Evaluation of Maize Genotype Adaptation to Acidic Dryland Conditions in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Maize is one of the leading agricultural commodities widely cultivated in Indonesia. The increasing demand for maize in the country has driven the need for land extensification, including the utilization of suboptimal areas. The objective of this study was to identify maize genotypes that are adapted to acidic dryland conditions. The genetic materials used in this research consisted of 100 genotypes (94 hybrids derived from line × tester crosses and 6 check varieties). The multitrait genotype–ideotype distance index (MGIDI) analysis was performed to select the best genotypes based on the observed traits. The results indicated that five genotypes were adaptive to acidic dryland conditions, namely, B4B × L15, NK Sumo, Sukmaraga × L15, NK Perkasa, and MS3 × L15. These genotypes had an average plant height of 172.4 cm, stem diameter of 17.9 mm, an anthesis–silking interval (ASI) of 1.9 days, a plant appearance score of 2.3 (good), a stay‐green proportion above 40%, an ear appearance score of 2.0 (good), a grain weight per ear of 118.8 g, and a yield potential of 7.88 tons/ha. The MGIDI method showed potential for identifying superior maize genotypes adapted to acidic dryland conditions, with the selected genotypes demonstrating promising overall performance in the tested environment. Because the evaluation was conducted at a single location within one growing season, the observed performance reflects adaptation to that specific test environment. Further multilocation and multiseason trials are required to confirm their stability and broader adaptation, as well as to assess their potential for advancement as candidates for new, improved maize varieties.