With the aim of evaluating the agronomic traits in nine maize cultivars, five being considered for cultivation of low investment and four maize crops considered for high investment, two trials were carried out in the agricultural year 2004/2005, in Lavras, MG. One of the trials was carried out with plant density of 55.000 plants ha-1 and the other, 65.000 plants ha-1. In each trial the nine maize crops were carried out in three fertilizing levels: (1) 300 kg ha-1 of an 8-28-16 formula at the sowing date, with an additional 200 kg ha-1 of a 30-00-20 formula, for covering; (2) 400 kg ha-1 of 8-28-16 at the sowing date, with an additional of 300 kg of 30-00-20, for covering; (3) 500 kg ha-1 of 8-28-16 at the sowing date, with an additional of 300 kg ha-1 of 30-00-20 and 150 kg ha-1 of N, for covering. The results allowed concluding that fertilizing with 500 kg ha-1 of 8-28-16 at the sowing date, with an additional 300 kg ha-1 of 30-00-20 and 150 kg ha-1 of N, for covering, the maize crops showed expressive increase in the productivity of grains and plant height. The increase of plant density from 55.000 plants ha-1 to 65.000 plants ha-1 did not influence the productivity of the grains, but interfered in the plant height, ear length, and prolificacy. The maize crops of high input showed higher prolificacy, higher plant height and higher productivity of grains in relationship to the crops of low investment.
Zea mays; grain production; arrangement of plantas; density of sowing; fertilizing
