A field experiment was conducted during 2019 main cropping season at Boloso Sore district with the objective of evaluating different maturing varieties and row spacing on yield and yield components of maize. Four row spacing (50, 65, 70 and 80 cm) and three maize varieties (BH-540, BH-543 and BH-547) were tested in factorial arrangement laid out in RCBD replicated three times.This work analyses the study and presents its results.
Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in the world. It ranks third in world production after wheat and rice. Ethiopia is the fourth largest maize producing country in Africa, and first in the East African region in terms of production. Presently maize is widely grown in most parts of the world over a wide range of environmental conditions ranging between 50º latitude north and south of the equator. Maize is an important field crop in terms of area coverage, production and utilization in Ethiopia. It ranks second in area coverage (after teff) and first in total production among cereals. It is grown for its food and feed values and one of the most important staples and cash crops and the main sources of calories. In view of its high demand for food grains and high yield per unit area, maize has been among the leading food grains selected to achieve food self-sufficiency in Ethiopia.The major maize producing regions in Ethiopia are Oromia, Amhara, and SNNPRS in descending order.
The national average productivity of maize was 4.09 ton ha-1. In SNNPRS, maize ranked first in terms of area coverage and production among cereals and its average yield was 3.93 ton ha-1. Wolaita zone is one of the most important maize producing zones in SNNPR State. According to CSA report, at Wolaita zone, maize is the first leading crops among cereals in area coverage, and its zonal average yield was 3.01 tha-1.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 Description of the Study Area
2.2. Experimental Materials and Design
2.3 Agronomic Practices
2.5. Data Collection and Measurements
2.6 .Statistical Data Analysis
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Number of Ears Per Plant
3.2. Ear length (cm)
3.3. Ear Diameter (cm)
3.4. Number of Kernel Per Ear
3.5. Number of kernel row per ear
3.6. Number of Kernel Per Row
3.7. Thousand Kernels Weight
3.8. Grain Yield (t∙ha−1)
4. Conclusion and Recommendations
Research Objectives and Core Topics
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of different maize varieties and row spacing configurations on yield and yield components to determine optimal planting densities in the Boloso Sore district of Ethiopia. The research aims to address local agricultural productivity gaps by testing specific maize hybrids against varying spatial arrangements to provide evidence-based recommendations for smallholder farmers.
- Impact of row spacing on maize yield components
- Performance evaluation of selected maize varieties (BH-540, BH-543, BH-547)
- Analysis of inter-row spacing influence on plant competition and resource utilization
- Assessment of morphological traits and grain yield metrics
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. Number of Ears Per Plant
There was significant (P<0.05) difference in number of ears per plant due to interaction between variety and row spacing. The maximum number of ears per plant (1.507) was produced under 80 cm row spacing by variety ‘BH-543’ whereas the lowest number of ears per plant was produced by all varieties grown at row spacing of 50cm (Table 1). The result indicated that a number of ears per plant showed an increasing trend as inter-row spacing increased from 50 to 80 cm for three varieties. This could be due to the fact that at closer spacing or high plant population, there may be intense intraspecific competition among plants for growth resources like nutrients, soil moisture, light, and carbon dioxide, thus, the supply of growth resources to growing ear is reduced in turn to reduce the number of ears per plant. High plant population creates competition for light, aeration, nutrients and consequently compelling the plants to undergo less reproductive growth [22]. On the other hand, the maximum number of ears per plant in variety ‘BH-543’ at 80cm row spacing might be due to the difference in the genetic makeup. This result was in conformity with those of [23] and [24] who observed that the number of ears per plant was significantly affected by plant population densities and variety. Similarly, [25] and [26] reported that wider-spaced maize plants obtained more soil moisture and nutrients than narrower plants that led to having a high number of ears per plant than narrow spacing.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the significance of maize as a staple crop in Ethiopia and identifies production constraints, specifically non-optimum plant spacing and variety selection.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Details the field experiment conducted at Boloso Sore, describing the randomized complete block design involving three maize varieties and four row spacing treatments.
3. Results and discussion: Provides an in-depth analysis of the trial data, showing how varying row spacing and genetic differences significantly impact ear characteristics, kernel development, and final grain yield.
4. Conclusion and Recommendations: Synthesizes the experimental findings, confirming that a 70 cm row spacing combined with the BH-543 variety yields the best outcomes for the studied region.
Keywords
Maize, Zea mays L., Row Spacing, Planting Density, Yield Components, Grain Yield, BH-543, Ethiopia, Boloso Sore, Agronomic Practices, Crop Productivity, Variety Performance, Inter-row spacing, Kernel weight, Genetic variability
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research examines the response of different maize varieties to various row spacing configurations to optimize agricultural productivity in the Boloso Sore district.
What are the main thematic areas covered?
The study covers agronomic practices, plant density management, morphological yield components (ear size, kernel count), and the interaction between genetics and spatial environment.
What is the central objective of the study?
The objective is to evaluate how different maize varieties and row spacing affect yield and yield components to establish better farming practices.
Which scientific methodology was utilized?
The study employed a factorial experiment using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications, followed by statistical analysis using Genstat software.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body evaluates individual plant parameters, including the number of ears per plant, ear length, ear diameter, number of kernels per row, thousand-kernel weight, and total grain yield.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Maize, Row Spacing, Grain Yield, Planting Density, and variety performance.
Why is 70 cm row spacing recommended?
The data revealed that 70 cm spacing provided the most favorable balance of resource competition and plant development, resulting in the highest grain yields for the BH-543 variety.
How did different varieties perform compared to each other?
The variety BH-543 generally outperformed the other tested varieties (BH-540 and BH-547) in key metrics like grain yield and kernel weight across the tested spacing regimes.
- Quote paper
- Wolde Tasew (Author), 2021, Response of Maize (Zea Mays L.) Varieties to Row Spacing at Boloso Sore District, Southern Ethiopia, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/983483
