EFFECT OF WEED CONTROL TRE EFFECT OF WEED CONTROL TREATMENTS ON MAIZE (Zea mays L.) VARIETIES IN NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA OF NIGERIA
EFFECT OF WEED CONTROL TRE EFFECT OF WEED CONTROL TREATMENTS ON MAIZE (Zea mays L.) VARIETIES IN NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA OF NIGERIA
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Date
2022
Authors
DAHIRU, SANDA RUMA
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Abstract
Field trials were conducted during the rainy season of 2020 at the research farms of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru Zaria (11º 11‟ N, 7º 38‟ and 686m above sea level) and the College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Mando (7.43º N, 8.33º E and 632m above sea level) all in Northern
Guinea Savanna of Nigeria to access the effect of weed control treatment on maize varieties. The treatment consists of six weed controls options (Atrazine at 2.0 kg ai ha-1, Atrazine at 2.0 kg ai ha-1 plus hoe weeding at 6WAS, Nicosulfron at 0.7 kg ai ha-1, Nicosulfron at 0.7 kg ai ha-1
plus hoe weeding at 6WAS, hoe weeding at 3 and 6WAS, and weedy check) and three varieties of maize (SAMMAZ 17, SAMMAZ 29 and SAMMAZ 54). The treatments factors were combined and laid in Randomized Complete Block Design in Split plot arrangement and replicated four times. The dominant weed specie observed were Ageratum conyzoides, Cyperus rotundus, Digitaria horizontalis which have 35 to 75% level of occurrence. All weed control enhanced the performance of maize, even though, application of Nicosulfron at 0.7 kg ai ha-1performed better and resulted in better crop establishment, reduced weed
cover score, weed dry weight and weed density. Plots treated with Nicosulfron at 0.7 kg ai ha-1resulted in better plant height, number of leaves and leaf area index, Other parameters that were enhanced by application of Nicosulfron at 0.7 kg ai ha-1 were crop growth rate, relative growth rate, number of cobs
per plot, cob diameter and grain yield. However, among the weed controls treatments application of Nicosulfron at 0.7 kg ai ha-1
plus supplementary hoe weeding gave better weed control over the weedy check with the yield increase of (40%) at Samaru and 59% at Mando. Generally, all the varieties responded positively but SAMMAZ 17 resulted in higher value for the measured growth and yield parameters at both locations. However, there was a positive and highly significant correlation between grain yield and growth and yield parameters such as plant height, shoot dry weight, leaf area index.
Grain yield was negatively correlated with weed cover score, weed dry weight and weed density. Application of Nicosulfron at 0.7ai kg. ha-1plus hoe weeding at 6 WAS resulted in better weed control, SAMMAZ 17 produced higher grain yield at both locations.
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A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN AGRONOMY DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY,FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE,AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA