Greener
Journal of  Agricultural Sciences
Vol. 2 (5), pp.
172-179,
September
2012

 ISSN: 2276-7770 

Research
Paper

Manuscript
Number:GJAS1236

 

Effect of Tillage System and Nitrogen Level on Growth of
Maize (Zea Mays L.) in Northern Guinea Zone of
Nigeria

 

Namakka A¹*., I. U. Abubakar², S. A.
Dadari², S. G. Ado, A. H. Hamid³,
Sharifai A. I²., H. N. Kura², B. A.
Babaji², Halliru I.¹

 

¹Samaru
College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

²Department
of Agronomy, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria.

³College
of Agriculture and Animal Science, Division of Agricultural
Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, 

Kaduna, Nigeria.

 

*Corresponding Author’s Email:

namakkasg2000 @ yahoo.com

Abstract:

A three year field study was
conducted on the same field in 2006, 2007 and 2008 rainy
seasons at the experimental farm of Institute for
Agricultural Research (I.A.R.), Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria- Nigeria (Lat. 11o 11’ N: Long 7o 38’ E: 686 m above
sea level) to determined the effect of tillage system and
nitrogen level on the growth of Oba 98 maize variety. The
treatment laid out in split plot design consisted of six
tillage practices (harrowing followed by weeding, harrowing
followed by primextra Gold, paraquat followed by primextra
Gold, glyphosate followed by primextra Gold, ridging
followed by weeding and ridging followed by primextra Gold
followed by weeding) as the main plots while nitrogen level
(0, 50, 100 and 150kgNha-1) were assigned to sub plots. The
results showed significant response of growth parameters and
cob weight to some tillage systems. Glyphosate followed by
primextra Gold significantly increased plant height, leaf
area index, crop growth rate, relative growth rate and days
to 50% tasseling. Paraquat followed by primextra Gold
significantly increased plant height, harrowing followed by
weeding significantly increased leaf area index, cob weight
were significantly affected by paraquat followed by
primextra Gold and glyphosate followed by primextra Gold.
Nitrogen application significantly increased growth
components such as plant height up to 100kgNha-1, leaf area
index up 50kgNha-1, crop growth rate up to 100 kgNha-1,
relative growth rate up to 50kgNha-1, number of days to 50%
tasseling up to 150kgNha-1 and cob weight 100 kgNha-1
 
Keywords: tillage, nitrogen, maize, growth.

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