Growth and Development of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) Genotypes As Influenced by Irrigation and Plant Population in a Sudan Savanna Ecology, Nigeria

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to assess the growth and development of quality protein maize (QPM) genotypes to various plant populations under different irrigated conditions in a semi arid ecology of Northern Nigeria. Field trials were conducted at the Irrigation Research Station, Institute for Agricultural Research, Kadawa (11º39’ N, 08º20’ E) and 500 m above sea level) for three years, 2007, 2008 and 2009 during dry seasons to study the effect of three maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes (TZE-W Pop X 1368, EV-DT W99 STR and DMR-ESRW), four plant populations (33,333, 44,444, 55,555 and 66,666 plants ha-1) and three irrigation scheduling regimes (40, 60 and 80 centibars soil moisture tension) on the growth and development of QPM. This was a three trial experiment with factors arranged in a split plot design, whereby genotype and irrigation scheduling were assigned to the main plot in a factorial style and plant population density assigned to the sub-plots. Factors involved were replicated three times. The treatments were replicated three times. The study revealed that genotype EV-DT W99 STR had significantly higher number of leaves, taller plants and shorter days to attain 50% tasselling and silking. Irrigating at 80 centibars resulted in significantly shorter days to 50% taselling, but significantly longer days to attain 50% silking. Increase in plant population significantly decreased the number of days to attain 50% tasseling. Based on the results found in this study, it could be concluded that genotype EV-DT W99 STR, at 80 centibars irrigation scheduling regime and 55,555 plants ha-1 had resulted in good growth and development of QPM under irrigation in a semi arid environment.