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Author
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Christine Tafadzwa Banda
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Title
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Evaluating The Performance Of New Early Maturing Seedco Maize Hybrid Varieties Under Low Nitrogen Conditions
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Abstract
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Nitrogen being a very important nutrient for maize growth, has become a limiting factor affecting maize production across all maize growing region in Zimbabwe. Nitrogen use efficient (NUE) can be improved through several management practices, such as selecting NUE maize varieties and integrating precision agriculture technologies. This experiment aimed to evaluate the performance of maize under typical conditions faced by resource-constrained small holder famers. A total of twenty hybrids (13 experimental tests and 7 local checks) were established under low nitrogen in order to identify genotypes that can thrive in stressful nitrogen condition. The 20 hybrids were planted using the alpha lattice design, replicated 3 times with each replicate accommodating 4 incomplete blocks with 5 entries per block. Data were collected for traits such as grain yield, grain weight, ear height, moisture content, flowering, MSV and GLS. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test conducted for grain yield, grain weight, ear height and flowering showed that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) compared to other measured parameters such as plant height, GLS, MSV, moisture content and number plants (which were not significant). Notably, genotypes test 6, 8, 12, 7 outperformed other hybrids including the checks 2 and 3 across all the traits important to the farmers. Hence these hybrids can be recommended for release in the market to farmers who currently rely on the underperforming local checks.
Keywords: Hybrid, NUE, Zimbabwe, small holder farmers
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Date
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2024
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Publisher
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BUSE
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Keywords
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Hybrid
Maize
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NUE
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Small holder farmers
Zimbabwe
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Supervisor
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Mr. T. Nyamugure
Banda - Crop.pdf