Exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) improves the filling process of maize grains at different ear positions by promoting starch accumulation and regulating hormone levels under high planting density

Table 1 Effects of ABA application on yield, yield components, and economic return in 2021 and 2022

Year	Hybrid	Treatment	Ear number (ears hm^− 2)	Grains per ear	1000-grains weight (g)	Yield (kg hm^− 2)	Economic return (dollar hm^− 2)
2021	DH605	CK	84147.36 ± 214 a	434.41 ± 7.63 a	352.73 ± 3.14 c	12893.81 ± 439 b	‒
	DH605	ABA	84198.38 ± 523 a	435.37 ± 9.15 a	375.63 ± 4.18 a	13774.32 ± 107 a	268.45 ± 23.75
	ZD958	CK	84143.11 ± 488 a	447.59 ± 6.67 a	346.70 ± 1.77 d	13003.87 ± 237 b	‒
	ZD958	ABA	84228.38 ± 369 a	445.58 ± 8.91 a	364.58 ± 2.96 b	13669.69 ± 195 a	172.46 ± 36.44
2022	DH605	CK	83893.33 ± 101 a	451.72 ± 17.99 a	357.26 ± 1.03 c	13538.95 ± 263 b	‒
	DH605	ABA	83903.47 ± 244 a	460.38 ± 12.36 a	379.48 ± 5.14 a	14514.10 ± 282 a	311.29 ± 22.18
	ZD958	CK	84473.11 ± 581 a	448.98 ± 6.64 a	347.70 ± 9.73 c	13185.40 ± 269 b	‒
	ZD958	ABA	84948.38 ± 354 a	455.62 ± 9.96 a	361.47 ± 2.04 b	14067.14 ± 175 a	269.29 ± 14.93

CK and ABA mean maize plant in the control and ABA treatments, respectively. Data presented as mean ± S.D. (n = 3). Different letters in the same column within the year denote significant differences

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