INFLUENCE OF TIME OF FERTILIZER APPLICATION AND REDUCED HERBICIDE DOSES ON WEED INFESTATION AND MAIZE (Zea mays L.) GRAIN YIELD

• E. O. Imoloame

  Department of Crop Production, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Kwara State.

  Author

• E. Alagbe

  Department of Crop Production, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Kwara State.

  Author

• O. O. Lawal

  Department of Crop Production, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Kwara State.

  Author

Due to poor crop yields and to prevent herbicide residues in crops from poor weed control and indiscriminate herbicide application by farmers in the southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria, field trials were conducted in 2018 and 2019 to determine the better time of fertilizer application and weed management options that will effectively suppress weed infestation and increase maize yield. The treatments consisted of two different times of fertilizer application and six weed control methods. The experiment was a 2 x 6 factorial in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Results showed that the time of fertilizer application at 0 and 6 WAP appears better than 2 and 6 WAP in controlling weeds, however non had a significant influence on maize grain yield. All the herbicide treatments significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced weed infestation, however, only Primextra at 1.5 kg a.i.ha-1 + one SHW, Primextra + Guard force increased grain yield by 82.5 and 69.7% respectively.

1. E. O. Imoloame, Department of Crop Production, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Kwara State.

   Department of Crop Production, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Kwara State.

2. E. Alagbe, Department of Crop Production, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Kwara State.

   Department of Crop Production, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Kwara State.

3. O. O. Lawal, Department of Crop Production, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Kwara State.

   Department of Crop Production, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Kwara State.

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