Agro-Physiological Performance and Yield Evaluation of Maize Hybrid Genotypes under Rain-Fed Sudano-Sahelian Conditions in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is crucial to food security in Burkina Faso. However, productivity remains constrained by low yields in some varieties. This study aimed to evaluate the agro-physiological performance of eight hybrid genotypes under rain-fed Sudano-Sahelian conditions. Eight (8) maize genotypes (E8, E19, E30, E32, E42, E45, E18 and E28) were evaluated using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Significant variability was observed among genotypes for the number of leaves (P = 0.050), grain yield (P = 0.035) and biomass (P = 0.049). Genotypes E8, E30, E45 and E28 exhibited the highest grain yields. Genotype E32 showed the highest biomass production (4.44 ± 1.04 t/ha), indicating strong forage potential. Hierarchical ascending classification identified three distinct classes of hybrid genotypes. Analysis of variance shows that these classes differ significantly in certain traits, notably stem diameter at the collar, plant height and number of leaves. Class 2 genotypes (E8, E19, E30) showed the best performance, followed by class 3 (E32, E45, E18 and E28), whereas class 1 (E42) exhibited the lowest performance. These results highlight promising genotypes that could improve maize productivity under Sudano-Sahelian conditions. However, yields remain relatively low, indicating the need for breeding efforts. These results also provide useful insights for breeding programs and the selection of climate-resilient maize hybrids for Sudano-Sahelian environments.