Field evaluation of extra early maize varieties in two agro ecological zones of Nigeria

Abstract

Low yield of maize has been attributed to low soil N since maize requires high Nitrogen for optimum productivity Field study was conducted in the late season of at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Research Farms in Ibadan forest savanna transition and Mokwa southern guinea savanna zones to evaluate the effects of split Nitrogen fertilizer application on growth and yield of extra early maize The experimental arrangement was x factorial fitted into Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated four times Five extra early maize varieties and eight rates of Nitrogen fertilizer were used in all treatment Data collected on growth and yield parameters were subjected to Analysis of Variance procedure and significant means were separated using Duncan rsquo s Multiple Range Test at p lt Results showed that maize variety TZEE W DT STR at both locations had significant higher number of leaves plant height leaf area cob dried yield and grain yield at both locations Split application of N fertilizer of kg N ha as at and WAS produce significantly p lt higher grain weight grain yield and dried cob yield at Mokwa and Ibadan respectively The control plot produced significantly reduced dried cob and grain yield in Mokwa and Ibadan by and respectively compared to the best rate of split N application Mokwa Southern guinea savanna zone proved to be a favorable location for higher yield of extra early maize varieties The study concluded that application of N in two split doses at and WAS as kg N ha on extra early maize is recommended for achieving optimum grain yield in both locations The TZEE W DT STR is the best variety in terms of growth and yield of maize at the two locations and is hereby recommended