1

Release of HyTech2055 maize hybrids for the irrigated

sector in Northern and Central Sudan




By
Maarouf I. Mohammed

Fatih E. A. Hamza, Mozzamil A.M. Eltalib
,
Hussein Muhi Eldin, Mohammed
Al Assad, Mohammed Ismail Ahmed and Hassan A. Tambal







Submitted to the Variety Release Committee
Khartoum, Sudan
(July, 2012)







2

Release of HyTech2055 maize hybrids for the irrigated sector in
Northern and Central Sudan

By
Maarouf I. Mohammed
1
and Fatih E. A. Hamza
2


Contributors:
Mozzamil A.M. Eltalib1
1

Hussein Muhi Eldin
3

Mohammed Al Assad
4

Mohammed Ismail Ahmed
5

Abstract
Two introduced Egyptian maize hybrids from Misr HyTtech Co. (HyTech2031 and
HyTech2055) were tested against three standard checks (Pan6966, Hudieba1 and Hudieba2) in 8
environments in the Sudan during 2010-2011. Two environments were in Khartoum State and
one each at River Nile, Northern, White Nile, Sennar, Gedarif, and Blue Nile States. The
genotypes were arranged in RCB Design with 4 or 3 replicates. The performance of the
introduced hybrids was also demonstrated in the Farmers fields in Khartoum State. Grain yield,
yield components and related traits were studied. Chemical analysis for protein content of the
grain was carried out.
The results obtained indicated that the hybrid HyTech2055 significantly outyielded the standard
checks in grain yield with average yield advantage over Pan6966, Hudieba2 and Hudieba1
amounting to 25%, 40% and 53%, respectively. HyTech2055 showed the best yield stability
across the test environments and was significantly earlier than the check Pan6966.
The white hybrid HyTech2031, though not leading in average performance, it showed good
performance in Khartoum State with 40% yield advantage over Hudieba1, has comparable or
better yield than Pan6966 and was more stable than the two checks. When tested under farmer-
managed demonstration plot, HyTech2031 gave yield increase over Pan6966 and Hudieba2
amounting to 35.6 % and 67.5 %, respectively. It was concluded that HyTech2031 could be
regarded as a reference point for future-tested white hybrids.
The hybrid HyTech2055 has been recommended for commercial production under the irrigated
sector of Northern and Central Sudan. The hybrid HyTech2031 was recommended for
commercial production in Khartoum State.



1
Shambat Research Station Agricultural research Corporation (ARC)
2
Merowe Research Station / ARC
3
Faculty of Forestry and Range Sciences. Sudan University. Suba.
4
Sennar Research Station / ARC
5
Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources. University of Bakht El Ruda. Ad Duwaym
3

Introduction
Maize (Zea maize L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in the world and the most
responsive to genetic improvement. In Sudan, it ranks 4
th
in importance as a cereal crop
coming after sorghum, millets and wheat. It is grown mainly as feed crop (both grain and
forage) and rarely as food crop. Due to the increased demand for animal products driven
by the accelerated process of urbanization, an urgent need for maize has emerged in
recent decades to meet the growing requirements of poultry industry. Based on
FAOSTAT (2011) the average production of maize per annum in the Sudan during the
eighties (29000 ton) was doubled (59000 ton) during the 2000s. Imports of maize showed
similar trend, rising from < 20000 ton during 1985-95 to > 40000 ton during the 2000s. If
the above statistics are valid, the present Sudan requirement for grain corn could be
estimated around 100000 ton, of which more than 40% is imported.
Lack of improved seeds is one of the major problems hindering maize production in the
Sudan. This may partially explain the low yield levels (below 1 ton/fed) reported for
maize in the Sudan. The objectives of this investigation were therefore to evaluate the
performance of two introduced maize hybrids under Sudan conditions and to identify the
suitable one(s) for commercial release.
Materials and Methods
Plant materials: Five maize genotypes (Table 1) comprising two introduced maize
hybrids from Misr HyTtech Co. (HyTech2031, HyTech2055) and three standard checks (
Pan6966, Hudieba2 and Hudieba1) were investigated. The three check varieties were
released by the Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC) for cultivation in the Sudan.
Table 1. The introduced plant materials and the standard checks used in the study
Cultivar Designation Seed color Source
HyTech2031 One way hybrid White Misr HyTtech Co. Egypt
HyTech2055 One way hybrid Yellow Misr HyTtech Co. Egypt
Pan6966 (Check) One way hybrid Yellow Pannar Co. South Africa
Hudieba2 (Check) Open pollinated variety Yellow ARC. Sudan
Hudieba1 (Check) Open pollinated variety White ARC. Sudan
4

Environments: The genotypes were investigated in eight environments two of them
were in Khartoum State (Shambat, Suba) and one each at River Nile (Shendi), Northern
(Merowe), White Nile (Ad Duwaym), Sennar (Sennar) Gedarif (Gedarif) and Blue Nile
(Damazin) States. The genotypes were grown under irrigated condition in the first six
environments and under rain-fed condition in the last two environments. In Khartoum,
River Nile, and Northern States the trials were conducted during the winter season of
2010 whereas for the rest of the sites the trials were established during the Kharief season
of 2011. Metrological data and the general features of the soils in 6 of these environments
are presented in Appendices I through VI.
Cultural practices: In the year 2010, sowing dates were effected on 25 Oct., 30 Oct., 25
Oct. and 28 Nov. at Shambat, Suba West, Shendi, and Merowe sites, respectively. In the
year 2011, the materials were sown on12 July, 20 Sept., 12 Aug., and 27 July at Sennar,
Ad Duwaym, Gedarif and Damazin sites, respectively. Seeding was done on ridges in all
sites other than Gedarif and Damazin where the seeds were sown on flat. Two seeds were
placed in holes spaced at 0.75x0.2m. The plot consisted of 5 ridges/rows 5 m long with
gross area approximating to 27 m
2
. Nitrogen fertilizer (Urea) was added at second
irrigation at a rate of 55 Kg N/ha. Irrigation was practiced according to need at 7 to 15
day intervals. Weeds populations were kept to minimum by hand removal during the first
month from sowing. Pests, specially stem borers, were monitored and controlled if
required.
Data collected: grain yield was estimated by harvesting the whole plot. Plant height and
days to 50% tasseling were taken in the trials conducted at Shambat, Shendi and Merowe
sites. Kernel number per ear and 100 kernel weight were taken at Shambat, Suba, and
Shendi sites. Ear characteristics were measured in Shendi site. Chemical analysis for
crude protein (CP) of the grain was carried out in the laboratory of the Faculty of Animal
Production, University of Khartoum. Shambat.
Experimental design and statistical analysis: The genotypes were arranged in RCB
Design with 4 replicates except at Ad Duwaym and Sennar (3 replicates). Separate
ANOVA for each environment was performed for grain yield and related traits before
running the combined analysis. Both Shuklla (1972) and Eberhart and Russell (1966)
models were employed to investigate yield stability for all genotypes across the six
irrigated environments. The statistical package GenStat (2011) was used to run the
ANOVA whereas Agrobase Gen II (2008) was used to run the stability analysis
5

Demonstration plot
The performance of the hybrids HyTech2055 and HyTech2031was demonstrated in the
Farmers fields in Khartoum State at Sururab West (30 km north of Omdurman) in area
of aprox. 0.2 ha. The hybrid Pan6966 and Hudieba2 were used as checks. The field was
established and managed by the farmer under supervision of the technical research
workers. Sowing date was on 28.Oct.2010. At harvest, a field day attended by farmers,
extension and research staff was organized. Four samples, 1 m
2
each were randomly
taken from each plot for each variety to estimate grain yield.
Results and Discussions
The materials grown under rain-fed environments yielded very low due to severe
moisture stress encountered during the growing season, hence the data from Gedarif and
Damazin trials were considered unreliable and will not be highlighted.
Table 2 shows mean squares from combined ANOVA for grain yield, days to 50 %
tasseling, plant height, 100 kernel weight and number of kernels per ear. Differences
among genotypes were highly significant for grain yield and other studied traits.
Genotype by environment interaction (GxE) was highly significant for grain yield and
days to 50% tasseling .
Grain Yield
Table 3 shows grain yield obtained by different genotypes in each of the six irrigated
environments, combined average yield and percent-yield increase of the best performing
genotype. Significant differences among genotypes were detected in all environments
except in the lowest yielding ones, namely Suba (2.20 t/ha) and Sennar (2.45 t/ha). Low
yield at Suba is expected owing to the poor soil properties (Appendix II)
HyTech2055 (yellow): This hybrid ranked first in grain yield in all environments
outyielding other genotypes in Merowe (7.37 t/ha), Ad Duwaym (7.30 t/ha) Shendi (6.90
t/ha) and Shambat (4.49 t/ha). In the average of the six environment, the hybrid
HyTech2055 was the best in grain yield (5.28 t/ha) followed by the hybrid Pan6966 (4.22
t/ha) and Hudieba2 (3.76 t/ha). Its yield advantage was 25% over Pan6966, 40% over
Hudieba2 and 53% over Hudieba1.
HyTech2031 (white): The white hybrid HyTech2031 averaged significantly lower than
Pan6966 (3.67 t/ha), however, at Shambat, it ranked second in grain yield exhibiting
comparable if not better yield than Pan6966. White grain corn is desirable for production
of poultry meat and might be necessary in future for bread industry in the Sudan. Up to
6

date no white corn hybrid has been released in the Sudan. The white hybrid HyTech2031
is the first of its kind to be tested for release in the Sudan. The open pollinated variety
Hudieba1 is the only released white corn in the country. The gain in yield obtained by
HyTech2031 over Hudieba1 at Shambat is significant approaching 40%. In the remaining
environments, HyTech2031 consistently outyielded Hudieba1 except at Ad Duwaym,
where Hudieba1 showed exceptionally high yield (6.38 t/ha).
Yield related traits
The hybrid HyTech2055 tasseled in 65 days (Table 4) and was consistently earlier than
Pan6966 which took 68 days to tassel. It was comparable in plant height to Pan6966 but
significantly taller than Hudieba2 and Hudieba1 averaging 261 cm. (Table 5). The hybrid
HyTech2031 tasseled in 69 days. It was comparable to Pan6966 which took 68 days to
tassel. HyTech2031 and Pan6966 were comparable in plant height averaging 255 and
251cm, respectively. Both hybrids were taller than Hudieba1 and Hudieba2.
The hybrid HyTech2055 gave the highest number of kernel per ear (Table 6) which may
be one of the factors contributing to its outstanding performance in grain yield, however,
it was comparable in 100 kernel weight to Pan6966 and Hudieba2 (Table 7).
HyTech2031was similar in seed weight to Pan6966 and comparable to it in number of
kernel per ear.
Table 8 shows ear characteristics as evaluated in Shendi 2010. The hybrid HyTech2055
exhibited increased number of rows per ear (16.3) over other genotypes.
Chemical analysis
Chemical analysis showed that crude protein of the grain was 10.7% for HyTech2055,
10.8% for HyTech2031 and 12.9% for the check Pan6966. Such results could be
understood in the context of the adverse association known to occur between grain yield
and protein content in many crops.
Yield stability
The hybrid HyTech2055 gave the lowest variance value (0.315) for grain yield across
environments showing its relative yield stability as per Shukla (1972) stability variance
model (Table 9). Considering Eberhart-Russell stability model (Tables 9 and 10), the
hybrid HyTech2055 showed the lowest value for deviation from linearity of regression,
indicating its genetic stability as assumed by Eberhart and Russell (1966). However, its
Beta (regression coefficient) value was well above unity (1.3988) which may suggests
7

greater specificity of adaptability to high-yielding environments (Finlay and Wilkinson,
1963).
The hybrid HyTech2031 could also be regarded as more stable than Pan6966 and
Hudieba1 based on Shuklla (1972) and Eberhart and Russell (1966) stability models.
However, unlike HyTech2055, Its below unity regression coefficient suggests greater
resistance to environmental change, and therefore increasing specificity of adaptability to
low-yielding environments (Finlay and Wilkinson, 1963).
The demonstration plot
Table 11 shows maize grain yield obtained in the demonstration plot conducted at
Sururab site. The hybrids HyTech2055 and HyTech2031 gave the highest yield
amounting to 4.81 and 4.27 t/ha, respectively. The hybrid Pan6966 and Hudieba2 gave
3.15 and 2.55 t/ha, respectively. Yield advantage of HyTech2055 over Pan6966 and
Hudieba2 were significant over both checks amounting to 52.7% and 88.6 %,
respectively. With regard to the hybrid HyTech2031 the respective yield advantages were
35.6 % and 67.5% with gain in yield being significant over Hudieba2.
Conclusions
The introduced maize hybrids HyTech2031 and HyTech2055 were tested against three
standard checks (Pan6966, Hudieba1and Hudieba2) in 6 irrigated environments during
2010-2011. The results obtained indicated that the hybrid HyTech2055 significantly
outyielded the standard checks in grain yield with average yield advantage over Pan6966,
Hudieba2 and Hudieba1amounting to 25%, 40% and 53%, respectively. HyTech2055
showed the best yield stability across the test environments and was significantly earlier
than the check Pan6966. Moreover, HyTech2055 gave significant increase in yield over
Pan6966 (52.7%) and Hudieba2 (88.6%,) when tested under farmer-managed
demonstration plot.
The white hybrid HyTech2031, although yielded lower in average performance than
Pan6966, it has exhibited good performance in Khartoum State with comparable or better
yield than Pan6966 and 40 % yield advantage over Hudieba1. When tested under farmer-
managed demonstration plot it gave yield advantage over Pan6966 and Hudieba2
amounting to 35.6 % and 67.5 %, respectively. HyTech2031 was more stable than
Pan6966 and Hudieba1. Being the first white grain corn hybrid tested for release in
Sudan, it could be regarded as a reference point for future-tested white hybrids.
8

Recommendations
Based on the results and discussions of this study we recommend to and ask the support
of the Variety Release Committee the release of the following hybrids:
1. Hybrid maize HYTECH2055: For commercial production under the irrigated
sector of Northern and Central Sudan.
2. Hybrid maize HYTECH2031: For commercial production in Khartoum State
The salient features of the two hybrids are shown in Appendices VII and VIII. We
suggest keeping the original names of both hybrids.
References
Agrobase Gen II (2008) version 18.5.1 Agronomix software, inc. Canada.
Eberhart, S.A., and W.A. Russell. (1966). Stability parameters for comparing varieties.
Crop Science. 6:36-40.
FAOSTAT Database (2011). FAO Statistics. Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO). Rome
Genstat. (2011). GenStat Release 10.3DE ( PC/Windows 7) VSN International Ltd.
(Rothamsted Experimental Station) . UK.
Finlay, K.W. and G.N. Wilkinson, (1963). The analysis of adaptation in a plant breeding
programme. Australian Journal for Agricultural Research. 14: 742-754.
Shukla, G.K. (1972). Some statistical aspects of partitioning genotype environmental
components of variability. Heredity. 29:237-245.






9

Table 2. Mean squares from combined analysis of variance for different traits of maize
genotypes
Source of
variation
d.f.
Grain yield
(t/ha)
d.f.
Yield related traits
Days to 50%
tasseling
Plant height
(cm)
100 kernel
wt (gm)
No of
kernels/ear
Block 3 1.0087 3 2.578 89.2 6.585 2803
Environment (E) 5 48.0041** 2 1911.667** 935.6 80.214** 194356**
Block in E. 13 1.2076 6 8.978 371.6 7.173 8606
Genotype (G) 4 12.7309** 4 140.225** 10338.5** 34.189** 33555**
G x E 20 1.7373** 8 12.312** 728.8* 12.868 2606
Residual 64 0.3760 36 3.650 297.1 6.836 5095
Total 109 59
*, ** significant at 0.0 5 and 0.01 probability level, respectively






Table 3. Maize grain yield (t/ha) in each environment, combined average yield and
percent increase of the best yielding hybrid (HyTech2055) over other genotypes.
Environment
Genotypes
Shambat
2010
Suba
2010
Shendi
2010
Merowe
2010
Ad Duwaym
2011
Sennar
2011
Average
(Combined)
Average
Increase in
yield (%)
HyTech2031 3.80 1.88 4.77 4.30 4.51 2.74 3.67 44.0
HyTech2055 4.49 2.88 6.90 7.37 7.30 2.74 5.28 00.0
Pan6966 3.42 2.60 5.17 6.22 5.46 2.42 4.22 25.3
Hudieba1 2.73 1.38 4.25 4.06 6.38 1.94 3.46 52.9
Hudieba2 3.35 2.25 5.42 4.20 4.96 2.41 3.76 40.3
Mean 3.56 2.20 5.30 5.23 5.72 2.45 4.08
P value 0.004 0.135 <.001 <.001 0.007 0.288 <.001
SE 0.251 0.402 0.246 0.251 0.397 0.269 0.1252
CV (%) 14.1 36.7 9.3 9.6 13.7 21.5 15.0



10

Table 4. Days to 50% tasseling shown by different maize genotypes in three
environments
Environment
Genotype
Shambat 2010 Shendi 2010 Merowe 2010 Average
(Combined)
HyTech2031 64.5 61.5 80.5 68.8
HyTech2055 60.5 56.3 77.8 64.8
Pan6966 65.8 59.3 79.5 68.2
Hudieba1 62.0 54.3 71.0 62.4
Hudieba2 59.3 53.3 70.8 61.1
Mean (Environment) 62.4 56.9 75.9 65.1
P. value 0.044 <.001 <.001 <.001
SE 1.466 0.413 0.647 0.552
CV (%) 4.7 1.5 1.7 2.9




Table 5. Plant height (cm) obtained by different maize genotypes in three environments
Environment
Genotype
Shambat 2010 Shendi 2010 Merowe 2010 Average
(Combined)
HyTech2031 262 254 249 255
HyTech2055 251 264 268 261
Pan6966 242 243 267 251
Hudieba1 173 217 179 190
Hudieba2 218 235 226 226
Mean (Environment) 229 243 238 237
P.value <.001 0.045 <.001 <.001
SE 5.53 9.83 9.78 4.98
CV (%) 4.8 8.1 8.2 7.3


11

Table 6. Number of kernels per ear obtained in three environments by five maize genotypes
Environment
Genotype
Shambat 2010 Suba 2010 Shendi 2010 Average (Combined)
HyTech2031 405 282 477 388
HyTech2055 499 418 586 501
Pan6966 439 373 512 441
Hudieba1 417 266 513 399
Hudieba2 401 237 467 368
Mean 432 315 511 419
P. value 0.258 0.110 0.002 <.001
SE 32.5 49.8 16.7 20.6
CV (%) 15.1 31.6 6.6 17.0





Table 7. 100 seed weight (gm) obtained by five maize genotypes in three environments
Environment
Genotype
Shambat 2010 Suba 2010 Shendi 2010 Average (Combined)
HyTech2031 21.3 24.0 21.3 22.2
HyTech2055 21.6 23.5 19.9 21.7
Pan6966 18.9 27.9 19.9 22.2
Hudieba1 18.0 18.5 18.0 18.2
Hudieba2 20.1 23.3 20.5 21.3
Mean 20.0 23.4 19.9 21.1
P. value 0.290 0.022 0.211 0.003
SE 1.3132 1.6085 0.211 0.7548
CV (%) 13.1 13.7 9.1 12.4

12

Table 8. Ear characteristics showed by five maize genotypes grown at Shendi (2010)
Genotype Ear height
(m)
No of rows /
ear
No. of kernels/
row
Ear diameter
(cm)
Ear length
(cm)
HyTech2031 1.20 13.0 36.8 4.0 16.7
HyTech2055 1.35 16.3 36.0 3.7 16.0
Pan6966 1.10 13.8 37.3 3.9 14.7
Hudieba1 0.92 14.8 34.8 3.9 15.5
Hudieba2 1.30 14.0 33.5 3.8 16.2
Mean 1.18 14.4 35.7 3.84 15.8
SE 0.064 0.36 0.88 0.08 0.48
CV (%) 10.9 5.0 5.0 3.9 6.0





Table 9. Stability parameters for five maize genotypes across six environments
Genotype Grain
yield(t/ha)
Rank Shukla Stability
Variance
Eberhart-Russell Regression
Model
GxE statistics Beta Deviation
HyTech2031 3.67 4 0.755 0.6902 0.058
HyTech2055 5.28 1 0.315 1.3988 -0.008
Pan6966 4.21 2 1.476 0.9928 0.166*
Hudieba1 3.45 5 3.051 1.1043 0.402**
Hudieba2 3.76 3 0.751 0.8138 0.057
: The values are estimates of an entry's variance across environments using the mean of each environments as
covariate
: Partition of deviation from linearity of response by Variety
*, **: indicates significant deviation from linearity of response at 0.05 and 0.01 probability level, respectively



13

Table 10. ANOVA of Eberhart-Russell Regression Model for five maize genotypes grown
in six environments
Source df SS MS F-value Pr> F
Total 119 81.422
Varieties 4 12.731 3.183 12.53 0.0000
Env.+ in Var.x Env. 25 68.691 2.748
Env. in linear 1 60.005 0.000
Var. x Env. (linear) 4 3.608 0.902 3.55 0.0240
Pooled deviation 20 5.079 0.254
Residual 90 10.698 0.119
R-squared = 0.9261

Table 11. Grain yield obtained by five maize cultivars grown in a demonstration plot at
Sururab West (Khartoum State, 2010)
Cultivar Grain yield (t/ha) Yield advantage
over Pan6966
Yield advantage
over Hudieba2
HyTech2031 4.27 35.6 % 67.5 %
HyTech2055 4.81 52.7 % 88.6 %
Pan6966 3.15 - -
Hudieba2 2.55 - -
Mean 4.20
SE 0.329
CV (%) 22.1







14

Appendices
Appendix I. Some metrological data and general features of the soil at Shambat (2010)
Env Shambat 2010 Soil characteristics (general features)
Mean temperature C relative
humidity (%)
Total rain
fall (mm) Max min
Jan. 32.7 16.3 32 TR
Feb. 34.2 25.6 28 0.0
March 36.4 19.7 20 TR
April 40.9 21.5 17 0.0 Non-saline, non-sodic, well drained
clay to loamy- clay soils, pH range 7.7
to 7.9.
May 42.9 24.9 18 TR
June 42.2 27.7 29 TR
July 37.6 26.1 44 24.5
Aug. 37.1 26.3 49 20.6
Sept. 38.2 25.9 43 31.6
Oct. 40.0 25.3 31 TR
Nov. 37.0 23.1 29 0.0
Dec. 32.2 17.4 30 0.0
Total rain fall 76.7
TR = trace
Appendix II. Some metrological data and general features of the soil at Suba (2010)
Env Suba 2010 Soil characteristics (general features)
Mean temperature C relative
humidity (%)
Total rain
fall (mm) max min
Jan. 33.1 19.3 25 0.0
Feb. 34.8 21.1 19 0.0
March 37.0 22.2 15 0.0
April 41.2 26.0 11 0.0
May 42.9 28.9 13 0.2 Poorly drain, saline sodic soils with
pH > 8.5 June 42.2 29.3 25 1.4
July 37.7 26.9 44 13.9
Aug. 37.4 26.2 51 42.6
Sept. 39.0 27.0 41 18.0
Oct. 40.7 28.4 26 1.0
Nov. 37.6 25.2 22 0.0
Dec. 33.2 19.6 25 0.0
Total rain fall 77.1
15

Appendix III. Some metrological data and general features of the soil at Shendi (2010)
Env Shendi 2010 Soil characteristics (general features)
Mean temperature C relative
humidity (%)
Total rain
fall (mm) max min
Jan. 33.0 16.5 24 0.0
Feb. 34.8 17.5 22 0.0
March 37.5 20.1 20 TR
April 41.4 22.9 16 0.0 Non-saline, non-sodic, well drained
loam to clay loamy soils with pH 7.1,
nitrogen content range 328-764 ppm
May 43.9 25.9 16 0.0
June 43.9 29.2 20 TR
July 39.6 27.4 32 46.7
Aug. 38.8 27.2 42 50.3
Sept. 40.3 27.1 36 13.0
Oct. 41.1 26.6 29 4.8
Nov. 37.5 23.1 28 0.0
Dec. 32.9 17.9 26 0.0
Total rain fall 114
TR = trace

Appendix IV. Some metrological data and general features of the soil at Merowe (2010)
Env Merowe 2010 Soil characteristics (general features)
Mean temperature C relative
humidity (%)
Total rain
fall (mm) max min
Jan. 31.3 15.9 28 0.0
Feb. 33.3 17.4 23 0.0
March 35.9 19.3 19 0.0
April 40.4 23.1 13 0.0
May 43.6 25.9 13 0.0 Karima series, non-saline, non-sodic
Well drained, silty soils with pH
around 7.0
June 45.2 28.1 32 0.0
July 42.6 29.1 29 0.4
Aug. 43.5 29.6 31 8.1
Sept. 42.9 28.1 25 11.4
Oct. 42.0 27.2 24 0.0
Nov. 36.6 23.6 30 0.0
Dec. 30.9 17.0 34 0.0
Total rain fall 19.9

16

Appendix V. Some metrological data and general features of the soil at Ad Duwaym (2011)
Env Ad Duwaym 2011 Soil characteristics (general features)
Mean temperature C relative
humidity (%)
Total rain
fall (mm) max min
Jan. 30.3 16.5 44 0.0
Feb. 35.4 19.9 32 0.0
March 36.3 20.5 28 0.0
Heavy clay, deep, moderately
drained , non-saline to slightly saline
soils, pH = 8.3
April 40.5 23.9 22 TR
May 41.0 26.4 34 1.0
June 41.1 27.1 36 TR
July 38.8 26.7 46 7.1
Aug. 34.8 24.3 64 150.1
Sept. 36.7 25.0 57 49.5
Oct. 38.6 25.4 47 3.1
Nov. 33.7 18.9 31 0.0
Dec. 32.8 18.1 38 0.0
Total rain fall 210.8
TR = trace

Appendix VI. Some metrological data and general features of the soil at Sennar (2011)
Env Sennar 2011 Soil characteristics (general features)
Mean temperature C relative
humidity (%)
Total rain
fall (mm) max min
Jan. 32.1 13.0 43 0.0
Feb. 37.6 16.0 34 0.0
March 38.4 18.1 25 0.0
April 42.4 21.9 22 0.0
May 41.2 24.5 44 12.1 Non-saline, non-sodic, heavy
clay, moderately drained soils with
pH 7.2
June 40.3 26.2 45 4.5
July 38.1 24.2 55 38.5
Aug. 34.9 22.2 71 150.8
Sept. 35.9 22.7 67 18.1
Oct. 37.7 21.7 57 67.4
Nov. 34.7 13.5 44 0.0
Dec. 34.6 13.3 46 0.0
Total rain fall 291.4
17

Appendix VI I. The major features of the maize hybrid HyTech2055
Designation: HyTech2055 is a one way hybrid maize from Misr HyTtech Co. Egypt.
Grain color Yellow
Grain type Dent
Plant height (cm) 261 (168-313)
Ear height (cm) 135 (112-155)
Tillering Non tillering
Days to tasseling 65 (55-79)
Ear length (cm) 16 (15.5-17.3)
Ear diameter (cm) 3.7 (3.5-3.9)
Number of rows per ear 16 (16-17)
Number of kernel per rows 36 (34-40)
Number of kernels per ear 501 (317-680)
Weight of 100 kernels (gm) 22 (19-25)
Figures between brackets denote min-max values across observations (rep.environment)

Appendix VIII. The major features of the maize hybrid HyTech2031
Designation : HyTech2031 is a one way hybrid maize from Misr HyTtech Co. Egypt.
Grain color White
Grain type Dent
Plant height (cm) 255 (235-290)
Ear height (cm) 120 (115-124)
Tillering Non tillering
Days to tasseling 69 (61-82)
Ear length (cm) 17 (16-19)
Ear diameter (cm) 4 (3.8-4.1)
Number of rows per ear 13 (12-15)
Number of kernel per rows 37 (36-38)
Number of kernels per ear 388(194-540)
Weight of 100 kernels (gm) 22.2 (17.8-25.4)
Figures between brackets denote min-max values across observations (rep.environment)