Keywords
heat units
thermal time
maize phenology
How to Cite
Abstract
Temperature is a measure of the amount of heat that affects the growth and development of maize. The concept of heat units is widely used in phenological studies, particularly for predicting phenological changes in living organisms. A direct method for calculating heat units is through the estimation of growing degree days (GDD), which quantifies the relationship between maize phenology and temperature. A literature review was conducted on the effects of temperature, especially GDD, to evaluate phenological changes and their relationship with agronomic management practices in maize cultivation. This study was carried out in 2024 and drew upon recent information from the scientific databases Science Direct and Redalyc, consulting research articles focused on agroclimatic indices applied to maize cultivation. The paper presents a theoretical framework integrating various case studies and synthesizing information generated in major maize-producing regions worldwide, resulting in a broad set of interrelated concepts that enhance understanding of the topic. Based on this review, it has been documented that GDD represents a simple and widely used method for monitoring and estimating phenological stages in maize; however, their application depends on adequate agronomic and environmental knowledge.
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