Growth And Yield Performance Of Two Maize (Zea Mays L.) Varieties To Different Weed Control Regimes

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out from August to December 2022 at the Research field of the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Mampong – Ashanti. The main objective of the study was to determine the influence of different weed control regimes on the growth and yield performance of two maize varieties. The experimental design was 2×4 factorial laid in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with eight treatments replicated three times. The treatments were: Abontem variety + hoeing at 3, 5 and 7 WAP, Abontem variety + hoeing at 3 and 5 WAP, Abontem variety + hoeing at 3 WAP, Abontem variety + no hoeing, Omankwa variety + hoeing at 3, 5 and 7 WAP, Omankwa variety + hoeing at 3 and 5 WAP, Omankwa variety + hoeing at 3 WAP Omankwa variety + no hoeing. The results revealed that, Abontem variety recorded early days to 50% silking (59) which was significantly different (P≤0.05) from Omankwa variety which showed late days to 50% silking (64). The hoeing regimes significantly differed from the no hoeing in stem diameter at 7, 9 and 11 WAP. The varieties x hoeing regimes interaction significantly differed from the varieties x no hoeing interaction. Hoeing at 3 and 5 WAP produced significantly higher the yield than no hoeing. Omankwa variety × hoeing at 3, 5 and 7 WAP had significantly higher yield (836.10 kg/ha) than Abontem and Omankwa + no hoeing (81 and 87 kg/ha) respectively. It is therefore recommended that, farmers undertake hand hoeing at 3 and 5 WAP when planting early maturing maize varieties for higher vegetative growth and higher yield of maize.