Effects of storage conditions and tillage operation on some fungal diseases and yield of maize

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L) belongs to the family Poaceae and it is mostly grown as food for man and feed for animal. A two-season experiment was conducted in 2006 and 2007, respectively, to determine the effect of storage condition and tillage operation on some fungal diseases and yield of maize. Analysis of variance indicated that storage condition significantly affected plant height (cm) 5.69; 6.26 at 9 weeks after planting. Tillage operation was statistically significant on leaf spot and blight infection at 9 weeks after planting at 5% probability level. Interaction of storage condition and tillage operation was also significant on blight infection at 9 weeks after planting 0.50; 0.58. Seeds from dehusked maize recorded highest plant height, leaf formation and grain yield, while shelled was lowest on both parameters in 2006 and 2007, respectively. However, the three storage conditions investigated were statistically similar on blight infection. Dehusked and undehusked plots recorded statistically similar result on leaf spot severity while shelled had the highest. Spot tilled plots recorded lowest leaf spot and blight severity but highest grain yields when zero-tilled plots (control) had the highest in all the field diseases investigated, but lowest grain yield in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Micro-organisms identified on infected leaves were Helminthosporium spp, Spermospora spp, whileFusarium spp, Penicilium spp, Blastomyces and Aspergillus species were identified with infected grains with Fusarium and Penicilium species occurring highest in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Key words: Storage condition, tillage operation, fungal diseases, yield, maize.