Sustainable improvement of single cross maize performance using vinasse-based biofertilizer

Abstract

Abstract Sustainable maize ( Zea mays L.) production can be enhanced through effective biofertilization practices, such as the application of vinasse, which improves plant growth and yield traits. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vinasse as an organic biofertilizer on the growth, yield, and quality of three maize single crosses, and to assess genotype–trait relationships using GGE biplot analysis for sustainable single-cross selection. A two-year field experiment was conducted during the 2022 and 2023 seasons at the Agronomy Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt. The experiment was arranged in a strip-plot design within a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Treatments included four vinasse solution levels (0, 1, 2, and 3 L plot −1 ; 10.5 m 2 and three maize single crosses (SC2031, SC2036, and SC168). The results revealed significant effects of vinasse concentrations, single-cross genotypes, and their interaction on major agronomic traits. The highest grain yield per plant was obtained from the single cross SC2036 under the application of 3 L plot −1 of vinasse, recording 187.0 and 191.2 g in the first and second seasons, respectively, corresponding to a maximum grain yield of 8.60 t ha −1 . The single cross SC2036 showed superior performance in plant height, leaf number, flag leaf area, chlorophyll content, stem and ear characteristics, grain yield, 100-grain weight, protein, and oil content. Meanwhile, SC2031 exhibited the highest yield stability across seasons, followed by SC2036 and SC168. AMMI analysis confirmed strong genotype × treatment interactions, with more than 98% of the total variation explained by the first two IPCA axes, indicating that IPCA1 was the major contributor to the interaction effect. These findings highlight the promising role of vinasse application combined with appropriate single-cross selection in improving maize productivity and supporting sustainable maize production under Egyptian agro-ecological conditions.