Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Greener Journal of  Agricultural Sciences Vol. 2 (5), pp. 172-179, September 2012

 ISSN: 2276-7770 

Research Paper

Manuscript Number:GJAS1236

 

Effect of Tillage System and Nitrogen Level on Growth of Maize (Zea Mays L.) in Northern Guinea Zone of Nigeria

 

Namakka A¹*., I. U. Abubakar², S. A. Dadari², S. G. Ado, A. H. Hamid³, Sharifai A. I²., H. N. Kura², B. A. Babaji², Halliru I.¹

 

¹Samaru College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

²Department of Agronomy, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

³College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, 

Kaduna, Nigeria.

 

*Corresponding Author’s Email: namakkasg2000 @ yahoo.com

Abstract:

A three year field study was conducted on the same field in 2006, 2007 and 2008 rainy seasons at the experimental farm of Institute for Agricultural Research (I.A.R.), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria- Nigeria (Lat. 11o 11’ N: Long 7o 38’ E: 686 m above sea level) to determined the effect of tillage system and nitrogen level on the growth of Oba 98 maize variety. The treatment laid out in split plot design consisted of six tillage practices (harrowing followed by weeding, harrowing followed by primextra Gold, paraquat followed by primextra Gold, glyphosate followed by primextra Gold, ridging followed by weeding and ridging followed by primextra Gold followed by weeding) as the main plots while nitrogen level (0, 50, 100 and 150kgNha-1) were assigned to sub plots. The results showed significant response of growth parameters and cob weight to some tillage systems. Glyphosate followed by primextra Gold significantly increased plant height, leaf area index, crop growth rate, relative growth rate and days to 50% tasseling. Paraquat followed by primextra Gold significantly increased plant height, harrowing followed by weeding significantly increased leaf area index, cob weight were significantly affected by paraquat followed by primextra Gold and glyphosate followed by primextra Gold. Nitrogen application significantly increased growth components such as plant height up to 100kgNha-1, leaf area index up 50kgNha-1, crop growth rate up to 100 kgNha-1, relative growth rate up to 50kgNha-1, number of days to 50% tasseling up to 150kgNha-1 and cob weight 100 kgNha-1
 
Keywords: tillage, nitrogen, maize, growth.

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