PERFORMANCE OF POPCORN ( Zea mays L.) UNDER DIFFERENT POPULATION DENSITIES IRRIGATION INERVALS AND DATES OF SOWING
PERFORMANCE OF POPCORN ( Zea mays L.) UNDER DIFFERENT POPULATION DENSITIES IRRIGATION INERVALS AND DATES OF SOWING
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Date
1999-02
Authors
HAMZA, MANI
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Abstract
Field trials were conducted at the Kadawa Irrigation Research Station (11°39'N, 08°02'E
and 500m above sea level) located in the Sudan savanna ecological zone of Nigeria during the
1996/97 and 1997/98 dry seasons to study the performance of popcorn under different population
density, irrigation interval and date of sowing. Analysed results showed that population density
significantly influenced most growth and yield parameters assessed with higher population of
66,666 plants per hectare having an edge over other densities except days to 50% tasseling and
silking, ear length, ear diameter, cob diameter, weight of grain per cob and 1000-grain weight
which were significantly higher at lower population density. Irrigating popcorn at 7-day interval
significantly increased most of growth and yield characters of popcorn. However, no significant
effect was observed due to variation in irrigation interval on grain yield (kg/ha) in both seasons
and combined analysis. Intermediate sowing at the end of February resulted in significantly
higher growth and yield attributes of the crop. Highly significant and positive correlation
(P=0 01) were observed between popcorn grain yield (kg/ha) and total dry matter (TDM) kernel
depth, weight of grain per cob, 1000 grain weight and number of ears per plot at (P=0.05) in
1996/97 season. In 1997/98 season however, highly significant and positive correlation (P 0.01)
were obseived between grain yield (kg/ha) and plant height at 12 weeks after sowing (WAS), Leaf
area index (L.VI), TDM, days to 50% silking, number of ears per plot and weight of grain per cob
P=0.05. Direct percentage contribution of most characters were greatest through TDM and ear
diameter; while combinations of plant height and TDM cob diameter and ear diameter were the
highest contributors to popcorn grain yield.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Agronomy.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY,
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA, NIGERIA
FEBRUARY, 1999
Keywords
PERFORMANCE,, POPCORN,, ( Zea mays L.), DIFFERENT,, POPULATION,, DENSITIES,, IRRIGATION,, INERVALS,, DATES,, SOWING.