Growth and yields of two varieties of maize (Zea mays L.) intercropped with peanut (Arachys hypogaea L.) applied by bokashi plus fertilizer between the rows of teak trees based agroforestry system

Nutrient shortages are the main problems faced by farmers, so as to improve soil fertility using organic fertilizer is compulsory. The main objective was to analyze the effects of bokashi plus fertilizer on the growth and yields of two varieties of maize intercropped with peanut under three years old teak trees in agroforestry system. The research was arranged in randomized completely block design in factorial pattern with two factors, maize variety: local maize and hybrid corn bisi-2; and bokashi plus fertilizer doses: 0, 3, 6 and 9 t ha-1. Maize growth recorded were plant height, leaf number, stem diameter and leaf area at 2, 4, 6 and 8 WAP and maize yields recorded were cob weight with cornhusk, cob weight without cornhusk, cob length, diameter, row number, 100 seeds dry weight, biomass dry weight, yield and LER. The results showed that interaction between maize variety and bokashi plus fertilizer had significant effect on the growth and yield of maize intercropped with peanut under three years of teak trees in agroforestry system. The best effects of maize growth and yield were obtained at 9 t ha-1 with highest yield of local maize and hybrid maize of 4,69 and 5,79 t ha-1.

Influence of different sowing density in two varieties of maize. Part II. Relation to agricultural morphological features

Summary In this paper, we investigate the effect of seeding density on several morphological features such as plant height, height of the production ears, ear length, ear diameter, leaf area, and LAI (leaf area index). Inference is based on a series of three-year two-factor experiments with two hybrid maize varieties – SY Cooky and Drim “stay-green” type – and 5 sowing densities: 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 plants per m2. The “stay-green” maize variety had production cobs significantly higher on the plant, and had a thicker cob and a larger leaf assimilation area than the conventional variety. Increasing maize sowing density from 6 to 10 plants m−2 resulted in a linear decrease in cob length and diameter, while it increased the LAI. Significantly higher chlorophyll content, expressed in SPAD units, was found in the “stay-green” hybrid at the BBCH 67 stage in a wet (2012) and drier year (2014), compared with the traditional variety. This may indicate that such a variety is more tolerant to stress conditions.

Effect of sowing date, irrigation and mulch on thermal time requirement and heat use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.)

The field experiments was carried out for three years (2015 to 2017) at the Research Farm, Department of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana with maize variety PMH-1 sown on three dates (D1-Third week of May, D2-Second week of June and D3- First week of July) under two irrigation regimes (I1 = IW:CPE 1.0 and I2 IW:CPE 0.75) and mulch application (M1: straw mulch @ 5 tha-1 and M2: without mulch) in a split plot design.Results revealed that the early sown crop(third week of May) took higher number of days and heat units to attain various phenophases. Maize variety PMH-1 consumed maximum heat units of 1952oC days for maturity under early sown condition. The heat use efficiency was highest (3.04 kg ha-1oCday-1)for the crop sown during June. Among irrigation regimes, the HUE was higher (2.89 kg ha-1oC day-1) in IW: CPE = 0.75 level of irrigation ascompared to IW: CPE = 1.00 (2.81 kg ha-1oCday-1) and higher HUE was obtained with mulch application (M1) (2.92 kg ha-1oCday-1) as compared to without mulch (M2) (2.76 kg ha-1oCday-1). The sowing of maize crop during second week of June with irrigation of IW: CPE 0.75 under mulch application have been found to be the most efficient for heat utilisation.

Assessment of maize-peanut intercropping and its potential waste usage for cattle feed in dry land

Intercropping planting system is one of methods to enhance the land productivity. The maize and peanut crops waste has high beneficial to farmers for cattle feed. The study of maize and peanut crops intercropping has been conducted in May-August 2020. Study was arranged by using Randomized Complete Block Design with 5 treatments and replicated for 8 times. Treatments examined were P1: Srikandi Kuning maize variety cultivated by monoculture planting system; P2: Nasa 29 maize variety cultivated by monoculture; P3: Peanut crop cultivated by monoculture; P4: Srikandi Kuning and peanut crop cultivated by intercropping; P5: Nasa 29 and peanut crop cultivated by intercropping. Variables observed were growth and yield components and analysed by analysis of variance and advanced tested by LSD at 5%. To know the land productivity, the calculation of Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) was done meanwhile the Index of Plant Competition (IPC) also was calculated to know the plant competition level. Results showed that the peanut crop productivity by intercropping was decrease about 37.50%-38.79% compared to monoculture. Meanwhile, the productivity of Srikandi Kuning maize variety was also decrease due to the reducing of plant population. The intercropping of Srikandi Kuning and Nasa 29 variety with peanut crop enhance the LER became 1.02 and 1.03. The utilization of Nasa 29 maize variety by intercropping with peanut crop was better than Srikandi Kuning with the lower IPC namely 0.8932 meanwhile the IPC of Srikandi Kuning was 0.9270. The potential waste for cattle feed at maize crop plantation by monoculture was higher than intercropping with peanut crop and peanut crops by monoculture namely P3: 572 head/ha; P1: 500 head/ha; P5: 484 head/ha; P4: 454 head/day; P3: 288 head/day.

Genetic analysis of low-n traits in maize (Zea mays L) using triple test cross

Low-N maize variety is developed for its ability to tolerate low nitrogen soil environment. This experiment was conducted to study the genetic implication of Low-N maize variety for grain yield and related traits under low nitrogen soil conditions triple test cross analysis. Inbred lines used for the study were generated from twelve low nitrogen tolerance open pollinated maize varieties after six generations of selfing. Two inbred lines along with their F1 were used as testers for ten inbred lines in a triple test cross pattern to generate 30 crosses. The 30 crosses, their parents and the testers to State University, Ado-Ekiti during 2017 planting season. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Data were collected on plant height, ear height, days to 50% anthesis, days to 50% silking, incidence of curvularia leaf spot, blight, plant aspect, ear aspect, ear rot, stay green, cob per plant, ear weight, grain moisture content and grain yield. All data were subjected to analysis of variance and complete genetic estimates. Additive and dominants were significant (P < 0.05) for all traits; however, epitasis estimates were not significant for all the traits tested. The degree of dominance component indicated partial dominance for all the traits. Correlation coefficients for days to 50% anthesis and 50% silking, plant height, ear height, number of cobs per plant and grain yield were positive and significant (P < 0.05). Since both additive and dominance gene actions were important for low-N traits, the use of reciprocal recurrent selection procedure can be adopted in incorporating the trait into elite maize varieties.

Evaluating Adaptability and Genetic Variability of Improved Maize Varieties

Maize is one of the most important cereals broadly adapted worldwide. Though, a number of improved maize varieties have been released, each micro-environment has not been touched that is why the study carried out. The experiment was conducted using seven maize varieties in RCB design with three replications. The analysis of variance signifies the presence of significant difference (p<0.05) among the seven maize varieties evaluated. High value of genetic (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) for grain yield (25.1 and 37.8%) were estimated and this infers less influence of environment. Additionally, moderately high heritability (44.2%) and high genetic advance in percent mean (34.4%) were estimated for grain yield which indicate the trait governed by additive gene action and could be improved via selection based on phenotypic performance. However, traits (male and female flower) with high heritability and moderate genetic advance in percent mean inherited mostly by non-additive gene action and heterosis breeding could be useful. Regarding agronomic performance, Hora maize variety provided highest grain yield (5.0 t/ha) followed by Kuleni (4.1 t/ha), Melkasa 2 (4.0 t/ha) and check (4.0 t/ha). Hora, Melkasa 2, Melkasa 4 and check flowered earlier as compared to the other and could be used as parent for generating early flowering varieties. In summary, Hora maize variety was better performing both statistically and in eyes of farmers and need seed multiplication and distribution to farming community. Moreover, the variability observed among the maize varieties could be utilizing in future breeding activities.

Measuring the Technical and Scale Efficiency of Smallholder Maize (Zea mays) Farmers in Cameroon: The Case of the Centre Region

Urbanisation has led to the development of new markets, including that for cereals for human consumption, where maize cultivation has taken on an important role among smallholder producers in some countries, such as Cameroon. However, the cultivation of maize in the centre region of Cameroon raises several questions, including the efficiency of these farmers. This article presents the level and determinants of technical performance of smallholder maize farmers. The research method was based on field surveys. The study was carried out between September 2019 and December 2020 in the Centre Region of Cameroon. The research methods used included field work, field surveys through semi-structured interviews on 1060 (545 women and 515 men) maize farm managers who were selected in a reasoned method based on the file of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Cameroon. Data from the study was analysed using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method and the Tobit model allowed us to identify the determinants of the performance of these maize farms. The results show that the efficiency scores of the production and income outputs are 0.7773 and 0.6707, respectively, and provide evidence for the inefficiency of smallholder maize farmers in the Centre Region. Gender, cropping system, maize variety and number of treatments have a significant and positive influence on the productive efficiency of the farms while the only determinant that influences the income efficiency of the farmers is the maize variety used. Ultimately, smallholder maize farmers are not performing well in terms of both production and income. Value chain actors need to act on three main pillars around family farms: socio-economic characteristics (the place of women and education policy), the production system (access to quality seeds, and production techniques) and institutional factors (access to extension, financing and membership to a producer organization).

CP-Tania 5, white maize variety horse’s tooth (Claviceps gigantea) resistant for Mexican highlands

En el Colegio de Postgraduados se desarrolló la variedad sintética de maíz de grano blanco con buenas características agronómicas y resistencia al diente de caballo para zonas de transición y altiplano de México. <em>C. gigantea</em> ha sido reportado solo en México, sin embargo, se ha distribuido en zonas productoras de maíz en el altiplano y zonas de transición con clima fresco y alta humedad. La variedad se generó recombinando 10 líneas S1 generadas a partir de una población base de maíz con endospermo blanco y amplia base genética. La población se mejoró siguiendo un programa de selección recurrente en líneas S1. Las líneas obtenidas se seleccionaron después de inocular con macroconidios del hongo y las mejores se recombinaron para generar variedades sintéticas, entre las cuales la variedad CP-Tania 5 fue sobresaliente. Esta variedad sintética ofrece rendimiento de grano que compite con el de híbridos comerciales, la semilla es de menor costo, puede sembrarse por varios ciclos en condiciones limitantes y puede distribuirse entre agricultores.

Assessment of the effect of abattoir effluent on soil properties cultivated with flint maize

The assessment of abattoir effluent on the physicochemical and microbiological properties of the soil cultivated with flint maize was conducted in the Teaching and Research Farm of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. The experiment was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five levels of abattoir effluent (0, 32 x 103, 64 x 10 3, 96 x 103, 128 x 103L/ha) and each was replicated three times. The effluent was collected and analyzed for its chemical properties, the number and types of bacteria and fungi before and at the end of the experiment. Soil samples were collected before planting and at the end of the experiment and analyzed for physicochemical properties as well as the number and types of bacteria and fungi. Maize variety; Samma – 38 was used as a test crop. Results showed that more bacteria and fungi counts were found in the abattoir effluent than in the soil. At 15 weeks after application, the plot treated with 64 x 103 L/ha of abattoir effluent had more bacteria isolated and the least bacteria count. The plot that received the 32 x 103L/ha had the least fungi count. The soil was slightly acidic except for the strongly acidic control. The soil after the applications of abattoir effluent was high in organic matter. Abattoir effluent increased the total N, K, Mg, and Ca with the highest recorded at the applications of 96 x 103L/ha and 128 x 103L/ha. Organisms such as Penicillium and Aspergillus spp were isolated, and these enhanced nitrogen and phosphorous fixation, thereby increasing soil fertility for suitable crop production.