Genotype–Environment Interaction in Shaping the Agronomic Performance of Silage Maize Varieties Cultivated in Organic Farming Systems

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Authors: Katarzyna Marcinkowska, Karolina Kolańska, Konrad Banaś, Agnieszka Łącka, Tomasz Lenartowicz, Piotr Mirosław Szulc, Henryk Bujak
Cited by: 1
References: 19

Abstract

Organic production systems impose strong environmental constraints on silage maize, yet the relative contributions of genotype, environment and their interaction (G × E) to key performance traits remain insufficiently resolved. This study evaluated six maize cultivars across 11 organically managed environments (location × year combinations) in Poland, assessing weed infestation, plant height, fresh matter yield, dry matter content and dry matter yield. Genotype × environment interaction was explicitly analyzed using AMMI-based models, and cultivar adaptability and stability were evaluated using complementary indices. Environmental effects consistently dominated all traits, explaining 78–91% of total variation, while G × E interactions, though smaller, were significant and altered cultivar rankings. Weed infestation ranged widely across environments, from below 10% to over 90%, and was almost entirely environment-driven. Yield-related traits followed a strong precipitation gradient, with Pawłowice and Śrem showing the highest biomass potential. SM Perseus produced the greatest dry matter yields (13.53 t·ha−1), whereas SM Mieszko combined high dry matter content (37.73%) with outstanding stability. Mega-environment analysis identified distinct adaptive niches, confirming that no genotype performed consistently best across all conditions. These findings close a key knowledge gap regarding cultivar performance under organic management and demonstrate the necessity of multi-environment evaluation that integrates performance, stability and adaptability analyses to support site-specific cultivar recommendations that enhance biomass productivity and silage quality in ecologically managed maize systems.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Weed Control and Herbicide Applications Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems Crop Yield and Soil Fertility

Publication details

Journal / source
Agriculture
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
16
Issue
1
Pages
123–123
Publication date
3 January 2026
Language
EN