Changes recently introduced to maize genotypes have made necessary to reassess the management practices recommendations for this culture, among them the plants spatial arrangement. This study was carried out to evaluate the best plant arrangement design for the maize hybrids XB 6010, XB 6012, XB 7253, XB 9003, and AG 9010, spaced at 0.45 m and 0.90 m among rows. The experiment was conducted on the 2009 harvest time, in Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, with spacing arranged in strips and the combinations hybrids x populations arranged in a 5x5 factorial scheme for each block. The 50,000 plants ha-1; 60,000 plants ha-1; 70,000 plants ha-1; 80,000 plants ha-1; and 90,000 plants ha-1 populations were evaluated. The results were analyzed by using the F test, with the hybrids effects and row spacing compared by the Tukey test and populations compared by regression analysis. The hybrids differed in all features measured, what can be explained by intrinsic characteristics of each genotype. The increase of the population affected negatively most of the characters and yield components. Grain yield was influenced by the spatial arrangements, with different responses from hybrids. The best arrangements were AG 9010 (90,000 plants ha-1), for the 0.45 m row spacing; XB 7253 (70,000 plants ha-1), for both row spacings; and XB 6010, XB 6012, and XB 9003, with no significant response to such arrangements, being recommended the 50,000 plants ha-1 one, for both row spacings.
Zea mays L; population density; plant arrangement; grain yield
