ISSN: 2329-8863

Advances in Crop Science and Technology
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  • Research Article   
  • Adv Crop Sci Tech 2017, Vol 5(2): 267
  • DOI: 10.4172/2329-8863.1000267

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

Imoloame EO* and Omolaiye JO
Department of Crop Production, College of Agriculture, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author : Imoloame EO, Department of Crop Production, College of Agriculture, Kwara State University, Malete, PMB 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria, Tel: +2347035478010, Email: oyaimoloame@yahoo.com

Received Date: Nov 26, 2016 / Accepted Date: Mar 24, 2017 / Published Date: Mar 31, 2017

Abstract

Field trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Kwara State University, Nigeria, during the 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons. The aim was to determine the effect of periods of weed interference on weed infestation, maize growth and yield. The experiment consisted of 10 treatments, namely, plots initially kept weed-free for 3, 6, 9 and 12 Weeks After Sowing (WAS) and subsequently left weedy until harvest and plots initially left weedy for 3, 6, 9 and 12 Weeks After Sowing (WAS) and subsequently kept weed--free till harvest. There were two control plots, one left weedy and the other kept weed-free till harvest. The treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Parameters measured were weed dry weight, maize plant height, leaf area, number of leaves/plant, cob weight, number of kernel rows/cob, 100 seed weight and grain yield. Results show that weed interference in maize for 6 WAS and beyond significantly depressed growth parameters and grain yield. Plots left weedy for only 3 WAS produced significantly higher yield which was comparable to the maximum. Therefore, it is required that maize plot be kept weed-free between 3 and 6 WAS which is the critical period of weed interference, in other to get optimal yield.

Keywords: Maize, Period of weed interference, Weed infestation, Grain yield

Citation: Imoloame EO, Omolaiye JO (2017) Weed Infestation, Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) as Influenced by Periods of Weed Interference. Adv Crop Sci Tech 5: 267. Doi: 10.4172/2329-8863.1000267

Copyright: © 2017 Imoloame EO, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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