Table 2 Statistical results of the relationships across the whole set of plots (288), as well as across the set of plots of each trial (72) between grain yield and the ear counting using the algorithm (ears/m²) in the first, second and third date of measurement as well as the manual in situ counting

Whole dataset (288)

R² = 0.30***

R² = 0.08***

R² = 0.05***

R² = 0.24***

r = 0.55***

r = 0.28***

r = 0.21***

r = 0.49***

Aranjuez Irrigated

Dataset (72)

R² = 0.05^ns

R² = 0.05^ns

R² = 0.02^ns

R² = 0.18**

r = 0.22^ns

r = -0.04^ns

r = 0.14^ns

r = 0.43**

μ = 0.78 ± 0.03

μ = 0.71 ± 0.07

μ = 0.29 ± 0.14

Aranjuez Rainfed

Dataset (72)

R² = 0.05^ns

R² = 0.02^ns

R² = 0.02^ns

R² = 0.53***

r = 0.22^ns

r = 0.16^ns

r = 0.14^ns

r = 0.73***

μ = 0.76 ± 0.02

μ = 0.67 ± 0.04

μ = 0.17 ± 0.11

Valladolid Irrigated

Dataset (72)

R² = 0.06*

R² = 0.0049^ns

R² = 0.06*

R² = 0.01^ns

r  =  − 0.24*

r = − 0.07^ns

r = 0.25*

r = 0.07^ns

μ = 0.73 ± 0.03

μ = 0.67 ± 0.05

μ = 0.45 ± 0.10

Valladolid Rainfed

Dataset (72)

R² = 0.07*

R² = 0.05^ns

R² = 0.18***

R² = 0.05*

r = 0.26*

r = 0.22^ns

r = 0.43***

r = 0.23*

μ = 0.66 ± 0.04

μ = 0.41 ± 0.05

μ = 0.18 ± 0.14