scholarly journals Response of Maize (Zea maysL.) to Different Rates of Palm Bunch Ash Application in the Semi-deciduous Forest Agro-ecological Zone of Ghana

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Adjei-Nsiah

The effects of palm bunch ash (PBA) and mineral fertilizer application on grain yield and nutrient uptake in maize and soil chemical properties were studied in both the major and minor rainy seasons in the semi-deciduous forest agro-ecological zone of Ghana. In both the major and minor rainy seasons, the response of maize to four levels (0, 2, 4, and 6 tons per hectare) of palm bunch ash and 200 kg per hectare of NPK (15-15-15) application was evaluated using randomised complete block design. Results of the study showed that application of palm bunch ash significantly (P<0.05) increased soil pH, soil phosphorus, and exchangeable cations. Maize grain yield varied significantly (P<0.05) among the different treatments in both the major and minor rainy seasons. The highest maize grain yield of 4530 and 6120 kg ha-1was obtained at PBA application rate of 2 tonsha-1for the major and minor rainy seasons, respectively.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1703-1713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benedicta Essel ◽  
Robert Clement Abaidoo ◽  
Andrews Opoku ◽  
Nana Ewusi-Mensah

Abstract Low inherent nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents of smallholder farms limit maize grain yield. Maize grain yield response to N, P, and K mineral fertilizer application and economically optimal rates for nitrogen (EORN), phosphorus (EORP), and potassium (EORK) were evaluated on a Ferric Acrisol within the semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana. The nutrient rates evaluated were N (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg N ha−1), P (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg ha−1 P2O5), and K (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha−1 K2O). The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block with three replications using an incomplete factorial design. Nutrient responses were determined using asymptotic quadratic-plus plateau functions. The best nitrogen rate for all P and K levels was 60 kg ha−1, which gave grain yield of 5 t ha−1. Nitrogen uptake, N agronomic and N recovery efficiencies peaked at 60 kg N ha−1 while N partial factor productivity declined with increasing N application rate. Cost to grain price ratios (CP) were 1.29, 1.65, and 1.65 for N, P, and K, respectively. The EORN was 61 kg ha−1, 32% less than the recommended 90 kg N ha−1 for maize production in the semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana. Nitrogen application had the lowest CP ratio, making its application economically profitable than P and K. The findings suggest that the application of N at 61 kg N ha−1 to maize is economically profitable than at higher application rates. However, further studies should be conducted on farmers’ fields to validate the results obtained.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 206
Author(s):  
B. Sadina ◽  
A. Amoding ◽  
R. Amayo ◽  
M. Biruma

Soybean has become one of the dominant crops in Ugandan farming systems; however the contribution of its residues to improve soil and crop productivity is less known. To investigate the role of soybean residues to enhance crop productivity, researcher-managed experiments were conducted for two seasons (2011B and 2012A) in Namayingo and Tororo districts, representing the L. Victoria crescent, and South-eastern L. Kyoga basin agro-ecological zones, respectively. Factorial treatments of three levels of soybean residues (0, 2 and 4 t ha-1) and four levels of N fertilizer (0, 30, 60 and 120 kg ha-1 N) in form of urea were applied in maize fields in a randomized complete block design so as to; determine the optimum nutrient combination for maize, and establish the added yield benefits, if any, of using soybean residues with N fertilizer in maize production. Site yields varied significantly (p &lt; 0.001), with higher maize yields obtained in Namayingo compared to Tororo. Significantly (p &lt; 0.05) higher maize grain yields were obtained with the highest nutrient input combinations of 2 t ha-1 residue and 60 kg ha-1 N (yield increment of 71.72% above the control) in Namayingo district and 4 t ha-1 residue combined with120 kg ha-1 N increased maize grain yield by 140.69% above the control in Tororo. The added maize grain yield benefits ranged from 2540 kg grain ha-1 to 3250 kg grain ha-1 in Namayingo and from 2000 kg grain ha-1 to 2310 kg grain ha-1 in Tororo. Combined use of soybean residue with N fertilizer has been found to have agronomic yield benefits to maize production.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Luiza Privado Martins ◽  
Glécio Machado Siqueira ◽  
Emanoel Gomes de Moura ◽  
Raimunda Alves Silva ◽  
Anágila Janenis Cardoso Silva ◽  
...  

Soil fauna play an important role in ecosystems, and in this context, it is important to better understand how the abiotic and biotic drivers of these organisms interact. We hypothesize that soil fauna are affected by different soil management practices, which has an influence on maize grain yields. The aim of this study was to evaluate the structure of soil fauna under different soil management practices and their associations with maize grain yield. The experiment was conducted in Maranhão, Brazil, in an area divided into 24 plots of 4 × 10 m in a randomized block design with six treatments with four replicates (R). Pitfall traps were placed in the area. The treatments were Leucaena leucocephala-Leucaena (L), nitrogen (N), humic acid + nitrogen (HA + N), nitrogen + Leucaena (N + L), humic acid + Leucaena (HA + L) and humic acid + nitrogen + Leucaena (HA + N + L). The soil fauna dominance, abundance, richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Pielou evenness index and maize grain yield were determined. Formicidae was clearly affected by management with Leucaena, while Coleoptera was affected by management with nitrogen. Despite this, Isopoda and Diplura were the only groups associated with the maize yield. Although fauna abundance did not differ among treatments, it was related to the yield. This study confirms that the abundance and some taxa of soil fauna can influence yield and that these organisms can be used to increase agricultural sustainability.


2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. RUTTO ◽  
J. P. VOSSENKEMPER ◽  
J. KELLY ◽  
B. K. CHIM ◽  
W. R. RAUN

SUMMARYCorrect placement of side dress nitrogen (N) fertilizer could increase nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and maize yield production. Field studies were established to evaluate application of midseason (V8 to V10), variable liquid urea ammonia nitrate (28%), N rates (0, 45, 90 and 134 kg N ha−1) and different application distances (0, 10, 20 and 30 cm) away from the maize row on grain yield and NUE at Haskell and Hennessey in 2009, Efaw in 2010 and Lake Carl Blackwell, Oklahoma in 2009 and 2010. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used throughout the study. Results indicated that maize grain yield in sites with adequate rainfall increased significantly (p < 0.05) with N rate, and poor N response was recorded in sites with low rainfall. Across sites and seasons, varying side dress N application distance away from the maize row did not significantly (p < 0.05) influence maize grain yield and NUE even with no prep-plant applied. Environments with adequate rainfall distribution had better maize grain yields when high side dress N rates (90 and 134 kg N ha−1) were applied 0 to 10 cm, and a higher NUE when 45 kg N ha−1 was applied 0 to 20 cm away from the maize row. For low N rates (45 kg N ha−1), increased maize grain yield and NUE were achieved when side dress N was applied 0 to 20 cm away from the maize row at locations with low rainfall distribution. Across sites and seasons, increasing side dress N to 134 kg N ha−1 contributed to a general decline in mean NUE to as low as 4%, 35%, 10%, 51% at Hennessey, Efaw, LCB (2009) and LCB (2010) respectively.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 286
Author(s):  
Vanderson Vieira Batista ◽  
Paulo Fernando Adami ◽  
Pedro Valério Dutra de Moraes ◽  
Karine Fuschter Oligini ◽  
Cleverson Luiz Giacomel ◽  
...  

The success of maize + soybean intercrop depends on the plant arrangement. An experiment was carried out to evaluate different row arrangements on intercrop forage yield, silage quality and maize grain yield in relation to maize as a sole crop. The experiment was set up with a randomized complete block design with eight row arrangements between maize and Soybean. Maize biomass yield among crop arrangements were similar, although, lower than the maize sole crop. On the other hand, these treatments showed higher soybean biomass yield, which in turn increased silage crude protein and crude protein yield per unit area. Maize thousand grain weight, grain yield per plant and per area was affected by the intercrop arrangements. The use of two corn rows + two soybean rows (2M+2S-30 cm) and four corn rows + four soybean rows (4M+4S-30 cm) showed higher crude protein yield per area associated with similar maize grain yield in relation to the sole maize crop. In conclusion, alternating four maize rows with four soybean rows was the optimum row ratio in maize + soybean intercrop, though this needs to be further confirmed by more trials.


Author(s):  
W. Winnie Kimiti ◽  
M. W. Mucheru-Muna ◽  
J. N. Mugwe ◽  
K. F. Ngetich ◽  
M. N. Kiboi ◽  
...  

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), acidic soil covers 29% of the total area. About 13% of the Kenyan total land area has acidic soils, widely distributed in croplands of the central and western Kenyan regions. The high soil acidity, coupled with soil nutrient depletion, negatively affects crop productivity in the region. We conducted an on-farm experiment to determine the effect of lime, manure, and phosphatic fertilizer application, either solely or combined, on soil chemical properties, maize yield, and profitability in acidic soils of Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. The treatments were different rates of manure, lime, and P fertilizer. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block design replicated ten times in farmer’s fields. Soil sampling was done at a depth of 0-20 cm prior to the start of the experiment, after crop harvest of SR2016 and LR2017 seasons. The samples were analyzed in the laboratory following standard methods. Results showed that lime significantly increased soil pH by 10.6% during the SR2016 and by 17.7% during the LR2017. Similarly, treatments with lime reduced exchangeable acidity and increased soil available P. Treatments with inorganic fertilizers had significantly higher maize grain yield in comparison with treatments with the sole application of lime, manure, and lime + manure. Lime + fertilizer + manure treatment gave the highest average maize grain yield (5.1 t ha−1), while control gave the lowest (1.5 t ha−1) during the LR2017 season. Economic returns were low due to the prevailing low rainfall experienced during the study period during the SR2016 season. Lime combined with inorganic fertilizer treatment recorded the highest returns (128.75 USD ha-1) followed by sole inorganic fertilizer (105.94 USD ha-1) during the LR2017 season. The study recommends a combination of both lime and inorganic fertilizer for enhanced maize production and profitability in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya.


Author(s):  
O. P. Taiwo ◽  
A. I. Nwonuala ◽  
B. F. Isaiah ◽  
D. O. Olawamide ◽  
I. K. Agbugba

In crop breeding, the selection for yield is made complex because of the quantitative and polygenic nature of the character. This study was undertaken to assess character association and show the contribution of various yield contributing characters in some maize varieties through the help of correlation and path coefficient analyses in order to identify appropriate plant characters for selection to improve maize grain yield. Seventeen maize varieties were sown in a randomized complete block design with three replications in a humid environment of Port Harcourt, Nigeria in 2018 under rainfed condition. Data were recorded for days to 50% anthesis, days to 50% silking, anthesis-silking interval, plant height (cm) and ear height (cm), number of plants per plot, number of plants harvested, number of ears harvested, moisture content (%), field weight (kg), and grain yield (t ha-1). Results showed number of plants per plot, number of plants harvested, number of ears harvested and field weight correlated positively and significantly both phenotypically and genotypically with grain yield. Path coefficient analysis at the genotypic level also revealed field weight and days to 50% anthesis as the characters exerting the highest positive direct effect on grain yield. Therefore, maize grain yield could be improved through indirect selection for these characters.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Ita ◽  
E Ariga ◽  
R Michieka ◽  
W Muiru

Weed management practices used by small scale farmers determine maize productivity. The trials were executed in Kigumo district during the long and short rains in 2010 to compare effectiveness of glyphosate and hand weeding on weed management in maize (Zea mays L.). Treatments were arranged in a Completely Randomized Complete Block Design replicated three times in a split plot arrangement. The main plots were two maize varieties DUMA SC 41 and DK 8031 and the subplots three weed management practices,(glyphosate, hand weeding and no tillage). Data collected included weed count by species,fresh and dry weed biomass and maize grain yield. Data was subjected to ANOVA using Genstat computer software package at P<0.05. Treatments means were separated by Student-Newman Keuls Test. Results revealed that there were significant differences in weed count among weed management practices (P < 0.05). Weeds, significantly established faster under hand weeding than other weed management practices. There were no significant differences among weed management practices in biomass and maize grain yield (P < 0.05). The two maize varieties significantly differed in grain yield under different weed management practices, DK 8031 under glyphosate had the highest yield among the tillage practices involved.


2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Nogalska ◽  
Jerzy Czapla ◽  
Zenon Nogalski ◽  
Malgorzata Skwierawska ◽  
Monika Kaszuba

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of meat and bone meal (MBM) used as an organic fertilizer on maize grown for grain. A two-factorial field experiment in a randomized block design was carried out in 2010 and 2011, in north-eastern Poland. Experimental factor I was MBM dose (1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 t ha-1 year-1), and experimental factor II was the year of the study (two consecutive years). Increasing MBM doses contributed to an increase in maize grain yield and 1000-grain weight. The yield-forming effect of MBM applied at 1.5 t ha-1 year-1 was comparable with that of nitrogen and phosphorus contained in mineral fertilizers. A dose of 2.5 t ha-1 MBM led to a significant increase in maize grain yield. The P and K content of maize grain was determined by MBM dose, whereas the concentrations of N, Mg and Ca in grain were not affected by MBM dose. Significantly higher N, P, K and Mg uptake by maize plants was observed in treatments with the highest MBM dose, compared with the control treatment. Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake per 1 t MBM reached 101 kg and 26 kg, respectively. The results of a two-year study show that the maximum MBM dose (2.5 t ha-1 year-1) met the fertilizer requirements of maize with respect to nitrogen and phosphorus.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1756-1763
Author(s):  
Armindo Neivo Kichel ◽  
Luiz Carlos Ferreira de Souza ◽  
Ademar Pereira Serra ◽  
Roberto Giolo de Almeida

This research aimed to evaluate the maize grain yield and forage of grass species under intercropping system using nicosulfuron herbicide. In order to assess the parameters related to maize, a randomized block design was defined. The treatments were arranged in a (5 × 2+ 1) × 2 factorial design with four repetitions resulting in 11 treatments, where maize was cultivated under intercropping condition with different forage species (5) (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, Piatã, Xaraés, Brachiaria ruziziensis and Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça) and maize monoculture (1) as control treatment, with and without nicosulfuron herbicide application (2) in two growing seasons (2014 and 2015). The off-season intercropping of maize with tropical forage grasses with and without herbicide suppression decreased maize grain yield. The suppression with nicosulfuron herbicide decreased the dry matter production of forage grasses. Intercropping of P. maximum cv. Mombaça with maize showed higher decrease in maize grain yield. On the other hand, it showed higher forage grasses production for livestock feeding. B. brizantha cv. Piatã was the forage which less affected maize grain yield under intercropping, even with absence of nicosulfuron suppression. Off-season maize under intercropping with tropical forages can be used to recover degraded pastures; increasing forage dry matter production for livestock, remaining the soil covered with straws with possibility of no-till seeding for the next cultivation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document