Abstract
The productivity of maize in Eritrea in general and under semi-arid tropics of Hamelmalo in particular is low because of moisture stress. The low moisture content is ascribed to the low and erratic distribution of rainfall, high temperature, lack of suitable varieties, and competition by weeds and low soil fertility. To overcome some of these problems, a field experiment was carried out to assess the effect of moisture conservation methods (MCM) and plant density on the productivity of two maize (Zea mays L.) varieties under semi-arid tropics of Hamelmalo, Eritrea. The experiment was conducted in split-split plot design with three MCM viz tied ridge, ridge and furrow and flat-bed in main plots; two maize varieties viz early local and 04sadve hybrid in sub plots and three plant densities by manipulating the plant to plant distance viz 35 cm, 25 cm and 15 cm at a fixed 75 cm row spacing in sub-sub plots, each replicated thrice. The experiment was focused in addressing the effective moisture conservation techniques, optimum plant density to each variety thus to improve productivity. The crop experienced 10°C to 34.8°C minimum and maximum temperature, respectively and received 429.1 mm total rainfall. The results of the experiment indicated that among all the combinations, 04sadve hybrid variety sown at 75 cm × 25 cm spacing in ridge and furrow method or at 75 cm × 15 cm spacing in tied ridge or flat-bed method and early local variety sown at 75 cm × 15 cm spacing in flat-bed being statistically at par resulted in significantly higher moisture conservation and consequently higher grain yield (4509 kg·ha-1) and higher water use efficiency. It is, therefore, recommended that tied ridge or flat-bed of moisture conservation method at 15 cm plant spacing and 04sadve is preferable to optimize productivity in Hamelmalo area, Eritrea.
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.), locally known as efun in Eritrea, ranks third after sorghum and pearl millet among summer food grains and fifth among all food grains after sorghum, pear millet, wheat and barley in both area and production
The results of the experiment indicated that among all the combinations, 04sadve hybrid variety sown at 75 cm × 25 cm spacing in ridge and furrow method or at 75 cm × 15 cm spacing in tied ridge or flat-bed method and early local variety sown at 75 cm × 15 cm spacing in flat-bed being statistically at par resulted in significantly higher moisture conservation and higher grain yield (4509 kg∙ha−1) and higher water use efficiency
A perusal of the data indicated that combination of 04sadve hybrid variety sown at 25 cm spacing in ridge and furrow method resulted in significanly higher grain yield (4509 kg/ha) followed by a combination of 04sadve variety sown at 15 cm plant spacing in tied ridge (4023 kg/ha) and both the varieties sown at 15 cm spacing in flat-bed method (4057 kg/ha) which were statistically at par
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.), locally known as efun in Eritrea, ranks third after sorghum and pearl millet among summer food grains and fifth among all food grains after sorghum, pear millet, wheat and barley in both area and production. The productivity of this crop in Africa in general and Eritrea in particular is much lower than its average productivity (4472 kg/ha) in the world. In Eritrea, maize is produced in very marginal areas like highland and the production is not sufficient to meet the aggressive demand by the consumers
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