Effects of Tied Ridges and Drought Tolerant Maize and Legume Varieties on Maize Yields in Semi Arid Areas of Northern Tanzania

Abstract

This paper is based on research findings and field experience of maize and legume crops using integrated technologies in Mwanga and Same Districts, Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. Field experiments were conducted over the period of two years (2013-2014) to investigate the effects of tied ridges, drought tolerant maize and legumes on maize grain yield. The experiment was arranged in randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The data collected included maize plant height, biomass yield and grain yields. The data were coded into different variables and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the STATISTICA computer package and the treatments mean separation test were done using Fischer Least Significance Difference (LSD). Results obtained from both Same and Mwanga Districts showed that tied ridges and cropping systems had significant (P ≤ 0.001) effect on maize plant height, biomass and grain yield in both cropping seasons. Further, the results showed significant interactive (P ≤ 0.05) effect between tied ridges and cropping systems on maize plant height and biomass yield for Mwanga and Same Districts in both seasons although no significant interactive effects observed for maize grain yield. The results further showed that maize yields increased from 0.65 to 1.26 t ha-1 and 0.4 to 1.5 t ha-1 for Mwanga and Same Districts, respectively. On average, the highest yield increment of more than 60% due to tied ridges and drought tolerant maize and legume varieties were obtained from the two districts in both seasons over the control.  Therefore, use of tie ridges, drought tolerant maize varieties and legumes as a package has significant effect on maize grain yield in semi arid areas of northern Tanzania and can be extrapolated to other areas with similar climatic conditions.