Browsing by Author "Omar, Ali Mohammed"

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    Improving maize production practices in a semi-coral area in Pemba
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2014) Omar, Ali Mohammed
    Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food crop grown in the semi-coral area in Pemba. Despite its high yield potential, it is giving low yields because of lack of appropriate information on varieties, plant population and fertilizer recommendations. Keeping this in view, the present study was done to establish the best combination of variety, plant density and nitrogen fertilizer for maximizing maize yield in the semi-coral area. Three improved varieties (Staha, Situka and TMV-1) were compared with the local variety (JKU) at three plant densities (44 444,53 333 and 66 666 plants/ha) and four nitrogen levels (23, 46, 70 and 90 kg N/ha) during the 2013 cropping season. A field experiment was laid out using a randomized complete block design in split-split-plot arrangement with three replications. Varieties were kept to the main plots, plant densities to the sub-plots and nitrogen levels to the sub-subplots. Results indicated that Staha produced significantly (P < 0.05) higher grain yield (4.953 tons/ha) followed by the local variety (4.411 tons/ha). The local variety flowered and matured earliest. Plant density had no significant effect on flowering, maturity and seed rows/cob but recorded significantly tallest plants (1.848 m) at 66 666 plants/ha and greatest yield (4.291 tons/ha) at 53 333 plants/ha. Application of 90 kg N/ha led to significantly (P < 0.05) tallest plants but delayed flowering and maturity while 70 kg N/ha was better for the yield and yield components. Interaction of variety with plant density, variety with nitrogen fertilizer and plant density with nitrogen fertilizer were all significant for the grain yield. Interaction of variety with plant density and nitrogen led to significantly highest grain yield (6.415 t/ha) from Staha with 66 666 plants/ha and 70 kg N/ha and therefore recommended for the semi-coral area.