Upland rice fields cover up to 1.8 million hectares of the 4.7 million hectares of global rice fields, while farmers' average yield of upland rice is far below the yield potential of existing traditional genotypes, particularly in West Africa. Grain yields of rice in Liberia are generally low, ranging from 0.5-1.5 tons per hectare (t/ha). A field study was conducted to evaluate yield and agronomic performances of four genotypes of rice (Nerica 8, Nerica 4, Arica 5 and LAC 23) on a typical fine sandy loam soil in the upper highland tropical forest agro-ecological Zone (UHTF AZ) of Liberia. The Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used with four replicates in four blocks. Data were taken on key agronomic characters including plant height; days to 50 % flowering; number of tillers; number of panicles; grain weight; panicle length; number of grains per plant; seed length and stem diameter at the base. Results from the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) indicated that there were significant differences between the control (Lac 23) and the improved genotypes (Nerica 8, Arica 5 and Nerica 4) for all characters measured except for panicle length, seed length and stem diameter. Correlation analysis was also performed to establish extent of association between major yield components and grain yield. Days to 50 % flowering correlated significantly with plant height, number of tillers and number of panicles per plant. Nerica 8, Arica 5 and Nerica 4 recorded the highest yield and may, therefore, be recommended to smallholder farmers in the upper highland forest zone. Lac 23, Arica 5 and Nerica 8 may be recommended for local farmers, who prefer high yielding, and relatively medium heighted improved rice cultivars or their interspecific hybrids. This is because extremely tall rice genotypes are susceptible to lodging, particularly in stormy conditions that are prevalent in the upper highland tropical forest agro-ecological zone of Liberia. Other approaches may be required to test these cultivars under harsh environments (such as water deficit condition) and different agroecologies across the country. We also recommend organoleptic assessments of Nerica 4, Nerica 8 and Arica 5 to boost their acceptability among consumers in the country.

A trial was conducted to determine the correlation between grain yield and agronomic parameters of 90 F 1 early maturing maize hybrids in 2012 in Fumesua, Ejura and Kpeve; representing the Forest, ForestSavannah Transition and Coastal-Savannah Transition zones of Ghana, respectively. The objective of the work was to determine the correlation between grain yield and other agronomic parameters of maize across three locations. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two replicates was used for each location. Results from the correlation analysis revealed that grain yield was significantly and positively correlated with plant height (r = 0.633), cob length (r =0.610) ear height (r =0.410), and cob diameter (r = 0.401). However, there were nonsignificant correlation between grain yield and days to silking. Nevertheless, among agronomic traits, ear height, plant height seed length, seed diameter, cob length and cob diameter were positively and significantly correlated, indicating that increase in any one of these traits could lead to increase in the other. It was recommended that hybrids that showed the highest correlation with grain can be selected to improve grain yield.

A grain yield trial was conducted in three locations in Southern Ghana. The objective of the trial was to determine the effects of genotype by environment interaction on 90 early maturing hybrid maize. The trial was conducted in Fumesua, Ejura and Kpeve; representing the forest, forest-Savanna transition and coastal-Savanna transition zones respectively. The analysis of variance for grain yield demonstrated that genotypic and environmental effects were highly significant (P<0.001) while their interaction was significant (P<0.005). The genotypes contributed 34.4% of total sum of square percentage while environment contributed 31.1% of the total sum of square of the variance. The genotype main effect plus genotype × environment interaction biplot explained 85.2% of total variation of the sum of squares for grain yield. P40, P16, P78, P53, P41 P9 and P3 were identified by GGE biplot analysis as high yielding and stable genotypes while P20, P80, P22, and P15 were low yielding but very stable genotypes. On the other hand, P59, P41, P16, P26 and P50 were high yielding but not stable and was recommended that genotypes with broad range adaptability can be tested on farmers field for possible release.