ORGANIC MANURE APPLICATION RATE AND PLANT POPULATION EFFECTS ON MAIZE VARIETIES IN A Striga hermonthica L. INFESTED FIELD IN NORTH CENTRAL- NIGERIA

One of the greatest constrain in maize production is the persistence yield losses caused by Striga spp.   Field experiment were conducted in 2014 and 2015 rainy season at the Teaching and Research Farm of   Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State to find out the effect of organic  manure   application and plant population in maize field on Striga hermonthica suppression. The experiments   was a factorial combination of two maize varieties (SAMMAZ 17 “Striga Tolerant” and Red   “CeCe“ Farmer's maize variety), four levels of poultry manure (0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha) and three plant population (66666.67, 53333.33 and 44444.44) arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated 3 times. Results showed that, Red CeCe produced the tallest plant while SAMMAZ 17 produced the most numerous leaves/plant at 2 t/ha. Highest number of Striga shoot count was recorded under plots planted with Red CeCe. Application of 6 t/ha manure was found adequate for delay of Days to Striga emergence and Striga shoot count. SAMMAZ 17 produced the highest grain yield and heaviest 100 seed weight at plant population of 53333.33 at 6 t/ha. Interaction effects of manure and maize varieties was observed on plant height, number of leaves, grain yield and 100 seed weight, while plant population and maize varieties interaction effects was observed on Striga shoot count. In conclusion, SAMMAZ 17 with plant population of 53333.33 and application of 6 t/ha poultry manure were effective for Striga hermonthica suppression in maize.