African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6863

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of maize (Zea mays L.) performance under minimum and conventional tillage practice in two distinct agroecological zones of Uganda

Bongomin Lawrence
  • Bongomin Lawrence
  • Uganda Martyrs` University, Nkozi, P. O. Box 5498, Kampala, Uganda.
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Acipa Alexandrina
  • Acipa Alexandrina
  • Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute, P. O. Box 52, Lira, Uganda.
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Wamani Sam
  • Wamani Sam
  • Uganda Martyrs` University, Nkozi, P. O. Box 5498, Kampala, Uganda.
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Sseremba Godfrey
  • Sseremba Godfrey
  • Uganda Martyrs` University, Nkozi, P. O. Box 5498, Kampala, Uganda.
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Opio Samuel Morris
  • Opio Samuel Morris
  • National Crops Resources Research Institute, P. O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda.
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  •  Received: 05 February 2020
  •  Accepted: 13 March 2020
  •  Published: 31 May 2020

Abstract

Maize is one of the major staple foods in Uganda, providing over 40% of Uganda’s daily calorie consumption. Tillage practice is one of the crucial factors that influence crop productivity through maintenance of soil health. The aim of this study therefore is to validate the effect of tillage practice on the vegetative growth and yield of maize in Uganda. The trial was established on-station at Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Lira district and on-farm in Njeru Town Council, Buikwe district. It was laid out in a factorial design with two tillage practices (conventional tillage, CT and minimum tillage, MT) as the main factors and two maize varieties (Longe 10H and Longe 5) as the levels. The results showed significant differences in plant height between the two tillage methods (p< 0.001). Conventional tillage practice had a higher mean maize grain yield per hectare compared to minimum tillage although the difference was insignificant (p<0.332). Thus, the adoption of minimum tillage practice by farmers in Uganda would require investment in organic herbicides in order to control the weeds sustainably and boost maize productivity.

Key words: Conventional tillage, minimum tillage, vegetative growth, yield, maize.