Influence of Gmelina arborea and Khaya senegalensis as Agroforestry Based System on Yield Component of Maize (Zea mays) in Borno State, Nigeria

The study assessed the influence of Gmelina arborea and Khaya senegalensis, as agroforestry based systems on yield components of maize in Borno State, Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), and data on growth and yield parameters were collected and analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), mean separation were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Results indicated that Maize grown under Gmelina arborea exhibited higher growth and yield compared to Khaya senegalensis. Moreover, increasing manure rates improved plant height, number of leaves, and cob length, while reducing days to maturity, silking, and the anthesis-silking interval. The highest cob yield (2481.8 kg/ha), grain yield (1859.5 kg/ha), and hundred seed weight (169.33 g) were recorded at 60.0 t/ha manure rate, which significantly outperformed the control (0.0 t/ha) with 1036.8 kg/ha, 794.3 kg/ha, and 113.17 g, respectively. Gmelina arborea produced higher (2328.4 kg/ha) cob yield, grain yield (1769.4 kg/ha), and hundred seed weight (150.83 g) compared to Khaya senegalensis (1391.0 kg/ha, 1104.2 kg/ha, and 138.42 g). The findings concluded that Gmelina arborea plantation provides better growing conditions for maize than Khaya senegalensis plantation and maize productivity increases with increase in manure rates irrespective of the plantation. The recommended the combination of higher rates of manure and using fast growing species such as Gmelina arborea as agroforestry based trees for optimum yield of the component crops.