Original scientific paper

GROWTH AND YIELD ATTRIBUTES OF ZEA MAYS L. AND VIGNA UNGUICULATA L. (WALP) TO DIFFERENT DENSITIES OF TITHONIA DIVERSIFOLIA (HELMS) A. GRAY

Bolaji Umar Olayinka ; Department of Plant Biology University of Ilorin, Ilorin Nigeria
Emmanuel Obukohwo Etejere ; Department of Plant Biology University of Ilorin, Ilorin Nigeria
Zuluqurineen Bolaji Salihu ; Department of Plant Biology University of Ilorin, Ilorin Nigeria
Busayo Juliana Lawal ; Department of Plant Biology University of Ilorin, Ilorin Nigeria

Abstract

Pot experiments were carried out in the Botanical Garden of University of Ilorin, to evaluate growth and yield attributes of Zea mays and Vigna unguiculata under different densities of Tithonia diversifolia. The treatments consisted of five levels of the weed (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20). Split-plot design was used with each of the treatment replicated four times and pots in each main plot followed complete randomized block arrangement. Growth characters such as plant height number of leaves, leaf area and dry matter accumulation in both crops decreased significantly (p≤0.05) with increase in densities. Number of cob per plant, number of grain per cob and cob weight of Zea mays were significantly highest in the control compared to those infested with 5 and 10 densities of T. diversifolia. Total yield loss was recorded at densities of 15 and 20 in Zea mays. Unlike Zea mays, all the densities studied were able to produce pod. However, yield attributes such as pod length, number of seeds per pod and pod filling declined with increasing densities. The effect of T. diversifolia was significantly felt at density as low as 10 and as high as 15 and 20 between 4 and 8 weeks after planting. The results showed that high density of T. Diversifolia has the potential of limiting the growth with the concomitant consequence of causing significant reduction in the yield components of the two test crops studied.

Keywords

Competition; Density; Tithonia diversifolia; Vigna unguiculata; Zea mays

Hrčak ID:

161837

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/161837

Publication date:

5.7.2016.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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