Hostname: page-component-cb9f654ff-rkzlw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-09-08T00:29:21.306Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Studies on Maize (Zea mays) at Bunda, Malawi. I. Yield in Relation to Rainfall

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

D. MacColl
D. MacColl
Affiliation:
University of Malawi, Bunda College, PO Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Yields of maize were determined in six years, on two soils, at up to four nitrogen levels following early and late planting. Without fertilizer nitrogen, high rainfall at the beginning of the growing season reduced yield on one soil but not on the other, while high rainfall at late silking and high total rainfall in the growing season reduced yields on both soils. As the level of fertilizer nitrogen increased, the negative effects of rainfall on yield tended to disappear. A three week delay in planting sometimes increased and sometimes decreased yield. The probable reasons for the observed effects of rainfall on yield are discussed.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , July 1989 , pp. 357 - 366
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES

Aldrich, S. R. & Leng, E. R. (1965). Modern Corn Production. Cincinnati, USA: F and W Publishing Corporation.Google Scholar
Birch, H. F. (1960). Nitrification in soils after different periods of dryness. Plant and Soil XII: 81–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bolton, A. & Bennett, A. J. (1974). Maize breeding and agronomy Malawi 1971–74. Report ODM Research Project R2415. Chitedze Research Station, Lilongwe.Google Scholar
Glover, J. (1957). The relationship between total seasonal rainfall and yield of maize in the Kenya Highlands.Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 49: 285–290.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glover, J. & Gwynne, M. D. (1962). Light rainfall and plant survival in East Africa (1) maize. Journal of Ecology 50: 111–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hay, R. K. M. (1981). Timely planting of maize – a case study from the Lilongwe Plain. Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad 58: 147–155.Google Scholar
Johnson, D. T. (1973). Crop Production in Phase with Climate. Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Zomba, Malawi (Mimeo).Google Scholar
Kitur, B. K., Smith, M. S., Blevins, R. L. & Frye, W. W. (1984). Fate of 15N depleted ammonium nitrate applied to no-tillage and conventional tillage corn. Agronomy Journal 76: 240–242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lowole, M. W. (1985). Soils of Bunda College of Agriculture Estate. Soil Survey Unit, Department of Agricultural Research, Lilongwe. File Number D5/2/12.Google Scholar
Lungu, N. F. (1971). An investigation into the causes of decreased yields in late planted maize. PhD thesis, University of Malawi, Bunda College, Lilongwe.Google Scholar
MacColl, D. (1984). Mineral deficiency symptoms and responses to fertiliser by maize on soils previously cropped by smallholder farmers. Research Bulletin of Bunda College of Agriculture 12: 10–35.Google Scholar
MacColl, D. (1989). Studies on maize (Zea mays) at Bunda, Malawi. II. Yield in short rotations with legumes. Experimental Agriculture 25: 367–374.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jong, Seung Keun, Brewbaker, J. L. & Lee, Chong Hee (1982). Effects of solar radiation on the performance of maize in 41 successive monthly plantings in Hawaii. Crop Science 22: 13–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Snedecor, G. W. (1956). Statistical Methods. Ames, USA: Iowa State University Press.Google Scholar