The Effect of Plant Densities and Different Maturity Types on Maize Grain and Fodder Yield
Boakye Boateng Augustine *
Department of Agriculture, Local Government Service, Sekyere Kumawu District, P.O.Box 11, Kumawu - Ashanti, Ghana.
Atta Boateng Bright
Department of Agriculture, Local Government Service, Sene West District, P.O.Box 11, Kwame Danso - Bono East, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Three maturity types of maize, Abontem (extra early maturing), Omankwa (early maturing) and Obaatanpa (medium maturing) were evaluated at three different plant densities 66,667 plants ha-1, 100,001 plants ha-1 and 133,334 plants ha-1 to determine the optimum plant density for grain and fodder yield. The experiment was laid in randomized complete block with four replicates factorial fashion. The maize maturity type had significant influence on all the traits measured. Plant density had significant effect on cob width, grain and fodder yield but no significant influence on plant height, days to 50% anthesis and silking, anthesis and silking interval, cob length and 1000 grain weight. Obaatanpa (medium maturing) was the maize maturity type that produced the highest grain yield (3139 kg ha-1) and fodder yield of (4173 kg ha-1). Obaatanpa with 133,334 plants ha-1 interaction produced the highest grain and fodder yield with 3186 kg ha-1 and 4240 kg ha-1 respectively. Obaatanpa with 133,334 plants ha-1 would be recommended for commercial grain and fodder production because the high yielding potential as observed in the study.
Keywords: Dry matter, plant population, varietal variation, photosynthate