Effects of tillage operations and plant density on leaf spot disease severity and grain yield of maize in ultisols

Abstract

Two seasons experiments conducted in 2002 and 2003 revealed that Tillage operations significantly influenced leafspot disease severity; Percentage lodging 3.14; 2.08 and Grain yield 3.02; 3.84 in 2002 and 2003 respectively. Plant density also had significant difference on leafspot disease severity; Percentage lodging 4.82, 3.16 and Grain yield 4.00; 4.18 in 2002 and 2003 respectively. Spot tillage recorded low leafspot disease severity 0.94; 1.02 in comparison with Strip tillage 1.18; 1.30 when zero tillage (control) 2.28; 2.77 were high. 53,000 plants/ha recorded high leafspot disease severity 1.84, 1.95 in comparison with 26,666 plants/ha 1.05, 1.14 when 17,777 plants/ha 0.92; 1.00 were low in 2002 and 2003 respectively. Spot tillage recorded significantly highest grain yield 4.35; 4.72 tons/ha followed by strip 3.82; 4.02; when zero tillage 3.20; 3.66 were lowest. 53,000 plants/ha recorded high grain yield 4.51; 4.30 tons/ha in comparison with 26,666 plants/ha 2.48; 1.10 when 17,777 plants/ha 2.02; 1.95 were low in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 7(1) 2006: 33-36