Agronomic and economic performance of maize (Zea mays L.) as influenced by seed bed configuration and weed control treatments

Abstract

Abstract Poor method of weed control and indiscriminate use of herbicides led to low yields, economic returns, and increasing environmental pollution in the southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. These prompted the conduct of field trials in the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons to determine the effects of seed bed configuration and weed control treatments on the agronomic and economic performance of maize. The treatments consisted of flat and ridge seed beds and six weed control treatments. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with split plot arrangement and replicated thrice. Results showed that seed bed configuration had significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on weed density, but not on maize grain yield. All the weed control treatments significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced weed infestation and increased maize grain yields compared to the weedy check. Furthermore, Primextra at 1.5 kg active ingredient per hectare (kg a.i. ha−1) + One supplementary hoe weeding (SHW) at 6 weeks after sowing (WAS), Primextra + Paraforce at 1.5 + 0.7 kg a.i. ha−1, and Primextra + Guard force at 1.5 + 0.03 kg a.i. ha−1 applied on flat seed beds and two hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS + ridge produced higher yields, profit, and economic returns. Therefore, the above reduced herbicide rates applied on flat seed beds are recommended to farmers as alternatives to two hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS for profitable production of maize.