Agro physiological characteristics of quality protein maize genotypes as influenced by irrigation and plant population in a semi arid Region of Nigeria

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the response of agrophysiological characters of quality 
protein maize genotypes to plant population under irrigated conditions in a semi arid ecology of 
Northern Nigeria. Field trials were conducted at the Irrigation Research Station, Institute for Agricultural 
Research, Kadawa (11° 39’N, 08° 20’E) and 500 m above sea level) during 2007, 2008 and 2009 dry 
seasons to study the effect of (Zea mays L.) genotypes (TZE-W Pop X 1368, EV-DT W99 STR and DMR
ESRW), four plant population (33,333, 44,444, 55,555 and 66,666 plants ha-1 ) and three irrigation 
scheduling (40, 60 and 80 centibars soil moisture tension) on the growth and yield of quality protein 
maize. A split plot design was used with combinations of genotypes and irrigation regimes assigned to 
the main plot and plant population assigned to the sub-plot. The treatments were replicated three times. 
The study revealed that genotype EV-DT W99 STR recorded significantly higher relative growth rate, 
crop growth rate and net assimilation rate. Increase in plant population significantly decreased leaf area 
index and net assimilation rate. Delayed irrigation significantly depressed total dry matter production. 
Based on the results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that the use of genotype EV-DT W99 
STR, at 60 centibars irrigation scheduling and 55,555 plants ha-1 had resulted in good agrophysiological 
characters of QPM at Kadawa.