Comparing Grain Production and Utilization of Solar, Heat Resources Between Spring Maize and Summer Maize

A filed experiment was conducted to compare spring maize and summer maize regarding grain yield, grain quality, dry matter accumulation, utilization of solar, heat resources. The results indicated grain yield of spring maize was 1 600 kg/ha higher than summer maize on the average. And spring maize had a significant higher grain quality than summer maize. Besides, the former one had obvious advantages on dry matter accumulation rate, which was 15.8% higher than the later one. The higher grain yield potential of spring maize benefited from superior solar condition during vegetative period and its longer grain filling duration. Climate condition during summer maize grain filling period was more favorable, while its grain yield potential had not been exerted fully due to limitation of winter wheat growing season.