ABSTRACT
“The Rainforest Agro-ecology of Nigeria has a great potential for maize production, but this is not often realized because the soils are particularly poor in available Nitrogen (N).One strategy to improve maize yield is to add N to the soils.A field trial was conducted during the rainy seasons of 2019 and 2020 at the experimental site of the Department of Crop Science, University of Benin, Benin City to assess the performance of maize (Zea mays L.) of contrasting maturities in low to high nitrogen environments. Benin City is located in the Rainforest Agro-ecology of Nigeria”.
“The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement replicated three times. The main plot treatment was nitrogen (N) rate (0, 30, 60,90 and 120 kg N ha-1) and subplot treatment was maize variety (TZEE-Y POP STR C4, extra-early maturing; 2008 DTMA - Y STR, early maturing; BR. 9928 DWRSR, intermediate maturing and TZL COMP.4 C4, late maturing) obtained from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria. The attributes measured were plant height, number of ears, seed weight and grain yield”.
“Results obtained showed that maize performance was influenced by N rate and variety. Maize plants grew taller when N fertilizer was applied at 30 – 120 kg N ha-1 compared to treatment with 0 kg N ha-1. Grain yields were higher by 32, 57, 56 and 61 % at 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha-1 respectively compared to 0 kg N ha-1. This implies that N is a limiting nutrient in the Rainforest environment”. “However, when N was added, optimum performance was achieved for grain yield at 60 kg N ha-1 beyond which rate, additional N did not cause any significant increase. Varietal differences were recorded for grain yield”. “Varieties TZL COMP.4 C4 and BR.9928 DWRSR out-yielded varieties TZEE-Y POP STR C4 and 2008 DTMA-Y STR. Therefore, it may be recommended that,farmers in the Rainforest Agro-ecology adopt and grow variety TZL COMP.4 C4 and BR.9928 DWRSR with fertilization at 60 kg N ha-1 for optimum yield, reduction in fertilizer wastage as well as reduction in potential negative impact on the environment”.
