Effect of Watering Intervals on Yield and Yield Components of Two Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars Grown in Summer and Winter

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 1993/94 and 1994/95 summer and winter seasons to investigate the interactive effect of watering intervals and sowing time on yield and yield components of two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars, namely Giza-2 and Mojetama 45. Three watering intervals were used (10, 14 and 18 days in the summer sowing and 14, 18 and 21 days in the winter sowing), and in both sowing times (March and November), water treatments were applied 30 days after sowing. The results showed that prolonging the watering interval significantly reduced the number of cobs/m2, number of grains/cob, 100-grain weight and grain yield (tons/ha) in both summer and winter crops. On the other hand, sowing time had a significant effect on grain yield (tons/ha) in the two years. The high yield of the winter sowing was associated with significant increase in number of grains per cob. For all treatments, Giza-2 outyielded Mojetama 45 with significant difference only in the summer sowing.