Three maize hybrids different for earliness were grown in northern France at different plant densities (80,000 plants/ha to 185,000 plants/ha) with row spacing of 0.80 m and 0.45 m. These treatments induce LAI variations from 1.44 to 5.17. There is no variation in PAR efficiency among hybrids and plant densities. There is only variation with development; values obtained are 0.88 g/MJ in the first stages, 2.68 g/MJ until silking, 2.06 g/MJ after silking.