CORRELATIONS AMONG GRAIN YIELD, YIELD AND WEED ATTRIBUTES OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) AS INFLUENCED BY WEED CONTROL METHOD AND POULTRY MANURE RATE IN KANO STATE NIGERIA

Dr Muhammad Sani Garko,A Y Yaroson,M A Yawale,K D Dawaki,I B Mohammed

doi:10.29121/granthaalayah.v8.i4.2020.15

Abstract

Field trials were conducted during the rainy season of 2017 at Teaching and Research Farm of Bayero University and Kano State Livestock development Centre Dangora. To determine the magnitude and nature of the association between growth characters and grain yield of maize, as well as the percentage contribution of each of this independent variable on the dependant variable (yield).The trails consist of six weed control methods, three levels of poultry manure and three varieties of maize. The experiment was laid out in a split-split plot design with variety allocated to the main plot, poultry manure to the sub-plot while weed control method to the sub-sub plot, and was replicated three times. Grain yield correlated positively and significantly with growth and yield characters evaluated while weed dry weight and weed index were highly negatively correlated. The direct and indirect contributions results indicate that plant height had the highest direct contribution at BUK and Dangora in 2016 and Doka 2017 while plant dry matter accumulation had the highest direct contribution at Dangora in 2017. Cob diameter had the least direct effect in the study; the highest indirect effect was from cob diameter through plant height. The percentage individual contribution to grain yield showed that plant height made the highest contribution at BUK and Dangora in 2016, while cob diameter at both locations and plant dry matter at Dangora resulted in the least contribution. The combined contribution of dry matter and 100-seed weight was the highest positive contribution at BUK and that of plant height via 100-seed weight all in 2016 while cob length via 100-seed weight made the least negative contribution at BUK.

Highlights

Maize (Zea mays L.) is cultivated in rainy and dry seasons for grain as well as for fodder production in developing countries
The percentage individual contribution to grain yield showed that plant height made the highest contribution at BUK and Dangora in 2016, while cob diameter at both locations and plant dry matter at Dangora resulted in the least contribution
The strongest relationship between a growth parameter and seed yield in the combined data was that recorded between plant height and grain yield (r = 0.742**) at BUK and (r = 0.857**) at Dangora, while is the strongest growth relationship obtained in this study

Summary

Introduction

Maize (Zea mays L.) is cultivated in rainy and dry seasons for grain as well as for fodder production in developing countries. The crop is regarded as the most important cereal crop in Sub-Saharan Africa (IITA, 2013). It ranks third among cereal crops produced in Nigeria after sorghum and millet (FAO, 2012). Production of meat, eggs and dairy products (like milk and yoghurt) would be difficult without maize as it is highly desirable because of it is high energy and feed value of the kernel, leaf and stem, it is used for the production of bio-fuels in the developed countries and for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and industrial products such as starch, ethanol and plastic, and as a base for antibiotic production across the globe (Tesfay et al, 2014). Due to its expanded uses and high production potential, in agro industries, it is recognized as a leading commercial crop of great agronomic value in the economies of many countries including Nigeria (Rasheed et al, 2003)

Methods

Results

Conclusion