Influence of In-Situ Moisture Conservation Methods on Growth, Development and Productivity of Maize (Zea mays L.) Varieties in Hamelmalo area, Eritrea.

Abstract

In the semi-arid tropics of Eritrea among various constraints the low soil moisture content due to the low and erratic distribution of rainfall coupled with high temperature and lack of suitable varieties cause significant reduction in productivity of the maize. To tackle these problems, a field experiment was carried out to study the “Influence of in-situ moisture conservation methods (MCM) on the growth, development and productivity of maize (Zea mays L) varieties in semi-arid tropics of Hamelmalo area, Eritrea”. The experiment was conducted in split plot design using three in-situ MCM (tied ridge, ridge and furrow and flat-bed) as main plots and two maize varieties viz early local and 04sadve as sub plots with three replications. The results of the experiment indicated that tied ridge resulted in significantly highest moisture conservation and produced the highest dry matter per plant and grain yield. Ridge and furrow and flat bed being statistically equal in soil moisture conservation helped the crop to take more time for its proper growth and development to produce significantly higher yield. 04Sadve variety was significantly superior to the early local variety in growth, development and yield. Among all the treatment combinations, 04sadve variety sown in ridge and furrow method or in tied ridge method and early local variety sown in flat-bed method being statistically at par resulted in significantly higher moisture conservation and consequently higher growth parameters, yield attributes and grain yield (4509kg ha-1). It can be conclude that tied ridge and ridge and furrow in-situ moisture conservation methods were effective to conserve more moisture and the variety 04sadve was more efficient to utilize the conserved moisture under semi-arid conditions of Hamelmalo area of Eritrea.