Maize cultivars with protein of high biological value (QPM) developed by EMBRAPA would be a good alternative for the Brazilian low income farmers, but in the humid tropic their performances should be confirmed under local prevalent field conditions. A field experiment was done in January, 1999, in an Argisol and under the system of alley cropping, with plots of 4 x 6 m² and four replications, to evaluate the growth and productivity of two high quality protein maize cultivars (BR 473 and BR 2121) in comparison to three other related cultivars used in the farming system of Maranhao state: Ferro (traditional cultivar, collected with local farmers), BR 106 and AG 1051 (low and medium technological level respectively). The leaf rate index, net assimilation rate, the number of cob, grain yield per cob, cob and 100 grains weight, and harvest index were evaluated. The results showed that cultivar BR 473 can be recommended to be cultivated in chemically stressed soil and high temperature conditions. The cultivar AG 1051 presented higher grain yield. The general use of local traditional cultivar Ferro by low income farmers can only be justified by the possibility of field storage, since its productivity was less than all other cultivars tested.
maize QPM; growth; productivity; alley cropping
