Nitrogen and Weed Management in Maize Intercropped with Upland Rice

• Published in: Journal of sustainable agriculture Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 5 - 16
• Main Authors: Usman, A., Elemo, K. A., Misari, S. M., Lagoke, S. T. O., Adigun, J. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2002
• Subjects: maize; nitrogen; rice; weed infestation; Weed removal
• ISSN: 1044-0046; 1540-7578
• DOI: 10.1300/J064v21n01_03

A field experiment was conducted during the 1994 and 1995 wet seasons on the research farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru (11°11'N, 0.7°E 680 m) located in the northern Guinea Savannah ecological zone of Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three levels of nitrogen (0, 60 and 120 KgN/ha) in the main plot and ten periods of weed removal/infestation in the sub-plot. The productivity of both maize and rice was enhanced by increased application of nitrogen fertilizer in both years in all the plots that were kept weed free from the initial 6 weeks after sowing (WAS) up to harvest. Weed infestation for the initial 3 WAS enhanced the productivity of these crops. However, there was no significant response of nitrogen application in the plots that were kept weed-free for only the initial 3 WAS and those weeds infested throughout the crop cycle.