THE USE OF F2 CORN HYBRID SEED IN FRAILESCA, CHIAPAS REDUCES GRAIN YIELD AND NET PROFITS

Abstract

A common practice among farmers of Frailesca, Chiapas, México, is purchasing corn certificated seed for one year and selecting from their own crop the seed required for the following years, which results in yield reductions. The purpose of this research was to measure such yield reductions in commercial corn hybrids, using their F₁ and F₂ generations, and to estimate its economic impact. Fourteen commercial corn hybrids were tested over three locations at Frailesca, under a split-plot arrangement, were the main plot was the hybrid and the subplot was the generation; a complete randomized block design with four replications was used. Statistical analysis detected significant differences among locations, hybrids, F₁ and F₂ generations, and their interactions. Best hybrids Tornado and 30F94 yielded 6.8 and 6.4 t ha^-1 with F₁ seed, and 5.1 t ha^-1 using F₂ seed. F₂ generation had a grain yield reduction of 22.6 % compared to F₁, giving a profit reduction of $1 441 ha^-1.