Yield performance of three maize (Zea mays L.) varieties as influenced by time of nitrogen fertilizer topdressing in Savannah zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Two field trials were conducted during 2016 wet season at Institute for Agricultural Research Farm, Samaru-Zaria and Jaji Military cantonment farm, both in Northern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria, to study the effect of time of second dose of Nitrogen (N) fertilizer application (topdressing)on maize varieties. The treatments consisted of three maize varieties (SAMMAZ 14, SAMMAZ 15 and SAMMAZ 16) and six timings of N fertilizer application at (4,5,6,7,8 and 9 weeks after sowing (WAS)). The treatments were factorially combined and laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The results showed that SAMMAZ 16 outperformed SAMMAZ 14 and SAMMAZ 15 in terms Plant height, number of cobs/plant, cob/row, number of grains per row, 100 grain weight(g) and grain yield(kg)ha^-1 which were significantly affected by the treatments. SAMMAZ 16 recorded the higher number of cobs per plant (1.911), number of rows per cob (14.93), number of grains per row (36.67), 100 grain weight(g) (38.89) and grain yield (kg)ha^-1 (3887) over other varieties.