Comparative response of direct seeded and transplanted maize (Zea mays L.) to nitrogen fertilization at Zanyokwe irrigation scheme, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Previous studies carried out in smallholder irrigation schemes in South Africa showed that bird damage to emergingseedlings reduced crop stand and yield of maize. Transplanting offered an opportunity to improve stand but therewas no information on fertiliser management of transplants. An on-farm experiment was therefore conducted tocompare the response to nitrogen (N) rate (60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 kg N ha-1) of direct seeded and transplantedmaize. Transplanting resulted in a significantly higher crop stand of 96% compared to direct seeding, whichachieved 78%. Transplanted maize had shortened growth duration in the field, reaching flowering stage 11 to 15days earlier than direct seeded maize. At low N rates, transplants produced higher green cob weight, grain yield andlonger cobs than direct seeded maize. The economically optimum N rates required to obtain marketable cobs were149 and 98 kg ha-1, whilst those required for achieving optimum grain yields were estimated at 240 and 227 kg ha-1with direct seeding and transplanting, respectively. The findings suggest that transplanted maize can be grown atlower N rates to achieve similar yield potentials as direct seeded maize, and that transplanting can help in improvingcrop stands in areas where bird damage on emerging seedlings is a problem.
DOI: 10.5897/ajar.9000116
Authors: M. Fanadzo, Cornelius Chiduza, P. N. S. Mnkeni
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2136296838