PERFORMANCE OF EARLY AND LATE MAIZE (Zea mays L.) VARIETIES UNDER VARYING TIMES OF APPLIED FERTILIZER FOLLOWING A BUSH FALLOW
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out at the Research Farm of the University of Benin during the early growing season (April to July) of 2014 to investigate the performance of early and late maize variety under varying times of fertilizer application. The experiment was laid out as a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with a split-plot arrangement with four replications. Early and Late maize were used. Fertilizer application times included no fertilizer application, one week before planting, at planting, one week after planting, two weeks after planting, three weeks after planting and four weeks after planting. The traits evaluated include the plant and ear height, days to 50% tasselling and silking, days to 95% maturity, harvest index, the total dry matter plant-1, 1000-grain yield and the grain yield ha-1. The result obtained showed that these characters were significantly influenced by time of fertilization and maize variety. Early maize had significantly higher grain yield than late maize. Time of fertilization influenced total dry matter and grain yield. Therefore, early maize may be recommended for optimal yield under bush fallow in the Rainforest zone of Nigeria.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important staple food crop and provides bulk of raw materials for the livestock and many agro-allied industries in the world (Bello et al, 2010; Randjelovic et al, 2011). It is the third most important grain crop in the world after wheat and rice (USDA and FAS Grain, “Zea production maps and statistics,” 2010). Maize is of significant importance for developing countries like Nigeria, where rapid increase in population have already out stripped the available food supplies in which maize serve to ameliorate due to its high productivity and diversified use. More maize is produced annually than any other grain (IITA 2006).
Worldwide production of maize is 785 million tons, with the largest producer, the United States, producing 42%. Africa produces 6.5% and the largest African producer is Nigeria with nearly 8 million tons, followed by South Africa. Africa imports 28% of the required maize from countries outside the continent (IITA 2006). 158 million hectares of maize are harvested worldwide. Africa harvests 29 million hectares, with Nigeria, the largest producer in Sub Sahara Africa (SSA) harvesting 3%, followed by Tanzania (FAO, 2007). Worldwide consumption of maize is more than 116 million tons, with Africa consuming 30% and SSA 21%.
The tropical rainforest agro-ecology of Nigeria has a great potential for its production because of its high solar radiation coupled with much precipitation that favours maize production. In the southern rainforest belt of Nigeria, maize is grown twice due to bimodal rainfall pattern (a short early growing season followed by fairly long late season). Early maize varieties are usually planted at the onset of rainy season before it’s fully established (March/April), and matured sooner than the traditional crops. This succours in filling the hunger gap in July when all food reserves have been depleted after the long dry period in the zone. On the other hand, the late season crop is planted during the second cycle of rains (July/August).
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