Determination of Optimum Intra-Row Spacing for Maize Varieties (Zea mays L.) on its Yield and Yield Components in West Hararghe, Ethiopia

Abstract

The western part of the Ethiopia is generally well suited for the current maize varieties with the largest adoption, in particular to west hararghe. However, agronomic management practices such as appropriate plant spacing and use of improved varieties are quite important for enhancing maize production. Hence, a field experiment was not conducted before 2023 cropping season at Gumbi bordodde district western hararghe to determine the effects of intra -row spacing on yield and yield components of maize varieties. The experiment consisted of the factorial combinations of two maize varieties (“BH-546”,’’M-6’’ and “M-2”) and five intra-row spacing (20, 25, 30, 35 cm and 40cm) with a total of 15 treatments in RCBD with three replications. The results of the study had shown that there were highly significant differences due to the main effects of varieties on days to 50% tasseling, 50% silking, and 90% maturity. There was also highly significant difference due to the main effects of both variety and intra-row spacing on ear length and number of grains per row while, leaf area index was highly significant on the main effect of varieties and significant on main effect of intra-row spacing. Avery highly significant interaction effect of variety and intra-row spacing on above ground dry biomass yield and grain yield and highly significant in hundred grain weight. Generally, higher grain yield and above ground dry biomass were obtained from BH-546 at 25 cm (10325.47kg∙ha−1 and 34334.65kg∙ha−1) respectively. The highest grain yield (10325.47kg∙ha−1) was obtained at 25cm spacing in BH-546 while the lowest grain yield (3735.18 kgha−1) was obtained from 40cm spacing in 1. M2. The result of economic analysis showed that the maximum net benefit (ETB 278988.75 ha-1) was obtained at spacing of 25cm in BH-546. Therefore, based on economic analysis it can be conclude that optimum intra row spacing (25 cm) is promising for BH-546 maize variety production in main season of Gumbi bordodde district and similar agro ecologies. For better confirmation of the result, this one-year experiment needs to be repeated at multi-locations and in different seasons.