Effect of Plant Population and Nitrogen on Growth and Dry Matter Yield of Maize in Maiduguri, North Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Growth and dry matter productivity of a leafy (TZB) and non leafy (TZESRW) varieties of maize were studied in two field experiments carried out with three plant populations (28,000, 39,000 and 56,000 plants/ha) and four nitrogen rates (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg/ha) at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Maiduguri (11° 50’N, 13° 05’E), Nigeria. The experimental design was a split-split plot in a randomized complete block with three replications. Variety was in the main plots, with population and nitrogen in the sub–plots and sub–sub plots, respectively. The results showed that there was year x variety interaction effects on all the parameters studied. Average over the years, population and nitrogen, TZB produced 12% more leaves than TZESRW. However, TZESRW produced the highest dry matter of 8573 kg/ha at 56,000 plants/ha with 180 kg N/ha and this was 92% higher than that produced by TZB at the same levels of population and nitrogen, and 45% more than the optimum dry matter yield of TZB at 39,000 plants with 120 kg N/ha. TZESRW variety was found to be better for cultivation in the Sahel savannah of Nigerian at 56,000 plants/ha with 180kg N/ha for dry matter production.