Effect of nursery stage and plug cell size on seedling growth of waxy corn.

To investigate the effects of seeding date, nursery days and plug cell size on seedling growth and quality of waxy corn. This study was carried out in the field of the National Institute of Crop Science in 2007. Varieties used were two waxy corn hybrids cvs. Chalok# 1 and Chalok# 4. The plant height, number of leaves and dry weight of waxy corn seedlings were significantly affected by seeding dates and plug cell size, while no differences between varieties. The growth of seedlings was faster in March 14 seeding than in May 8 and July 4 seedings. Based on plant height, March 14 seeding, May 8 seeding and July 3 seeding reached suitable size for transplanting after 30 days (21.6cm), 15 days (25.5~26.9cm) and 10 days (21.6~24.0cm) in the nursery, respectively. Seedlings of March 14 seedling and May 8 and July 3 seeding reached suitable number of leaves i,e. 2~3 leaves, 15~20 days after seeding on March 14 and 10 days after seeding on May 8 and July 3. Dry weights of 30 days seedling for March 14 seeding, 20 days seedling for May 8 seeding and 15 days seedling for July 3 seeding were 0.43g, 0.57~0.67g and 0.53g, respectively, and the dry weight of seedlings increased by 2~3 folds at the later nursery days. The suitable nursery days of waxy corn were 20 days on March 14 seeding and 10~15 days on May 8 or July 3 seeding.