scholarly journals Soil Maize Cultivar-related Challenges on Striga hermonthica Infested Fields in Western Kenya

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Celestine Manyasi ◽  
Dennis Ochieno ◽  
Francis Muyekho ◽  
John Muoma ◽  
Mwikali Pamela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Striga Hermonthica ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Yellow Seed ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Maize Varieties

Maize production in Western Kenya is constrained by Striga hermonthica and declining soil fertility. Integrated Striga Management (ISM) packages have been proposed. An ISM field experiment assessed combination of 4 maize varieties with 5 levels of soil fertility amendments. Imazapyr Resistant (IR) maize and local yellow seed Shipindi had highest germination percentages of 90% and 81% respectively, compared to commercial white seed Duma and local white seed Rachar. Duma had significantly large plants in terms of leave size and plant height; and taking least time to silking and tasseling while producing heaviest cobs and grains per plant. Synthetic fertilizer (DAP+CAN) was associated with the least germination percentage, but produced the largest plants with many leaves, took the shortest time to silking, and produced highest cob weight and grain weight, with very low S. hermonthica infestations regardless of the maize varieties. Cattle manure (CM) and water hyacinth compost containing cattle manure culture (HCM) and Effective Microbes™ (HEM) had the highest S. hermonthica population per unit area. Maize grown with water hyacinth compost containing Effective Microbes™ (HEM) positively influenced cob weight than those receiving cattle manure (CM) and the controls; while being associated with the highest numerical increase in grain yield/area. Alternative soil fertility interventions based on these observations are therefore proposed.

Integrated management of Striga hermonthica, stemborers, and declining soil fertility in western Kenya

2008 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Vanlauwe ◽  
F. Kanampiu ◽  
G.D. Odhiambo ◽  
H. De Groote ◽  
L.J. Wadhams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Striga Hermonthica ◽  
Western Kenya

scholarly journals Using a Participatory Approach and Legume Integration to Increase the Productivity of Early Maturing Maize in the Nigerian Sudan Savannas

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Alpha Y. Kamara ◽  
Hakeem A. Ajeigbe ◽  
Nathalie Ndaghu ◽  
Lucy Kamsang ◽  
Temitope Ademulegun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Striga Hermonthica ◽  
International Institute ◽  
Northern Nigeria ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Early Maturing ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Sudan Savanna

Drought, infestation of cereal crops by the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica, and poor soil fertility are the major constraints to maize production by smallholder farmers in the Sudan savannas of northern Nigeria. Four innovation platforms (IPs) were therefore established in 2008 in the Sudan savanna (SS) agroecological zone of northern Nigeria to create a stakeholder forum to address these identified food production challenges in the target areas. The IPs comprised researchers from Bayero University, Kano; Institute for Agricultural Research, Zaria; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture; state and local government extension programs in Kano and Katsina states; input and output dealers; community-based organisations; and media organisations in the two states. The current study reports on the effects of legume integration on maize performance in farmer fields and the adoption of Striga management technologies introduced in the IPs over a four-year period. The deployment of drought- Striga-tolerant and early-maturing maize varieties along with legume rotation reduced Striga infestation by 46–100% when cowpea was rotated with maize, 80–97% when groundnut was rotated with maize, and 59–94% when soybean was rotated with maize. Grain yield of maize increased by 63–88% when cowpea was rotated with maize, 69–128% when groundnut was rotated with maize, and 9–133% when soybean was rotated with maize. Participatory and detailed questionnaire-based adoption surveys showed high adoption of improved maize varieties, five years after program interventions. The maize variety 99EVDT-W-STR C0 was the most popular among all the IPs because it is early maturing, Striga-resistant, and drought-tolerant. The high maize yields and high adoption rates suggest that the IP approach was effective in disseminating maize technologies.

scholarly journals Farmers Perception of Low Soil Fertility and Hybrid Maize and the Implications in Plant Breeding

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Priscilla F. Ribeiro ◽  
Baffour Badu-Apraku ◽  
Vernon E. Gracen ◽  
Eric Y. Danquah ◽  
Manfred B. Ewool ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Maize Hybrids ◽  
Maize Productivity ◽  
Resistant Varieties ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

In spite of efforts by national and international scientists to improve crop productivity, varieties of crops grown in Africa have low productivity. Varieties improved for yield have had low adoption rates among small scale farmers. Productivity of maize remains low in the smallholder sector because the crop continues to be grown under stress-prone environments and with limited resources. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, including two focus group discussions and interviews with 120 individual farmers were conducted in Wenchi and Ejura-Sekyedumase districts in Ghana to determine maize production constraints, assess farmers’ perceptions of low soil fertility in maize production and their coping strategies for the control of low soil fertility. Opportunities for breeding new maize varieties with tolerance to low soil fertility and improving farmers' perception on adoption and utilisation of maize hybrids were also examined. Results from interviews revealed that low soil fertility, drought, diseases and insect pests are the dominant constraints in maize productivity in the two districts. Farmers in the study area also have preference for low soil nitrogen (low N) tolerant, drought tolerant, disease and pest resistant varieties that require lower inputs. They prefer maize varieties which produce slender cobs that are light in weight with lots of grain. The farmers lack knowledge about hybrids but are willing to adopt maize hybrids that are tolerant to low N.

scholarly journals Impact of adoption of drought-tolerant maize varieties on total maize production in south Eastern Zimbabwe

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney Witman Lunduka ◽  
Kumbirai Ivyne Mateva ◽  
Cosmos Magorokosho ◽  
Pepukai Manjeru
Keyword(s):  
Maize Production ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Drought Tolerant ◽  
Maize Varieties

scholarly journals Response Of Maize Varieties To Sowing Dates In Inner Terai Region, Dang, Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-31
Author(s):  
Pukar Khanal ◽  
Rupak Karn ◽  
Pratibha Budhathoki Chhetri ◽  
Samita Karki ◽  
Shrawan Kumar Sah
Keyword(s):  
Unit Area ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Spring Season ◽  
Thousand Grain Weight ◽  
Maize Hybrids ◽  
Sowing Dates ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Randomized Complete Block Design ◽  
Hybrid Maize

AbstractSowing dates and varieties affect the productivity of maize. A field experiment was conducted to find out the response of maize hybrids to sowing dates on growth and productivity of maize in spring season at Lamahi, Dang in 2019. The experiment was laid out in two factor factorial Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. The treatment consisted of combination of three different sowing dates (February 1, February12 and February 23) and two maize varieties (Arun-2 i.e. OPV and hybrid Bioseed-9220).The result revealed that earlier planting on February 1 produced the highest yield (8265 Kg ha-1) which was significantly superior than latter planting of February 12(6099 kg ha-1)and February 23 (5934 kg ha-1).The higher yield in earlier planting was due to significantly higher no of kernel per ear, non-significant but higher number of cob per unit area, thousand grain weight. Similarly, Bioseed 9220 produced higher yield (7798 kg ha-1) compared to Arun-2 (5,734 kg ha-1). The higher yield of hybrid Bioseed 9220 was because of higher number of cob per unit area harvested and more number of kernel per cob. Therefore, earlier planting with hybrid maize is recommended in spring season of Dang and locations with similar climatic conditions for higher productivity of maize.

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