Effect of Maize Maturity on Radiation-Use Efficiency

Maize (Zea mays L.) production has expanded into short-season regions but it is not known whether the radiation-use efficiency (RUE, g MJ −1 ) 1 of new early hybrids differs from those grown in traditional maize-growing regions. In this study, spectral reflectance measurements were used to derive estimates of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) absorbed to compare the RUE of 10 maize hybrids that varied in adaptation from Iowa 110-d relative maturity to the earliest 60-d relative maturity hybrids commercially available (...)