EFFECT OF SPACING ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE (Zea mays (L.) IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

A research was conducted at the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi research farm in the 2025 rainy season. The aim was to evaluate the effect of spacing on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L). Three different spacing were used in the experiment (75x20cm, 90x30cm and 70x30cm) tagged T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The maize variety used for the experiment was FIDO 5. The treatments were replicated three times in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Results revealed that there was a significant effect between the treatments at (P =5%) in plant height where T1 recorded the highest plant height(191.1cm) at 45 days after planting (DAP). Treatment one (T1) had an increased number of days to 50% tasseling, silking and maturity ( 78,82, and 82 days) respectively. Leaf area was also recorded low(5732cm2 ) for T1 due to higher plant density which led to accelerated leaf senescence and increased shading of leaves that reduced the net assimilation of individual plants. T2 having the widest spacing produced significantly the highest weight of 39.3g for hundred seeds compared to lower values of 36.5g,37.5g for T1 and T3 respectively. However, T1 had the highest total grain yield (2416kgha-1). Therefore,T1 spacing is hereby found to be superior to other spacing. It is therefore recommended that further research using other varieties and spacing patterns be undertaken to reaffirm this conclusion.