Weed Infestation, Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) as Influenced by Periods of Weed Interference

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the third most important cereal crop in the world after wheat and rice [1]. It is an important cereal crop in Nigeria with a total production of about 7.3 million tons in 2009 [2]. The savanna zone of West and Central Africa has the greatest potential for its production due to relatively higher incidence of solar radiation and lower incidence of pests and diseases during the cropping season [3]. Currently, more maize is produced annually than any other grain and is the most important cereal crop in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America [4].

Maize is a leading commercial crop of great value. The crop is also widely considered the greatest potential among food crops for attaining food security in the savanna zone of West and Central Africa [5]. Maize provides staple food to large number of human population in the world. In the developing countries, maize is a major source of income to many farmers [6]. Maize is used in Nigeria for beer brewing for fabric manufacturing, adhesives and in the pharmaceutical industries [7].

Despite its importance, the yield of maize obtained in Nigeria is far below expectation due to numerous factors which include weed infestation, low soil fertility and unavailability of labour. Maize is highly susceptible to weed competition particularly at the early stage of growth. In Nigeria, yield losses as high as 51 to 100% have been sustained in maize due to weed competition [8]. Also, Lagoke et al. [9] reported yield losses of 60-81% in maize due to weed infestation. Evans et al. [10] reported that ear number per plant and 100-seed weight of grains decreased linearly with increasing duration of weed interference. They also found out that seed number per ear was the most sensitive yield component to weed interference and nitrogen rate. Therefore, weed control is an important management practices for maize production that should be carried out to ensure optimum grain yield.

The critical period of weed interference is the maximum length of time during which weeds emerging soon after crop planting can coexist with the crop without causing unacceptable yield loss, and also the weed-free period or the minimum length of time required for the crop to be maintained weed-free before yield loss caused by the late emerging weeds is no longer a concern [10,11]. The knowledge of critical period of weed interference could help reduce yield losses due to weed [12].

Previous studies carried out include the work of Del Pino and Covarelli [13] who reported that a weed-free duration of 2 weeks starting 3 weeks after crop emergence is enough to provide acceptable grain yield. Also, Tunku et al. [14] reported that keeping popcorn weedfree for the initial 6 weeks after planting will be desirable to obtain yield comparable to the maximum in the southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. There is need to conduct this study in order to provide information to farmers on the precise time they need to carry out weed control in maize. This will not only lead to reduction of weeding frequency and cost of weed control, it will also ensure effective weeding and higher maize yield. Therefore, the objectives of this study are:

• To determine the effects of duration of weed interference on maize growth and yield

• To determine the critical period of weed interference in maize under the growing conditions of the southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria.

The experiment was conducted during the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons at Kwara State University Teaching and Research Farm, Malete, (Lat. 08°71’N; Long. 04°44’E) in the southern Guinea savanna ecological zone of Nigeria. The experimental site is characterized by a bimodal rainfall pattern that peaks in June and September. The soil of the experimental site is sandy with low water holding capacity. The experiment consisted of ten treatments consisting of two components. The first component consisted of periods of weed interference such that plots were kept weed-free for initial 3,6,9 and 12 weeks after sowing (WAS) and subsequently left weedy until harvest, while the second component comprised of plots left weedy for initial 3, 6, 9 and 12 WAS and subsequently kept weed-free until harvest. There were two control treatments, namely plots left weedy and weed-free until harvest. These treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times.

After ploughing and harrowing of the experimental field, it was leveled and marked out into plots of 4 m by 4 m each. A space of 0.5 m was left between plots, while a distance of 1 meter was left between replicates. Nutrients at the rate of 120 kg N, 60 kg P₂O₅ and 60 Kg K₂O was applied to each plot in two split doses, using 15:15:15 fertilizer. The first dose of fertilizer was applied before planting consisting of the full doses of phosphorus and potassium and half dose of nitrogen, while the second dose of nitrogen using urea was applied as top dressing at 6 WAS. Sowing was done on the 3^rd of July, 2013 and 28^th of June, 2014, using treated seeds of maize variety SUWAN-1-SR obtained from Kwara Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) Ministry of Agriculture, Ilorin, Kwara State. Three seeds were planted per hole at a depth of 2 cm and the resultant seedlings were thinned to one plant per stand at a spacing of 75 cm × 25 cm at 3 WAS. The harvesting was done on the 17^th of November and 5^th of November 2013 and 2014 respectively. Parameters measured included the following.

Plant height (cm)

This was determined by measuring the height of 5 randomly selected plants per plot at 9 WAS and at harvest using graduated tape from the soil level to the tip of the tassel.

Weed dry matter (Kg/ha)

Weed dry matter was determined by using 1 m² quadrat, randomly placed in three locations within each plot to harvest weeds. The weeds were put in a well labeled polythene bags and later oven-dried to a constant weight at 80°C for 2 days.

Relative important value (RIV %) and weeding efficiency (%)

The Relative Importance Value (RIV%) was determined after the weeds were collected from the quadrats and before they were oven-dried by using the formula:

Where RF=Relative frequency of each species and RD=relative density of each species.

Weeding efficiency

Weeding efficiency was calculated based on the method suggested by Bhattacharya and Mandal [15] as follows: Dry weed weight of unweeded control (DWWT)-DWWT of treatment/DWWT of unweeded × 100.

Leaf area (cm²)

The leaf area was determined at 9 WAS and harvest by measuring the length and breadth of the top, middle and bottom leaves of five randomly selected plants from each plot and the average of these measurements was multiplied by a factor 0.75 to give the leaf area/plant [16].

Cob weight (g)

The weight of five samples of maize cob randomly selected was taken after weighing on a weighing balance. The average of the total cob weights was recorded as the cob weight/plot.

Number of leaves/plant

The number of leaves/Plant was determined at 9 WAS and at harvest. Five randomly selected plants and the number of leaves on them were counted and the average of the total number of leaves was recorded.

100-seed weight

This was determined by counting 100 seeds from the grains harvested from each net plot, which was weighed on an electronic balance.

Number of kernel rows/cob

The kernel rows of maize cobs randomly selected per plot was counted and the average of the total number of rows was recorded.

Grain yield

This was determined by weighing the grains harvested from each net plot which was converted to kilograms per hectare using the equation below:

Percentage yield loss

Percentage yield loss was calculated as follows: Combined weed-free grain yield- Combined treatment yield/ Combined Weed- free grain yield × 100

Data analysis

All Data collected excluding relative importance value, weeding efficiency and percentage yield loss were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and where F was significant, means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test.

Effect of period of weed interference on weed infestation, relative importance value and weeding efficiency

Weed dry matter: The effect of period of weed interference on weed dry matter is presented on Table 1. It shows that in 2013, plots kept weed-free for 3,6,9 and 12 WAS and that left weedy for only 3 WAS reduced weed dry matter significantly, which was comparable to weed-free until harvest. However, plots left weedy for 6,9,12 WAS and until harvest supported significant higher weed dry matter. The same trend was observed in 2014 and the combined except that plots kept weed-free for 3 WAS, produced comparative weed dry matter with those left weedy for 6,9 and 12 WAS. Plots left weedy until harvest produced significant highest weed dry matter values compared with the rest of the treatments.

Table 1: Effect of Period of Weed Interference on Weed Dry Matter, 2013 and 2014.

Relative Importance Value (RIV %): The relative importance value of weed species are presented in Table 2. A total of twenty five weed species were found to interfere with maize on the experimental field. These consisted of 11 broad leaved (BL) weeds, 8 grass weeds and 6 sedges. Paspalum scobuculatum Linn (RIV, 22. 8%) followed by Digitaria horizontalis (RIV,10.6%) had the highest relative importance value. The longer weeds were allowed to interfere with maize the higher is the number of weed species competing with the crop (Table 2).

Table 2: Species richness and relative importance values (RIV%) of weed Species identified under the various periods of weed interference in 2014.

Weeding efficiency: Table 3 shows the effect of period of weed interference on weeding efficiency. In 2013, the weeding efficiency of plots kept weed-free for 3,6,9 and 12 WAS and the one left weedy for only 3 WAS had higher weeding efficiency, while plots left weedy for 6,9, 12 WAS and until harvest had lower weeding efficiency. The same trend was observed in 2014 and the combined, except that the weeding efficiency was reduced in plots kept weed-free for only 3 WAS.

Table 3: Effect of period of weed interference on weeding efficiency, 2013 and 2014.

Effect of period of weed interference on growth of maize

Plant height: Table 4 presents the effect of period of weed interference on plant height at 9 WAS and at harvest. It shows that plant height was significantly affected by period of weed interference at 9 WAS in 2013 but not in 2014. In 2013, and the combined, plots kept weed-free for 3,6,9, 12 WAS and that left weedy for 3 WAS produced plants that were significantly taller than plots left weedy for 6, 9, 12 WAS and until harvest. The same trend was observed at harvest in 2013, 2014 and the combined.

Table 4: Effect of period of weed Interference on plant height, 2013 and 2014.

Number of leaves / plant: The effect of period of weed interference on the number of leaves/plant is presented on Table 5. It shows that period of weed interference had significant effect on number of leaves/ plant at 9 WAS in 2013 and the combined and at 12 WAS in both years and the combined. Plots kept weed-free for 3, 6,9,12 WAS and that left weedy for 3 WAS produced significantly higher number of leaves than those left weedy for 6 WAS and beyond. Similar pattern was observed at harvest in both years and the combined.

Table 5: Effect of period of weed interference on number of leaves/plant, 2013 and 2014.

Leaf area: At 9 WAS, in both years and the combined, weed-free till harvest produced significantly larger leaf area which was comparable to plots left weedy for 3 WAS and plots kept weed-free for 6 and 9 WAS. However, plots left weedy for 6,9,12 WAS and until harvest produced leaf area that was significantly smaller in both years and the combined. At 12 WAS, similar trend was recorded with maize kept weed-free for 3,6,9,12 WAS and weedy for 3 WAS producing comparable significant larger leaf with plots kept weed-free till harvest. Plots left weedy for 6 WAS and beyond produced significantly smaller leaf area in 2013 and the combined (Table 6).

Table 6: Effect of period of weed interference on leaf area, 2013 and 2014.

Effect of period of weed interference on yield components

Cob weight and seed rows/cob: Period of weed interference had significant effect on cob weight seed rows per cob in both years and their combined (Table 7). Plots kept weed-free for 3,6,9,12 WAS and that left weedy for 3 WAS gave cobs that were significantly heavier than those from plots left weedy for 6,9,12 WAS and until harvest but were comparable with cobs from weed-free until harvest. Similar pattern was observed with the number of seed rows per cob in both years and the combined, as plots kept weed-free for 3,6,9,12 WAS and that left weedy for only 3 WAS and weed-free until harvest supported significantly higher number of seed rows compared with plots left weedy for 6,9,12 WAS and weedy till harvest, which produced significantly lower number of seed rows (Table 7).

Table 7: Effect of period of weed interference on cob weight and number of seed rows/cob, 2013 and 2014.

Effect of period of weed interference on 100-seed weight grain yield and percentage yield reduction

100-seed weight was significantly affected by period of weed interference in both years and their combined (Table 8). Plots kept weed-free until harvest produced seeds that were significantly heavier in both years and the combined but which were comparable with weedfree for 6,9,12 WAS and plots left weedy for only 3 WAS. However, treatments kept weed free for 3 WAS and plots left weedy for 6,9,12 WAS and weedy until harvest gave significantly lighter seeds.

Table 8: Effect of period of weed interference on 100-seed weight and grain yield.

Weed-free until harvest resulted in maximum grain yield in 2013 which was comparable with treatments kept weed-free for 3,6,9,12 WAS and weedy for only 3 WAS (Table 8). Plots left weedy for 6,9,12 WAS and until harvest gave grain yields that were significantly lower. The same trend was observed in 2014 and the combined, however, weed-free for 3 WAS produced significantly lower yield compared to the maximum. Plots kept weed-free for 6 and 9 WAS and weedy for only 3 WAS resulted in low percentage yield reduction of 5%, 3.9% and 14.5% respectively, while percentage yield reduction increased with increase in period of weed interference with weedy until harvest having the highest percentage yield loss of 84.0% (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Effect of Period of Weed Interference on Percentage yield loss of maize, 2013 and 2014. Key: Wf-n-wd=Weed-free for n weeks after sowing (WAS) and subsequently left weedy till harvest; Wd-n-wf=Weedy for n WAS and subsequently kept weed free till harvest; Wd-0-wf=Weed-free till harvest; Wf-0-wd=Weedy till harvest.

The effect of period of weed interference on weed infestation and weeding efficiency

Plots left weedy for 6,9,12 WAS and until harvest produced significantly higher weed dry matter in both years and the combined. This could be due to the prolonged period weeds were allowed to interfere with the crop which resulted in the accumulation of weeds, higher weed density and weed dry matter with plots kept weed-free until harvest. Plots kept weed-free or only 3 WAS supported comparable lower weed dry matter in 2013, however, in 2014 and combined, this treatment produced significantly higher weed dry matter comparable to weedy till harvest. This could be due to prolonged period of drought in 2013, which did not promote much weed growth. However, the higher rainfall recorded the following year, could have cause increase in weed infestation and weed dry matter. The above finding is similar to that of Iyagba et al. [17] who reported higher quantity of weeds resulting from prolonged weed interference in Okra. It also agrees with Shinggu that keeping plots weed free till 9 WAS and beyond supported the production of lower weed dry matter. The weeds with the highest relative importance value (RIV 22.8%) were Paspalum scrobiculata and Digitaria horizontalis. This suggest that grasses were more dominant than broadleaved weeds and could have competed more with the maize crop compared with broad leaved weeds. Grass weeds have been reported to be more competitive and damaging in a grass-leaf crop than in broad-leaf crops [18].

The lower weeding efficiency observed in plots left weedy for 6,9,12 WAS, weedy until harvest and plots kept weed-free for only 3 WAS suggests that the longer weeds are allowed to interfere with maize, the lower will be the weeding efficiency. This agrees with Iyagba et al. [17] who reported a low weed control efficiency in Okra as it was infested with weeds for 5 WAS.

Effect of period of weed interference on growth of maize

Weed-free for 6,9,12 WAS and weedy for only 3 WAS supported significantly higher maize plant height, leaf area, number of leaves per plant which were comparable with the maximum in both years and the combined. This could be due to the prevention of weeds from interfering with the crop for a long time, especially at the critical period of crop growth, which resulted in significantly lower weed dry matter, higher weed control efficiency and minimum competition between the weeds and the maize for growth resources of light, moisture, soil nutrients and assimilate which promoted better crop performance. Plots left weedy for 6,9,12 WAS and until harvest resulted in poor growth performance of maize due to prolonged period weeds were allowed to interfere with maize which probably resulted in higher weed dry matter, lower weeding efficiency, intense competition with crop for growth resources during the critical period of growth. This led to poor crop growth performance. This agrees with the report of Usoroh and Tunku [14,19] that keeping crop weed infested for 6 Weeks and beyond resulted in significant growth depression.

Effect of period of weed interference on yield components and grain yield of maize and percentage yield reduction

Weed-free plots for 6,9,12 WAS and weedy for only 3 WAS produced significantly heavier cobs, higher number of seed rows/cob and heavier seeds which were comparable to the maximum. This could be because weeds were removed at critical period of crop growth, which could have minimized weed competition and enhanced the utilization of growth resources for optimal production of photosynthates for better performance. However, plots left weedy for 6 WAS and beyond gave significantly lower crop performance. This confirms the depressive effect of weeds on maize when allowed to interfere with maize at critical period of crop growth.

Similarly, weed-free plots for 6,9,12 WAS and weedy plot for only 3 WAS gave yield values that were significantly higher than the rest of the treatments but comparable with the weed-free until harvest in both years and the combined. This is probably due to the ability of the above treatments to reduce weed dry matter significantly and increased the utilization of growth resources which significantly increased plant height, leaf area, number of leaves/plant, number of seed rows/cob, 100- seed weight which culminated in significantly higher grain yields.

Weed-free for 3 WAS produced comparable yield with the maximum in 2013, however in 2014 and the combined, the yield was significantly reduced compared with the maximum. This could have resulted from the higher rainfall in 2014 which promoted higher weed infestation, more intense weed competition and lower grain yield.

Although plots left weedy for only 3 WAS produced comparable significant grain yield with the maximum in both years of study and the combine, this treatment resulted in 14.5% grain yield loss. This shows that even though weeds associated with maize for 3 weeks, the competition between weeds and maize was not too adverse. However, further increase in the period of weed interference to 6 WAS caused a yield loss of 40.9%, whereas when kept weed-free for 6 WAS and beyond, grain yield significantly increased and reduction in yield were minimized to 5% and 3.9% respectively.

This finding agrees with Sodangi et al. [20] that when weeds were allowed to grow with soybeans for 45 days after sowing (DAS), 6 WAS or longer, soy beans yield reduction were severe due to intense weed competition.

Therefore, for higher yield of maize, maize plot has to be kept weedfree for a minimum of 6 WAS. However, for economic reason and to avoid high frequency of weeding and drudgery, the critical period of weed interference in maize has been found to be between 3 and 6 WAS and weeding twice at 3 and 6 WAS is recommended.