<p>This study was conducted to determine the optimum planting date for maize (<em>Zea mays</em> L.) to cope with the negative impacts of climate change in the marginal rainforest agro-ecology as typified at Ile-Ife, SW Nigeria. Five maize varieties were planted weekly, in 3-replicate randomized complete block design experiments at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research Farm, throughout the 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons. The varieties were monitored for seedling and adult plant traits including grain yield with its components. Statistical analysis showed significant effect of planting dates (DOP) on all traits. The first few DOPs in March and April had the highest grain yield which reduced with delayed planting till June and increased again mid July/August before finally dropping off thereafter. The higher yield in the earlier dates each year, was due to early flowering and taller plants with higher ear placement. Planting after the first few rains in March/April was the optimum for the first cropping season, and late July to mid-August was best for the second cropping season in this agroclimatic zone. Planting beyond these periods results in poor grain yield and pre-disposes the crop to terminal drought, which could result in complete crop failure.</p>
Plant architecture is a key factor for optimum productivity in most crops. Unfortunately, this aspect of maize (Zea mays L.) crop configuration has recieved little attention from researchers in the rainforest ecologies of Nigeria.We investigated the effects of the environment on canopy architecture and, in turn, canopy orientation on grain yield of maize in the rainforest of sw Nigeria. Five maize varieties were planted weekly from March to November of 2016 and 2017 in randomized complete block experiments at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching & Research Farm (OAU T&RF). Data were collected on canopy architecture, which was quantified with upper and lower leaf angle (LAUpper and LALower) and leaf orientation values (LOVUpper and LOVLower) obtained at the grain-filling stage.-At maturity, grain yield, along with some of its components (ear length, ear diameter and kernel row number) were also obtained from all plots. The data were subjectedto ANOVA, correlation, regression, and sequential path analyses to determine the relationship of grain yield with canopy architecture. The environment and genotype had significant effects on canopy architecture, grain yield (P = 0.01; R2 ≥ 80 %), and yield components. Leaf orientation value of the upper canopy (LOVUpper), with correlation coefficient r = 0.61** and direct positive causal effect (P = 0.61), rather than LAUpper, LALower and LOVLower, greatly affected grain yield. In conclusion, LOVUpper was the single most important leaf architecture index that positively affected grain yield which, in turn, was influenced greatly by the environment in the rainforest ecology of SW Nigeria
Despite the wide recognition of plant architecture as a key factor for optimum productivity in most crops, factors affecting maize (Zea mays L.) crop configurationis poorly understood and often neglected in the rainforest ecologies of sub-Saharan Africa. The present study provides an analysis of the weather factorsaffecting canopy architecture of maize in the rainforest of sw Nigeria. Five maize varieties were planted weekly from March to November of 2016 and 2017 in randomized complete block experiments at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching & Research Farm (OAU T&RF). Data were collected on upper and lower leaf angle (LAUpper and LALower), and leaf orientation values (LOVUpper and LOVLower) which served as indices for canopy architecture.Weather data were obtained from the automatic weather station located on the farm. ANOVA revealed that environment had significant effects on canopy architecture andgrain yield (P = 0.01; R2 ≥ 80 %). Correlation and regression analyses showed thatsoil moisture, soil temperature, and solar radiation greatly affected canopy configuration (P ≤ 0.01), particularly LA and LOV. Sequential path analyses confirmed that soil moisture for LA, and soil temperature for LOV, were the most important weather factors directlyinfluencing canopy architecture in maize. Leaf angle was directly influenced by soil moisture and indirectly byair relative humidy and rainfall, while LOV was directly influenced by soil temperature and solar radiation, and indirectly by air relative humidity, heat unit, total radiation, rainfall, and soil heat flux.
Agriculture is crucial to the survival and well-being of the populations of most nations. It is the single most important means of livelihood and foreign exchange earnings for many nations globally. Crop Production is the bedrock of agriculture on which most other agricultural activities depend, because of the ability of plants to manufacture their food via photosynthesis, which is an essential phenomenon for the sustenance of the natural system. Thus, most other agricultural activities depend directly or indirectly on crop production. As a result of the exponential increase in world population, leading to a significant reduction in agricultural land due to urbanization; deforestation, air pollution, erosion, climate change, and consequently, food insecurity; measures must be put in place to ensure crop production intensification via sustainable and environmentally safe methods that guarantee food security. The principles of sustainable crop production intensification discussed in this Chapter include optimum tillage method, land and water resources management practices, suitable choice of agricultural system, precise crop management techniques, and bioremediation, in an already contaminate environment.
<p>Environmental factors causing low seedling emergence often observed in tropical maize (Zea mays L.) are poorly documented. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of weather factors on maize seedling emergence at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research Farm (OAU TRF). Five maize varieties sown weekly, in 3-replicate RCBD experiments throughout the 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons, were used to monitor emergence percentage (E %), emergence index (EI) and emergence rate index (ERI). Climatic data were obtained from the automatic weather station located on the farm. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) environmental effect for all traits. Soil moisture (Sm), relative humidity, air temperature, heat unit and soil heat flux (SHF) showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) correlation coefficients with all traits, but there was no relationship between the emergence traits and grain yield. Stepwise multiple regression and sequential path coefficient analyses indicated that increased Sm, rather than rainfall per se, increased the speed of emergence. Minimum air temperature and SHF with direct effects, and heat unit with indirect effect, negatively affected emergence the most. Relatively low Tmin and SHF, along with just enough Sm maximized seedling emergence in the rainforest agro-ecology of southwestern Nigeria.</p>
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