Tillage and Fertilizer Effects on Maize Production in Northern Guinea Savanna of Ghana

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major food crop in Ghana but grain yield is often constrained by low soil fertility and water deficits during grain fill. Response of maize to tillage and fertilizer treatments was evaluated in a field experiment from 2000 through 2002 on a sandy loam soil (Typic-plinthic Paleustalf) in Wa in the northern Guinea savanna of Ghana Tied-ridging at 4wk after planting on the flat was compared with planting on a flat soil surface without ridging and with a traditional ridging practice 4 wk after planting on the flat in combination with four fertilizer treatments (F1 = no fertilizer; F2 = 45-19-19; F3 = 64-38-38 and F4 = 90-38-38) as kg N, P O and K O ha-1. Tillage-induced differences in maize growth and yield were not 2 5 2 significant in any season. Over the years fertilizer increased maize growth and yield but this was independent of the tillage treatment. Mean grain yields with the F2, F3 and F4 treatments were 208-234, 304-413 and 391-567% greater than with no fertilizer treatment, respectively. Mean stover yield was 74-85, 147-158 and 131-141% greater respectively, with F2, F3 and F4 than with no fertilizer treatment. Economic analyses showed that the marginal rate of return in applying fertilizer ranged from 97 to 107%. The MRR for F3 was greater than that of F4 but F4 had greater net returns Further studies may be needed to establish appropriate time of tied-ridging and optimum fertilizer level for maize in the Guinea savanna of Ghana.

Keywords: Maize, fertilizer, tied-ridging, savanna zone, net returns.