Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T00:37:03.122Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The growth of two maize varieties in farmers' plots located at two contiguous ecological zones in Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

E. O. Lucas
E. O. Lucas
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The growth and development of two new maize hybrids (FARZ 27 and FARZ 23) were studied in density experiments located at two contiguous ecological zones in Nigeria. The range of planting density used was from 2·6 to 6·6 plants/m2. Within this range, the relationship between dry-matter yield and density was asymptotic at final harvest. At the forest location of Jago (7·3 °N, 4·2 °E), both varieties attained optimum grain yield at planting density of 4·4 plants/m2, while at the derived savannah location of Alagunmu (7·8 °N, 4 °E), FARZ 23 attained optimum grain yield at 4·4 plants/m2 and FARZ 27 attained its optimum grain yield at 6·6 plants/ma2. This response of the new maize varieties to density treatments indicates that they could be planted at higher densities than are now used in the country.

Differences between varieties did not quite reach statistical significance but, at both locations, FARZ 27 produced more dry matter and grain per unit area than FARZ 23. FARZ 27 gave its higher grain yield mainly by producing more seeds per unit area than FARZ 23. Physiological measurements like net assimilation rate, crop growth rate and leaf area index were also higher for FARZ 27, although there were no significant differences between the varieties at most sampling dates. The partition of dry matter was identical in both varieties, although FARZ 27 showed a slightly better balance by partitioning more assimilates to the grain. Also, there was an indication of remobilization of stored assimilates from the stem to the grain in both varieties. Both varieties produced more dry matter and grain at the derived savannah location of Alagunmu than at the forest location of Jago. Physiological measurements were also higher at the derived savannah location.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 97 , Issue 1 , August 1981 , pp. 125 - 134
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Adelana, B. O. & Milbourn, G. M. (1972 a). The growth of maize. I. The effect of plant density on yield of digestible dry matter and grain. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 78, 65–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Adelana, B. O. & Milbourn, G. M. (1972 b). The growth of maize. II. Dry-matter partition in three maize hybrids. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 78, 73–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allison, J. C. S. (1969). Effect of plant population on the production and distribution of dry matter in maize. Annals of Applied Biology 63, 135–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daynard, T. B., Tanner, J. W. & Hume, D. J. (1969). Contribution of stalk soluble carbohydrate to grain yield. Crop Science 9, 831–834.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Iremiren, G. O. & Milbourn, G. M. (1978). The growth of maize. IV. Dry-matter yields and quality of components for silage. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 90, 567–577.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Osafo, D. M. (1976 a). Weather conditions and the growth of maize in Kumasi area of Ghana. 2. Analysis of the growth of a maize variety sown on different dates. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science 9, 25–34.Google Scholar
Osafo, D. M. (1976 b). Weather conditions and the growth of maize in Kumasi area of Ghana. 3. The distribution of shoot dry matter. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science 9, 35–41.Google Scholar
Radford, P. J. (1967). Growth analysis formulae — their use and abuse. Crop Science 7, 171–175.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Remison, S. U. (1979). Effects of weeding and nitrogen treatments on maize yields in Nigeria. Weed Research 19, 71–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Remison, S. U. (1980). Problems of maize production in Nigeria. World Crops (01), 18–19.Google Scholar
Remison, S. U. & Akinleye, D. (1978). Relationship between lodging, morphological characters and yield of varieties of maize (Zea mays L.). Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 91, 633–638.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Eijnatten, C. L. M. (1963). A study of the development of two varieties of maize in Ibadan, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 61, 65–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Watson, D. J. (1952). The physiological basis of variation in yield. Advances in Agronomy 4, 101–145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar