Seed vigor is directly related to rapid and uniform seedling emergence and to crop initial development, factor which should have significant effects on the ability of plants to compete for the uptake of resources such as water, light and soil nutrients. It was investigated the effects of maize seed vigor on crop initial growth, yield and weed competition. The experiment was conducted in an experimental area at the University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil during the 2007/2008 growing season and used four lots of maize seed hybrid DOW8480, previously characterized with different vigor levels, grown on plots with and without weed control to give a total of eight treatments. Field analysis were made at the 2, 4, 6 and 8 leaves development stages when plants were evaluated by height, stem diameter and leaf area index. The solar radiation incident on intercrop lines was also measured at the 4 leaf development stage. Weed samples were collected during the maize-tasseling stage and evaluated by dry mass accumulation and maize yield was evaluated at harvest. The results showed that seed vigor is directly related to initial crop growth and that this affects maize plant competitive ability with regard to weeds with inferior growth rates. Furthermore, seed vigor has direct effects on maize yield during maximized competition for the uptake of resources.
grain yield; physiological potential; weeds; Zea mays L
