572 PRO2, AS1656, BIOGENE 7046, DKB 250 PRO2, DKB 290 PRO3, DKB 330RR, NS56, P1630HX, P30F53HX, and SH7910. Yield, morphological, and phenological variables were measured, and geographic and meteorological information was collected. There is a positive influence on grain yield according to altitude and plant population characteristics. At lower altitudes, increasing plant population is essential to enhance grain yield.