Evaluation of newly released maize varieties in Ghana for yield and stability under three nitrogen application rates in two agro-ecological zones

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2012-08-29
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Abstract
Farmers’ adoption of hybrid varieties would reduce the large discrepancy between current low yields and achievable yields reported by maize researchers in yield evaluation trials as hybrids wield superior genetic potential over improved open pollinated varieties (OPVs) and local varieties due their heterozygosity resulting in their exhibition of high heterosis in yield and general performance. The current low yield necessitated the need to undertake this study to assess the relative yielding abilities and stability of 3 hybrid varieties, 5 OPVs, 1 local variety and 4 inbred lines under three levels of nitrogen fertilization at Kwadaso, a forest ecology, and Ejura, a transitional ecology, both in the Ashanti region of Ghana, in the major and minor seasons of 2011, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant interactions for genotype by location (G x L), genotype by nitrogen (G x N) and genotype by nitrogen by location (G x N x L) for grain yield. GGE biplot analysis for mean yield and stability also showed that hybrids had better yielding abilities than OPVs under both low and high nitrogen fertilization and at different environment. Economic benefit analysis also revealed that best option for highest net benefit is the cultivation of hybrid varieties under 90 kg N ha-1. In order to bridge the gap between the current low yields and achievable yields in Ghana, farmers need hybrid seeds together with adequate levels of fertilizers.
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A Thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Agronomy (Animal breeding), August-2012
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