Effect of Municipal Solid Wastes On Grain Yield of Three Maize Cultivars (Published)
The growth and yield of three maize cultivars were examined in relation to the impact of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) enriched soil. According to the results, plants grown on soil treated with MSW and inorganic fertilizer (NPK) produced significantly (P≤0.05) taller plants, larger leaves and higher number of leaves than plants grown on the control soil. On the other hand, plants grown on soils fertilized with MSW 1 showed significantly (P≤0.05) greater values of these indicators. The study also demonstrated that maize cultivar TZE yellow, EVDT 99 and Comp-1-synthetic showed no significant variation at the later growth stage but TZE yellow significantly (P≤0.05) had taller plants, larger leaves, and higher number of leaves at the early stage of crop growth. Comp-1-synthetic produced more grain and more grains per cob which was statistically at par with TZE yellow but differ significantly (P≤0.05) from EVDT 99. Crops grown on MSW and NPK treated soils had significantly (P≤0.05) higher grain yields and more grains per cob than those grown on the control soil. However, compared to NPK treated soils, MSW treated soils significantly (P≤0.05) produced better grain yield and number of grains per cob. The maize cultivars’ differences in crude protein content were significant at P≤0.05. The crude protein content of TZE yellow was significantly (P≤0.05) higher than that of EVDT 99 and Comp-1-synthetic. Additionally, plants cultivated on MSW 1 treated soil had considerably higher crude protein content than plants grown on other soil types. Therefore, if municipal solid wastes are sorted and handled, MSW enriched soils could be employed to boost maize production.
Keywords: Cultivars, Grain Yield, Maize, municipal solid waste (MSW)
Phenotypic Diversity and Correlation Coefficient Analysis of Open Pollinated Maize Varieties in Uganda (Published)
Maize (Zea mays L.) is among the most important cereal crops grown and consumed in East Africa. Improved open pollinated maize varieties prevail popular among resource-poor farmers due to their low cost of production. Despite the advantages of OPVs in Uganda current trends show that open pollinated varieties are being continuously replaced by hybrids, and maize production is constrained by foliar diseases and abiotic (drought) factors. Therefore, it has become important to broaden the genetic pool of OPVs by characterising them using agronomic and diseases related traits. In this study, nineteen OPVs and five checks were phenotypically characterised at the National Crop Resources Research Center in α-lattice design. The results showed highly significant (P < 0.001) variations among the local and introduced OPVs in most of agronomic traits, except plant aspect, grey leaf spot and stem borer. An OPV SUWAN showed the highest grain yield (10.22 t ha-1) performance. The least number of days to anthesis, silking and stem lodging was observed on OPV SITUKA MI. Regarding correlation coefficient analysis, the result showed that positive significant (P < 0.001) correlations were observed between days to anthesis and silking (r = 0.99). The highest negative and significant (P < 0.001) correlation was observed between percentage of fuzarium ear rot and number of kennels per row (r = -0.67).
Keywords: Grain Yield, OPV, agronomic and disease related traits, correlation coefficient
Two years Evaluation of Four contrasting organic wastes on soil productivity and maize yield in Ultisol at Igbariam soil south east Nigeria (Published)
Famers since history in agriculture use animal waste to conserve their soil and improve crop yield. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was set up to study the effect of four (4) contrasting animal wastes on soil productivity and maize grain yield for two consecutive years in Igbariam soil south east Nigeria. The waste comprising of cow dung (CD), pig dropping (PGD), poultry droppings (PD) and goat droppings (GD) were applied at rate of 24kg/plot (equivalent to 20 tha-1) in the first year and their residual effect tested in the second year cropping. Results showed that application of animal wastes significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the soil properties and yield parameters of maize tested, for the 2 years study. The immediate effect of animal wastes in improving the soil pH of the amended plots gave corresponding increases in the values recorded for the soil parameters tested with a reduction in bulk density relative to the control plot for two consecutive years of study. Maize grain yield showed highest value (3.54 tha-1) and plant height 163.9 cm in PD first year cropping but second year cropping result depicted PGD to record highest maize grain yield value (1.96 tha-1) among the other treatments. The findings from the study showed that the use of animal wastes in crop production system can improve the productivity of soil and increased crop yield.
Keywords: Animal waste, Grain Yield, Nutrient Elements, organic waste
Adaptability and genotype by environment interaction of maize commercial hybrid varieties from East African seed companies in Rwandan environments (Published)
Maize (Zea mays L.) has known an unprecedented development for the past six years in Rwanda. The major factor behind this great achievement was the Crop Intensification Program (CIP). However maize hybrid varieties had little impact on maize production increase because they were not available. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the adaptability of maize commercial varieties from East African seed companies in Rwanda and to identify those to be used to increase maize production. Fourteen commercial hybrids, four hybrid cultivars released in Rwanda and five Open Pollinated Varieties (OPVs) were evaluated in four sites of mi-altitudes (18 entries) and four sites of highlands (10 entries). Results showed that RHM104, PAN53, PAN67, WH507, WH505, WH403 and RHM101 in mid-altitudes and H629, SC719, SC637, PAN691 and WH504 in highlands were high yielding and stable across environments. They were recommended to be used in Rwanda.
Keywords: AMMI, Commercial Varieties, Grain Yield, Highlands, Mid-Altitudes, Rwanda