ASSESSMENT OF HYBRID MAIZE PRODUCTIVITY ON SOIL ASSOCIATION OF CAMBISOLS AND GLEISOLS IN CENTRAL MAMUJU REGENCY, WEST SULAWESI, INDONESIA

The study on productivity of New Superior Variety (NSV) hybrid maize IAARD was conducted in Tobadak, Central Mamuju on farmer-owned land about 3 ha. The purpose of the study was to determine the productivity of NSV hybrid maize with the application of Integrated Crop Management (ICM) technology. Varieties used were Nasa 29, JH 37 and JH 45, and NK 212 as a comparison variety. The experiments were arranged in a randomized block design which 3 times replication. Observations were made on the growth and yield of NSV hybrid maize. Soil types in the study location include Cambisols and Gleisols soil associations. Land suitability classes for maize in Tobadak classified as marginally (S3) are 20,230 ha with limiting factors including, i.e nutrient retention, nutrient availability, and water availability. The assessment results indicated that the NSV hybrid maize studied with the application of ICM technology increase maize productivity. Varieties of Nasa 29, JH 37 and JH 45 gave yields 8.16 t - 13.45 t ha-1, higher than the average maize yield achieved in West Sulawesi (4.70 t ha-1) or in Central Mamuju Regency (5.19 t ha-1). Nasa 29, JH 37 and JH 45 gave yields equivalent to 8.16 t-13.45 t ha-1, higher than the average maize yield in West Sulawesi (4.70 t ha-1) or in Central Mamuju (5.19 t ha-1). The Nasa 29 variety gave higher yields and was significantly different from the NK 212 hybrid maize (comparison), JH 37 was not significantly different from NK 212, but the JH 45 yield was lower than the comparator. VUB of Balitbangtan Nasa 29 and JH 37 hybrid maize has the opportunity to be developed because it gives relatively the same yield as the comparator, even Nasa 29 has higher yields.