Influence of water deficit on the growth, yield and yield attributes of maize (Zea mays L.) varieties on the Jos plateau

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Federal College of Forestry demonstration farm, Jos, Plateau State to evaluate the effect of water deficit on the agronomic performance of maize. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with factorial arrangement of three maize cultivars (SAMMAZ 72T, 73T and 74T) and three irrigation intervals (irrigation at all growth stages, except at tasselling and except at silking) and replicated three times. Data were taken at random from five plants at two weeks interval and the mean value recorded on plant height, leaf area, leaf area index, crop dry matter, net assimilation rate, relative growth rate, water use efficiency, number of cobs/plot, cob length, cob weight/plant 100 grain weight and grain yield. Results indicated that no cultivar difference (p>0.05) were observed on the plant height, leaf area, leaf area index, crop dry matter, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate and water use efficiency, number of cobs/plot, cob length, cob weight/plant 100 grain weight and grain yield at Jos. No significant (p>0.05) response to deficit irrigation was observed on number of cobs/plot, cob length, weight of cob/plant and grain yield but significant (p<0.05) on 100 grain weight. It can be concluded that all three cultivars gave similar responses. Similarly, the applications of irrigation water (deficit irrigation) throughout the research period except at silking produce the tallest plant (111.01 cm) and 100 grain weight (21.11 g) of maize. It is therefore recommended that all cultivars can be planted and water withdrawn at silking stage for optimum production of maize under irrigation deficit.