Evaluation of Drought Resistant Maize (Zea-Mays L.) for Grain and Stover Yield under Different Sowing Dates and Varieties at Bagauda, Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

The objective of this work is to determine the effect of different Sowing dates and Varieties of Maize on grain and stover yield planted under the same environmental conditions. The trial was conducted during the 2010 and 2011wet seasons at Bagauda the KUST temporary research farm (11° 39° N, 08° 20° E). The treatments consisted of three Sowing dates (Beg. of July, Mid, of July and End of July at 10 days intervals) and four Varieties of Maize (Zea mays L.) that consist of Sammaz 17, Sammaz 18, Sammaz 20 and Hakorin Hajiya (H/H). The treatments were factorally combined and arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and was replicated four times. However, Sowing date and variety had significant (P≤ 0.05 or P≤ 0.01) effect on most of the considered characters which includes, Grain yield, Stover yield, number of ears/ha, ear weight, number of cobs etc. It was observed that Sammaz 18 and Sammaz 20 out-performed the other varieties in terms of yield characters. Sowing during the mid. of July proved significantly better than the other studied sowing dates for Maize in the area.