Scientia Agriculturae www.pscipub.com/SA E-ISSN: 2310-953X / P-ISSN: 2311-0228 DOI: 10.15192/PSCP.SA.2016.13.1.3036
Sci. Agri. 13 (1), 2016: 30-36 © PSCI Publications
Effect of Planting Basin Depth on the Growth and Performance of Maize (Zea mays) Parwada Cosmas, Karavina Charles, Kamota Agathar, Mandumbu Ronald and Marova Rich Department of Crop Science Bindura University of Science Education P.Bag 1020 Bindura Zimbabwe Corresponding Author email:
[email protected] Paper Information Received: 11 September, 2015 Accepted: 13 December, 2015 Published: 20 January, 2016 Citation Cosmas P, Charles K, Agathar K, Ronald M, Rich M. 2016. Effect of Planting Basin Depth on the Growth and Performance of Maize (Zea mays), 13 (1), 30-36. Retrieved from www.pscipub.com (DOI: 10.15192/PSCP.SA.2016.13.1.3036)
ABSTRACT There is low adoption rate of basin tillage in Zimbabwe due to many factors but the incorrect planting basin depth is among the major factors. The blanket recommendations on the basin depth dimensions, have led to poor crop stand and consequently food insecurity. A research was carried out in Marondera, at Horticulture Research Centre Zimbabwe to determine the effects of planting basin depths on plant height, stem girth and above ground yield of maize. The research aimed at helping farmers to have clear information on the planting basin depth to adopt so as to have a good crop stand and performance in order to get higher yields and increase food security. A one factorial experiment was carried out in complete randomised block design (CRBD) using planting depth as a factor and different planting depths of 6cm, 12cm, 18cm and 24cm, as the factor levels. The treatments were replicated four times. The results showed that there was significance difference (P 12 cm) had high biomass accumulation as the depth provided a large area for resources that promoted efficient physiological processes such as photosynthesis to occur. This is in congruent with Troit (2012) who indicated that maize is an efficient of water user in terms of dry matter. More so, on the planting basin depth of 24cm produced tallest plants than the other depths (Table 3). These tallest plants provided more biomass, hence high above dry matter yield was obtained on this depth. This is in tandem with Twomlow and Hove (2004) who indicated that height is proportional to yield, be it biomass or grain. This could be the case under the planting basin depth of 24cm, which produced taller plants.
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On the planting basin depth of 6cm, the lower yields could have been attributed to a reduced root zone such that the roots were restricted on the area to obtain growth requirements. Hence were growth requirement limited and resulted to low biomass accumulation. This is supported by Harris (1996) who cited that seeds take time to establish if planted at a shallower depths and this reduce the biomass yield.
Figure 4.1. Effect of planting basin depth on above ground matter yield.
Conclusion and Recommendations Plant height and stem girth were directly proportional to the planting basin depth. Deeper basins had taller and thicker stemmed plants. Height and stem girth were also increasing with time. The above ground matter yield did increase as the planting basin depth increases. The greater the planting basin depth the greater of the above ground matter produced. Planting basin depth of 24cm are effective on growth and performance of maize and can be an innovation that can be recommended to the small holder farmers to adopt, so as to counter dry spells and mid seasons drought, in order to increase food security in the face of increasing population and land degradation. In general farmers who practice basin tillage should deeper than 12 cm so as to increase maize production. They should not prepare their planting basins shallower than 12cm, and where labour is not limiting a deeper basin (deeper than 12cm) is more ideal. There is need to carry out more researches on the use of planting basin depth in other agro-ecological regions of the country to establish which planting basin depth best suit the smallholder farmers , in the regions they are carrying out their farming activities. To the other prospective researchers, it is recommended that further studies on basin tillage should be done on production of other crops (sunflowers, tomatoes, potatoes and sorghum) other than maize. References Alkins SHM, Afuakwa JJ.2008. Growth and Dry matter yield responses of cow pea to different sowing depths, Agriculture and Bilogical Science 3:5-6. Bagchee A.1994. Agricultural Extension in Africa, World Bank Discussion, Africa Technology Development Series,Washington D.C. Balasurbramaniyan P, Palaniappan SP. 2004. Principles and Practices of Agronomy .Agro bios, India. FAO.2011. Farm Management Hand Book : Volume 1 – Field Crops. Gollifer DE. 1993. A review of interventions aimed at increasing water supply for dryland farming with an emphasis on the semi-arid tropics, Proceedings of the 3rd Scientific Conference, SADCL and Water Programme, Harare, Zimbabwe. Gaborone, Botswana: SACCAR.Pages 267-277. Harris D.1996. The effects of manure genotype, seed priming, depth and date of sowing on the emergence and early growth of Sorghum bicolour (L), Moench in Semi Arid Botswana, Soil Tillage Research 40:73-88. Harvlin L. John, Tisdale L. Samuel, Beaton D. James, Werner, L. Nelson.2008. Soil Fertility and Fertilisers – An Introduction to Nutrient Management, Seventh Edition, Prentice Hall.
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