Effects of Seedling Types and Their Age on Phenological and Vegetative Growth Parameters of Maize (Zea Mays L.) in Burie District, West Gojjam Zone, North Western Ethiopia

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 2018 in Burie District to study effects of seedling types and their growth stages on phonological and vegetative growth parameters of transplanted maize (Zea mays L.). Two types of seedlings (bare rooted and poly bagged); five levels of seedling’s growth stage (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 true leaf) and one control (direct seeded) were laid down in RCBD design with three replications. Phenological and vegetative growth parameters were collected following standard procedures. All data were subjected to analysis of variance and mean separation for significant treatments were done by LSD. Both the main effect affected days to 50% siliking very highly significantly. Types of seedlings affected days to 50% tasseling significantly and days to 90% physiological maturity and plant height highly significantly. Days to 50% tasseling and 90% physiological maturity were affected very highly significantly by seedlings growth stages. Field survival rate and number of leaves were not significantly affected by both the main effects and the interaction. The higher plant height and earliest days to 50% tasseling, siliking and 90% physiological maturity were noticed from transplantation of poly bagged and five true leaf stage seedlings, while delayed phenological events were recorded from the control. Transplanting of poly bagged seedlings at 5 true leave stage was caused to escape the crop from terminal moisture stress. Therefore, transplanting of poly bagged seedlings at 5 true leaf stage is economically feasible and can be recommended tentatively for Burie District, Ethiopia and moisture stressed area. However; it’s also advised to repeat the study in areas having terminal moisture stress for maize production.

Keywords: Bare root; Poly bagged; Seedling; Transplanting; Maize; Ethiopia

DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/11-9-06

Publication date:May 31^st 2021