EFFECT OF VARIETY AND INTRA-ROW SPACING ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS) IN BAUCHI
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of maize varieties and intra-row spacing on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in Bauchi State, located in the northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. Three maize varieties (SAMAIZ 14, SAMAIZ 15, and DMR Yellow) and two intra-row spacings (20 × 75 cm and 25 × 75 cm) were evaluated in a factorial experiment laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem girth, cob length, cob weight, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield, and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Variety variations were observed among the varieties. Sammaz 15 consistently produced the highest grain yield (18.40 t/ha), followed by DMR yellow (12.72 t/ha), while the lowest yield was obtained from Sammaz 14 (8.60t/ha). This suggests that variety choice, particularly Sammaz 15, has greater influence on productivity than spacing within the range of 20 × 75 cm to 25 × 75 cm. Therefore, it may be concluded that both spacing arrangements are suitable for maize production in the northern Guinea savanna of Bauchi State. However, adoption of improved varieties such as Sammaz 15 and DMR Yellow can be recommended to achieve higher yields under the prevailing agro-ecological conditions. The recommended that farmers in the northern Guinea savanna adopt improved varieties such as Sammaz 15, while either 20 × 75 cm or 25 × 75 cm spacing can be used depending on management. Findings suggest that within the spacing range tested, variety choice had a greater influence on yield performance than intra-row spacing. Sammaz 15 emerged as the most promising variety for cultivation under the prevailing agro-ecological conditions of Bauchi State. It is therefore, recommended that farmers in the Northern Guinea Savannah adopt improved varieties such as
Sammaz 15 with either 75cm x 20cm or 75cm x 25cm can be used depending on the management.
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