PERFORMANCE OF EARLY AND LATE MAIZE (Zea mays L.) VARIETIES UNDER VARYING TIMES OF APPLIED FERTILIZER FOLLOWING A BUSH FALLOW

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PERFORMANCE OF EARLY AND LATE MAIZE (Zea mays L.) VARIETIES UNDER VARYING TIMES OF APPLIED FERTILIZER FOLLOWING A BUSH FALLOW

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out at the Research Farm of the University of Benin during the early growing season (April to July) of 2014 to investigate the performance of early and late maize variety under varying times of fertilizer application. The experiment was laid out as a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with a split-plot arrangement with four replications. Early and Late maize were used. Fertilizer application times included no fertilizer application, one week before planting, at planting, one week after planting, two weeks after planting, three weeks after planting and four weeks after planting. The traits evaluated include the plant and ear height, days to 50% tasselling and silking, days to 95% maturity, harvest index, the total dry matter plant-1, 1000-grain yield and the grain yield ha-1. The result obtained showed that these characters were significantly influenced by time of fertilization and maize variety. Early maize had significantly higher grain yield than late maize. Time of fertilization influenced total dry matter and grain yield. Therefore, early maize may be recommended for optimal yield under bush fallow in the Rainforest zone of Nigeria.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important staple food crop and provides bulk of raw materials for the livestock and many agro-allied industries in the world (Bello et al, 2010; Randjelovic et al, 2011). It is the third most important grain crop in the world after wheat and rice (USDA and FAS Grain, “Zea production maps and statistics,” 2010). Maize is of significant importance for developing countries like Nigeria, where rapid increase in population have already out stripped the available food supplies in which maize serve to ameliorate due to its high productivity and diversified use. More maize is produced annually than any other grain (IITA 2006).

Worldwide production of maize is 785 million tons, with the largest producer, the United States, producing 42%. Africa produces 6.5% and the largest African producer is Nigeria with nearly 8 million tons, followed by South Africa. Africa imports 28% of the required maize from countries outside the continent (IITA 2006). 158 million hectares of maize are harvested worldwide. Africa harvests 29 million hectares, with Nigeria, the largest producer in Sub Sahara Africa (SSA) harvesting 3%, followed by Tanzania (FAO, 2007). Worldwide consumption of maize is more than 116 million tons, with Africa consuming 30% and SSA 21%.

The tropical rainforest agro-ecology of Nigeria has a great potential for its production because of its high solar radiation coupled with much precipitation that favours maize production. In the southern rainforest belt of Nigeria, maize is grown twice due to bimodal rainfall pattern (a short early growing season followed by fairly long late season). Early maize varieties are usually planted at the onset of rainy season before it’s fully established (March/April), and matured sooner than the traditional crops. This succours in filling the hunger gap in July when all food reserves have been depleted after the long dry period in the zone. On the other hand, the late season crop is planted during the second cycle of rains (July/August). While the short early season is usually characterised by abrupt cessation of rains during crop cycle, the late season is normally affected by terminal drought. The occurrence of extreme environmental events impose different degrees of drought stresses on maize thereby affecting growth duration, plant size, dry matter accumulations, assimilate reserves and grain yield .

Efforts aimed at obtaining high yield of maize would necessitate the augmentation of the nutrient status of the soil to meet the crop’s requirements for optimum productivity and maintain soil fertility.

In spite of the increase in land areas under maize production, yield is still low. Some of the major causes of low maize yield are declining soil fertility and insufficient use of fertilizers resulting in severe nutrient depletion of soils (Buresh et al, 1997). Maize requires adequate supply of nutrients particularly nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for good growth and high yield. Evaluation of early (90-95 days)and late (100-105 days) maturing maize have formed part of the varietal trials in the marginal environments of the region under the auspices of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, Nigeria (Badu-Apraku et al, 2003; Sallah et al, 2004; Olaoye and Omueti,2006; Oluwaranti et al, 2008). Base on maize Investigations carried out, the crop has been observed to produce well under high soil fertility condition (Yusuf and Iwuafor, 2005). The nutrient supply to each crop is observed to be influenced by fertilizer supply to previous crop (Negassa et al, 2001; FAO, 2006; Rutunaa and Neel, 2006). Notwithstanding, the yield of maize varies among varieties, planting site coupled with availability of integral factors such as soil nutrient status and fertilizer application. Nitrogen is a vital plant nutrient and a major yield-determining factor required for maize production (Adediran and Banjoko, 1995; Shanti et al, 1997). Low N availability has limited cereal crop growth more than deficiencies in any other minerals (Carsky and Iwuafor, 1999). Thus maize yield has been dangerously reduced especially in developing countries of the world where maize production is carried out under low soil fertility condition (McCown et al, 1992; Oikeh and Horst, 2001).

It was in view of the above that this study was conducted to evaluate the performance of early and late maize varieties under varying times of applied fertilizer following a bush fallow. The following objectives where conceived:

(1). Evaluate the growth and yield of early and late varieties of maize in tropical rainforest environment.

(2). Determining the appropriate time of fertilizer application that would support optimal growth, yield and development of early and late maturing maize varieties.

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THE PROBLEM AND PROSPECTS OF COCOYAM PRODUCTION

ABSTRACT

It is a common practice in Nigeria and other West Africa Countries especially in area lying within the rainforest belt, with thick vegetation cover, the aim of management should be to avoid excessive and inadequate level of farming system and maintains sufficient for planting of cocoyam. The study therefore seeks to examine and appraise the problems and prospects of cocoyam production in our society, a case study of Ovia North East Local Government Area.

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

Background of the study

Statement of the problem

Research questions

Purpose of the study

Significance of the study

Scope of the study

Limitation of the study

Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO

Historical Literature review

CHAPTER THREE       

Research methodology

Research design

Population of the study

Research instrument

Data collection

Statistical techniques

CHAPTER FOUR

Data presentation and interpretation of result

CHAPTER FIVE

Summary, conclusion and recommendation

REFERENCES

QUESTIONNAIRE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Cocoyam (colocasia spp and xanthosoma spp) is grown in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world particularly in Africa for human nutrition, animal feed, and cash income for both farmers and traders (Onwueme and Chales, 1994). Cocoyam is vegetative propagated using the corms and to a lesser extent the cormels. As food for human consumption, the nutritional value parts of cocoyam is primarily caloric (Davis et al, 1992). The underground cormels provides easily digested starch; and the leaves are nutritious spinach like vegetable, which give a lot of minerals, vitamins and thiamine (Tambong et al, 1997).

There are two major types commonly grown in Nigeria namely; colocasia spp and xanthosma spp. In Nigeria, it is regarded as a major crop especially in X2 female headed household. Nigeria is one of the largest producers of cocoyam in the world contributing about 40% of total annual production okinpshectares of land out of the total arable land of 27,900.00 hectares under cocoyam production.

Cocoyam grows in association with other food and tree crops a system mostly practiced by subsistence farmers in Nigeria. The bulk of the production of cocoyam is in South East, Nigeria (Enyinnia, 2001). Cocoyam  is regarded as a major food crop in Nigeria especially in female headed households. Nwabuzor (2001) noted that cocoyam can be consumed in various forms when boiled, fried, pounded or roasted. It can also be processed into chips (“achicha”) which has a long shelf and provides food all year round especially during lean planting season (Asadu, 2006). Cocoyam leaves are also used as vegetable for preparing soup in various part of the world. There is a decline in the yields of cocoyam on the past few years. As population pressure on land continues to increases, the importance of cocoyam in ensuring household food security is given adequate recognition even through the present yield are still below expectation. This could be attributed to a lot of factors such as climate variation, drought, poor cultural practices among cocoyam growers, pest and diseases infestation (Ezenwu, 2010).

Despite the usefulness of cocoyam corms and leaves in human nutrition, its production and processing in Nigeria is faced with a lot of challenges. Some of these challenges are the alarming rate of land degradation and lack of improved varieties for commercial cocoyam and leaf production. Decreasing rainfall and poor soil have also been identified as some of the challenges processing of cocoyam in Nigeria (Osagoe, 2006). Therefore, this study was carried out with the broad objective of ascertaining strategies for improving cocoyam production and processing among women farmers in Edo State, Nigeria.

1.2    STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

In any human endeavour, there are bound to be some obstacle or hindrance in any of achieving exception to this general rule. Hence this research is designed to find out the problem and prospects of cocoyam production in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

1.3    PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The main aim of the study is to examine and appraise the problem and prospects of cocoyam production in our society, a case study of Ovia North East Local Government Area.

    To know the number of farmer producing cocoyam in the local government area.

    To know the type of production system.

    Identifying problem of cocoyam production

1.4    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is a common practice in Nigeria and other West Africa countries especially in area lying within the rainforest belt with thick vegetation cover, the aim of management should be avoid excessive and inadequate level of farming system and maintains enough stock raw materials in period of short supply and anticipate price changes.

1.5    RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This study is centred on planning of cocoyam in our local government council (Ovia North East) with more emphasis on cocoyam production. Survey is a broad discipline that cannot be treated in full in this study. The researcher while trying to obtain information from respondents encountered certain drawback which hindered on farming system.

This investigation had a very limited for the study and they only limited time for the study and they only limited the work.

1.6    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is centered on planting of cocoyam in our local government council (Ovia North East) with more emphasis on cocoyam production. Survey is a broad discipline that cannot be treated in full in this study. The researcher while trying to obtain information from respondents encountered certain drawback which hindered on farming system.

1.8    DEFINITION OF TERMS

Cocoyam: Cocoyam are herbaceous perennial plants belonging to the family araceae and are grown primarily of their edible roots, although all parts of the plant are edible. Cocoyam that are cultivated as food crops belong to either the genus colocasia or the genus xanthosoma and are generally comprised of a large spherical corm (swollen underground storage stem), from which a few large leaves emerge.

Problem: A problem is a road block in a situation, something that sets up a conflict and forces you to find a resolution.

Prospect: A prospect is the possibility that something fabulous will happen. After you graduate top of your class at Harvard, for example, your job prospects look great.

Production: The process of making or growing something for scale or use.

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Account Number: 0046579864

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OR

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Account Number: 2023350498

Bank: UBA.

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