Growth and yield of maize as influenced by cropping systems and weed control measures

Abstract

The need to identify an herbicide that is applied at a very low rate and achieving good weed control, as well as optimum yield is a necessity in Nigeria to further reduce environmental pollution caused by the application of herbicides at high rates. Therefore, field trials were conducted in the early and late wet season of 2019 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria to evaluate the effect of cropping system and weed control measures on growth and yield of maize. Treatments were laid out in a split-plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plot treatments consisted of a cropping system (sole maize and maize/sweet potato intercrop) while the sub-plot treatments were made up of six weed control measures. Data collected on growth, maize yield and weed biomass were subjected to analysis of variance and the means of the treatments separated using the least significant difference at p≤0.05. Results showed that sole maize produced taller plants than maize intercropped with sweet potato. There was a 21.3% to 31.4% reduction in weed biomass at 9 weeks after planting (WAP) and 12 WAP, respectively when maize was intercropped with sweet potato compared to planting maize in sole cropping. The application of Isoxaflutole plus Aclonifene as a pre-emergence herbicide at both rates enhanced the growth of maize. Isoxaflutole plus Aclonifene at 0.75 kg a.i/ha with or without hoe weeding resulted in higher maize yield and also cause significant reduction in weed biomass.