Middle East Journal of Agriculture Research ISSN 2077-4605 Volume : 04 | Issue : 03 | July-Sept. | 2015 Pages: 590-601 Corresponding Author: A. M. Saad, Agronomy Dept., Fac. of Agric., Benha Univ., Egypt E-mail: Ahmed.Saad@fagr.bu.edu.eg 590 Impact of Various Seeding Orientation Patterns on Growth, Grain Yield and its Components of two Maize Varieties Seif, A.S. and A. M. Saad Agronomy Dept., Fac. of Agric., Benha Univ., Egypt. ABSTRACT Experiments were designed and implemented to evaluate yield, its components and quality determinations of two maize varieties (Hi-tech 2031 and Fine seeds 101) under six planting directions (North- South (N-S), East-West (E-W), North.Eastern (N.E), North.Western (N.W), Perpendicular (Perp.) and Circular (Circ.). Two field experiments were carried out at the Experimental Research station, Faculty of Agriculture, Moshtohor, Benha University, Kalubia Governorate during two summer growing seasons (2013 and 2014). Results could be concluded as follows: The two growing seasons showed significant differences in yield and its components for the two maize varieties (Hi-tech 2031 and Fine seeds 101). Whereas, Hi-tech 2031was superior crop as compared to Fine seeds 101 variety in grain yield, stover yield, cob yield, ear weight, ear diameter, ear length, number of kernels/ row, plant height, ear height and CP content of grain. Meanwhile, Fine seeds 101 variety was the superior crop in number of rows/ear, seed index, shelling percentage and light radiation intensity within plant canopy with significant differences of various magnitudes. Regarding planting directions, data showed that the Circular direction was superior in grain yield, stover yield, ear weight, ear diameter, ear length, number of rows/ear, number of kernels/ row, shelling percentage and light radiation intensity with significant differences magnitudes. Meanwhile, the tallest plants were obtained when using North-South direction. Meanwhile, highest seed index produced from East-West direction. Moreover, the superior CP content and ear height were noticed for the perpendicular direction. Key words: Maize (Zea mays, L) varieties, Seeding orientation patterns, yield, quality Introduction Maize (Zea mays, L) is one of the most important crops and ranks the third of the most important cereal crops after wheat and rice in Egypt and world wide. Efforts being done to improve maize productivity to fulfill the food requirements over the drastically expanding population. Moreover, it is required for several industrial purposes as starch, syrups, oil and its other plant residues and by products. Mohamed et al., (2009) reported about the importance of maize for food, feed and other purposes and for contributed with the other consumption of cereal crops to satisfy the general food consumption target. The traditional seed broadcasting have been identified as major causes of lower productivity. Mechanizations of agriculture operations have increased recently and adopted for mechanical line or row sowing. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on proper row direction required for maximum yield of seed production (Pandey et al., 2013). Researchers varied upon judgements for preferring sowing directions of crop plants in north-south or in east-west row orientation. But the inconsistent of their results could be due to the location of the farm and the other important crucial physioenvironmental factors as presented earlier, which should be respected for each situation to full fill the basic requirements of each crop plant to germinate, grow and produce the highest yield of best quality. Moreover, there is no enough research information for studying the effect and functions of other un- traditional sowing direction as each of the two diagonals directions (north easteren and north western), the perpendicular and the circular row orientations. These and possible others could be well studied. Row orientation on seed and forage yield of grasses sorghum was experimented (Nasser Shamsadin, 2008) where 4 seeding directions were tried: north-south, east-west, north easteren and north western. Results showed that planting orientation had significant effect on seed yield, weight of 1000 seeds, number of tillers, dry matter yield length and diameter of shoot. Mean comparisons, showed that a maximum and minimum amount of the prevailing mentioned traits except shoot length was obtained when using north-south orientations than for east-west direction.