Performance of two maize varieties under two irrigation frequencies II. yield and yield components.
1997
Teshome Regasa | Reddy M.S.
Maize is dominant crop of semi-arid Ethiopia where moisture stress and soil fertility limit crop yield. A trial was conducted to investigate the interaction effect of two irrigation frequencies; weekly (WI) and bi-weekly (BWI) on the performance of two maize varieties; Birkata (drought susceptible) and Katumani (drought tolerant) using a split plot design with a randomized complete block arrangement. For the main plots, an estimated amount of 566 mm and 438 mm of water was applied as irrigation or as rainfed for non-stressed and stressed plants, respectively. Moisture stress was initiated at about growth stage (GS) 2 or about 35 d.a.e. for about two weeks, relieved and then re-initiated after watering all plots which was done at GS 4, 6 and 8. Moisture stress has reduced all cob parameters and yield. However, among the varieties much drop was observed on Birkata. Due to limited moisture, grain yield was reduced (P less than or equal to 0.05) from about 4.4 to 2.3 ton ha-1 (48 percent) Birkata produced 9 percent higher grain yield (4.6 ton ha-1) than Katumani (4.2 ton ha-1) under WI but 25 percent lower (2.0 ton ha-1) than Katumani (2.6 ton ha-1) under BWI (P less than or equal to 0.05). Limited moisture reduced Harvest index (HI) but not test weight.
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