Influence of some environmental factors on maize productivity in Osun state, Nigeria

Abstract

Temperature, humidity and direction of the prevailing wind are parts of significant environmental factors, which have greater impact on crop productivity, especially with the recent global climate change. These were researched into on maize seeds planted at three different furrow orientations on the field; Or. 90⁰, Or. 60⁰ and Or. 30⁰ to direction of the prevailing wind on the same plot of land at three replicates A, B and C each. Temperature and humidity were measured at 8.00hr, 10.00hr for morning; 14.00h and 16.00h for afternoon each day. Temperature-Humidity Index-THI was calculated using THI equation. Leaf development was measured in terms of broadness, stem girth, length and number of leaves. Harvest Index, HI and Leaf Area Index, LAI were also calculated. The result shows that at significant level (p < 0.05), effect of Or. was observed on THI values in the afternoon period, but in the morning, significant (p > 0.05) effect of orientation on THI was not observed. The Or. 90⁰ had highest HI of maize and better growth. The LAI values show that Or. 90⁰ had higher LAI (0.775), than that of Or. 60⁰ of value (0.770), between 40th and 70th days. It was found out that orientation of furrow of maize crops to direction of the prevailing is a function of the environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and the closer the orientation of furrow slice for crop leaves is towards the 90⁰ wind direction, the better its growth and yield. 

Key Words: Crop productivity, Leaf Area Index, Temperature-Humidity Index, orientation, Osun State