Adaptive strategies for delayed onset of rainfall for maize production in tropical rainforest of SouthEastern Nigeria
Date
2014-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Abstract
Delayed onset of rainfall constrains farmers across the humid southern Nigeria to delay planting, until the rain is established, as a means of avoiding the moisture stress imposed.
Field experiments were therefore conducted in 2009 and 2010 to assess the impacts of delayed onset of rainfall with a view to determining appropriate adaptation strategies for the
production of maize in the southeastern rainforest zone of Nigeria. The study was a split-split plot laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Four sowing dates (February 28, March 15, March 30 and April 14) were the main plots, three maize varieties (TZE COMP3 C3, TZL COMP4 C3 and OKA AWAKA) the sub-plots and two poultry
manure rates (0 and 10 tons/ha) constituted the sub-sub plots. The main plots measured 13.25 x 7m, subplots were 3.75 x 7m and sub-subplots were 3.75 x 3m. Maize was sown at a
population of 53,333 plants ha¬-1 (0.75 x 0.25m). Plant parameters measured included vegetative growth parameters (at 2, 4 and 6weeks after planting), reproductive growth
parameters and grain yield. Other measurements were soil temperature and moisture content. The results showed that in 2009 and 2010 maize planted on February 28 and March 15
generally had reduced vegetative growth compared to maize planted on March 30 and April 14 due to moisture deficit. Stem dry matter was reduced by 85.3% in 2009 when maize planted on March 15 and April 14 was compared and by 81.4% in 2010 when maize planted on March 15 and March 30 was compared. Moisture stress also delayed attainment of maize physiological maturity by 6.0 and 11.0 days in 2009 and 8.0 and 10.0 days in 2010 when maize planted on February 28 was compared to maize planted on March 30 and April 14
respectively. Grain yield reduction was 26.6% in 2010. The late maturing varieties (TZL COMP4 C3 and OKA AWAKA) were superior to the early maturing variety with regard to
vegetative and reproductive growth.Variety TZL COMP4 C3 which had the lowest anthesis silking interval(5.0 days) is considered the most physiologically desirable among the three maize varieties. Application of 10tons/ha of poultry manure significantly increased vegetative growth and hastened maturity in maize. Poultry manure significantly increased maize yield
components and resulted in 33.3 and 61.3% increase in grain yield in 2009 and 2010 respectively. The results from this study showed that poultry manure application, selection of
variety and time of planting are effective strategies for adaptation to the impacts of delayed onset of rainfall in the humid rainforest zone of Nigeria.
Description
The Doctoral research was carried out in crop philosophy
Keywords
Maize production, rainfall, poultry manure, grain yield, tropical rainforest, Department of Crop Science Technology
Citation
Adikuru, N. C. (2014). Adaptive strategies for delayed onset of rainfall for maize production in tropical rainforest of SouthEastern Nigeria (Unpublished Doctoral Thesis). Federal University of technology, Owerri, Nigeria