Impact of Varied Intercrop Population Tested with Levels of Crop Growth and Yield Enhancers on Maize in the Tropical Rainforest Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

A field study was carried out to investigate the impact of varied intercrop populations tested with Levels of Crop growth and yield enhancers on maize in the tropical rainforest zone of Nigeria. Treatments consisted of three levels of organic manure (growth enhancers) and six varied intercrop populations. Factorial combinations of the treatments were fitted into a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and 72 plots. A 1.5 m path separated replicates, and a 1 m path separated each plot.  The size of the experimental area was 63m x 32m (2016m2), the size of each replicate was 32 x 19 m (603m2), and the plot size for each bed was 4m x 4m (16m2), while the net plot from which data were collected was 2 x 2 m (4m2).  The response from plants to treatments were evaluated from data collected from the net plot, for the following parameters;  Plant height (cm), number of leaves (per plant), stem girth (cm), leaf area (LA), Leaf Area Index (LAI), number of days to 50% tasseling, total dry matter (g), cob length (cm), weight of grains/cob (g), number of grains /cob,  total cob yield (t/ha)  and total grain yield (t/ha). Means were compared using DNMRT at a 5% probability level. The results showed that both crop growth and yield enhancers, as well as varied intercrop populations, significantly affected maize performance. Correlation among vegetative and yield parameters was positive and significant.