Browsing by Author "Ewool, Manfred Bondzie"

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    Estimation of genetic improvement of maize in Ghana under three levels of nitrogen application
    (2004) Ewool, Manfred Bondzie
    Recent release of quality protein maize (QPM) hybrids by the Crops Research Institute and promotion of hybrid maize production in Ghana necessitated a study of the genetic gain made with the introduction of the hybrid maize. This study was conducted to estimate the genetic improvement of maize in Ghana under three levels of nitrogen fertilizer application. The experiment was conducted in the 2002 major and minor seasons at Fumesua and Kwadaso representing four planting environments. Fumesua (latitude 60 43’ N, longitude 10 36’ W) and Kwadasb (latitude 6° 43’ N, longitude 10 36’ W) are located in the forest zone of Ghana with Ferric Acrisol soils classified as Asuansi and Kumasi series, respectively. Three land-races and seven improved open pollinated varieties and two QPM hybrids released from 1972 to 1997 were evaluated in a two factor, randomized complete block design in a split-plot arrangement, with four replications in each environment. Nitrogen levels (0, 45, 90 kg N/ha) were randomized in the main plots and the 12 varieties were randomized in the sub-plots. Agronomic and post- harvest data were recorded on the two-row plots of each variety. Analyses of variance showed that effects due to environments were highly significant (P<0.01) for grain yield and other agronomic traits measured. Nitrogen fertilizer levels were highly significant (P<0.0l) for grain yield, days to mid-sillc, days to mid-anthesis, anthesis-silking interval, plant height, ear height, open tip, cob aspect, dry stover weight, cob length, cob diameter, but significant (P