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Comparative
response of direct seeded and transplanted maize (Zea
mays L.) to nitrogen fertilization at Zanyokwe
irrigation scheme, Eastern Cape, South Africa
M. Fanadzo, C. Chiduza* and P. N. S. Mnkeni
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Science and Agriculture,
University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700,
South Africa.
*Corresponding author.
E-mail:
cchiduza@ufh.ac.za . Tel.: +2740 602 2226.
Fax:
+2786 628 2602.
Accepted 22 June, 2009 |
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Previous studies carried out in smallholder irrigation
schemes in South Africa showed that bird damage to emerging
seedlings reduced crop stand and yield of maize.
Transplanting offered an opportunity to improve stand but
there was no information on fertiliser management of
transplants. An on-farm experiment was therefore conducted
to compare the response to nitrogen (N) rate (60, 120, 180,
240 and 300 kg N ha-1) of direct seeded and transplanted
maize. Transplanting resulted in a significantly higher crop
stand of 96% compared to direct seeding, which achieved 78%.
Transplanted maize had shortened growth duration in the
field, reaching flowering stage 11 to 15 days earlier than
direct seeded maize. At low N rates, transplants produced
higher green cob weight, grain yield and longer cobs than
direct seeded maize. The economically optimum N rates
required to obtain marketable cobs were 149 and 98 kg ha-1,
whilst those required for achieving optimum grain yields
were estimated at 240 and 227 kg ha-1 with direct seeding
and transplanting, respectively. The findings suggest that
transplanted maize can be grown at lower N rates to achieve
similar yield potentials as direct seeded maize, and that
transplanting can help in improving crop stands in areas
where bird damage on emerging seedlings is a problem.
Key words:
Crop stand, direct seeding, maize yield, N rate,
transplanting. |
