Effects of water deficit on the growth and yield formation of maize (Zea mays L.)

Mahama Salifu

doi:10.34101/actaagrar/72/1606

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important consuming cereal crop in the world after rice and wheat. This requires an understanding of various management practices as well as conditions that affect maize crop performance. Water deficit stress during crop production is one of the most serious threats to crop production in most parts of the world and drought stress or water deficit is an inevitable and recurring feature of global agriculture and it is against this background that field study of crops response to water deficit is very important to crop producer and researchers to maximize yield and improve crop production in this era of unpredicted climatic changes the world over.A pot experiment was carried out to determine the effects of water deficit on growth and yield formation of maize. Two maize cultivars were used Xundan20 and Zhongdan5485. Three levels of soil water content were used in two stages of water control levels at two stages of the maize plant development1. The JOINTING STAGE: A. CONTROL (CK) soil water content: from 70% to 80% of soil water holding capacity at the field, soil water content: from 55% to 65% of soil water holding capacity at the field, soil water content: from 40% to 50% of the Soil water holding capacity at the field.2. The BIG FLARE PERIOD: A. CONTROL (CK) soil water content: from 75% to 85% of soil water holding capacity at the field, soil water content: from 58% to 68% of soil water holding capacity at the field, soil water content: from 45% to 55% of the soil water holding capacity at the field.This research mainly studied the effects of water deficit on physiological, morphology and the agronomical characteristics of the maize plant at the different water stress levels.The importance of these results in this experiment will enable plant producers to focus and have a fair idea as to which stage of the maize plant’s development that much attention must be given to in terms of water supply.

Highlights

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major cereal crop world over, serving as a major staple for both human consumption and animal feed
Crop production in any location in the world cannot be carry out meaningfully without enough water supply to the crops, but due to climate changes and its impact on the environment, most crops are grown in many parts of the world without enough water supply at some parts of the crops developmental stages
It is necessary to know such effects of water deficit at different stages of crop growth in order to develop crop management strategies to minimize the risk in maize production

Summary

Introduction

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major cereal crop world over, serving as a major staple for both human consumption and animal feed. Maize constitutes a stable food in many regions of the world. It is a basic stable for large population groups in developing countries (FAO 2008). The consumption of maize as feed has increased tremendously with the development of poultry and livestock industry. Maize is one of the grain crops in the world which is the most versatile. It is used in the human diet in both fresh and processed forms. The value added has been an important economic driver in the corn markets (Hallauer and Miranda 1988)

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