Abstract
An experiment was conducted to assess the response of agrophysiological characters of quality protein maize genotypes to plant population under irrigated conditions in a semi arid ecology of Northern Nigeria. Field trials were conducted at the Irrigation Research Station, Institute for Agricultural Research, Kadawa (11° 39’N, 08° 20’E) and 500 m above sea level) during 2007, 2008 and 2009 dry seasons to study the effect of (Zea mays L.) genotypes (TZE-W Pop X 1368, EV-DT W99 STR and DMR-ESRW), four plant population (33,333, 44,444, 55,555 and 66,666 plants ha-1) and three irrigation scheduling (40, 60 and 80 centibars soil moisture tension) on the growth and yield of quality protein maize. A split plot design was used with combinations of genotypes and irrigation regimes assigned to the main plot and plant population assigned to the sub-plot. The treatments were replicated three times. The study revealed that genotype EV-DT W99 STR recorded significantly higher relative growth rate, crop growth rate and net assimilation rate. Increase in plant population significantly decreased leaf area index and net assimilation rate. Delayed irrigation significantly depressed total dry matter production. Based on the results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that the use of genotype EV-DT W99 STR, at 60 centibars irrigation scheduling and 55,555 plants ha-1 had resulted in good agrophysiological characters of QPM at Kadawa. Key words: Quality protein maize genotypes, plant population, irrigation, agrophysiological characteristics.
Highlights
Maize grown in Nigeria has traditionally been conventional maize varieties
Based on the results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that the use of genotype EV-DT W99 STR, at 60 centibars irrigation scheduling and 55,555 plants ha-1 had resulted in good agrophysiological characters of quality protein maize (QPM) at Kadawa
The trend of net assimilation rate (NAR) and crop growth rate (CGR) of QPM genotypes is shown in Table 1 and indicate that for both parameters, in 2007 and 2009, genotype EV-DT W99 STR QPM had significantly higher NAR than genotypes TZE-W Pop X 1368 QPM and DMR-ESRW QPM except in 2007 when genotype DMRESRW QPM had significantly lower NAR and Crop growth rate (CGR) values respectively
Summary
Maize grown in Nigeria has traditionally been conventional maize varieties. With improvements in maize breeding, quality protein maize (QPM), a new class of maize was developed at Purdue University, USA, in 1963. QPM combines the nutritional excellence of Opaque-2 maize (whose protein content is twice that of normal maize) with the kernel structure of conventional maize varieties (Vassal et al, 1993). There is a dearth of research on the performance of QPM genotypes under irrigated conditions in semi arid regions of Nigeria. QPM production is being promoted across Nigeria mainly in areas where it is grown in the wet season. Most QPM genotypes were bred under rain fed conditions. The yield potential in the savanna ecology is higher compared to the wetter (Forest) and drier (Sahel) environments (Kassam et al, 1975) due to adequate moisture, low
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