Investigation on genotype-by-environment interaction and stable maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids across soil moisture conditions

Maize production and productivity are challenged by multiple and co-occurring stresses that impact crop growth, development and consequently the yields. Maize crop is often exposed to a combination of drought and waterlogging stresses during the same or alternative growing seasons, therefore it became a major challenge to select promising cultivars that fit across varied soil moisture conditions. In this context, the present experiment was carried out to evaluate 75 maize hybrids under six environments with a combination of cropping season, location and soil moisture condition. The objective of the present investigation is to carry out simultaneous selection of ideal maize hybrids with better yield potential and stable across soil moisture regimes through additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis. The analysis of variance for mean grain yield across test environments showed significant variation for genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI), along with genotypes and environments that ensured stability analysis. Five maize hybrids viz., ZH161303, ZH161478, ZH161330, ZH161047 and ZH161068 were found promising hybrids with high stability and productivity across the soil moisture regimes including low, excess and optimal soil moisture environments.