Effect of Tillage Practices on the Growth & Yield of Maize (Zea mays) on an Alfisols in Northern Guinea Savannah of North-Eastern Part of Nigeria

The present study aimed to assess the effect of tillage practices on the growth and yield of maize (zea mays) on an Alfisols in northern Guinea Savannah of North-eastern part of Nigeria. The research was conducted in Teaching and Research Farm School of Agricultural Technology, Modibbo Adama University, Yola where four (4) treatments of tillage operations namely Minimum tillage (MT), Ridge Tillage (RT), Disc Tillage (DT) and Zero Tillage (ZT) respectively. These treatments were replicated three times (3) and laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) making twelve plots accordingly. Each plot was measured as 5m x 5m with spacing of 1 m between replicates and 0.5 m between plots in the same replicate. This will give a total plot size of 17 m x 27 m (459 m2 ). Maize crop was planted (25 cm × 75 cm) where data on morphological growth were collected at 3 WAS, 6 WAS and 9 WAS and yield data were measured accordingly. The obtained data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) after which significant means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at P <0.01 %. The results revealed that there were significant difference among the tillage treatments in all the periods of measured growth parameters and yield variables. The growth parameters were affected by treatments in order of RT>MT>DT>ZT while increase in GYPH of maize was in order of RT>ZT>DT>MT with the following corresponding mean values of 17166.67 kg, 11000.00 kg , 10731.25 kg and 9716.67 kg respectively. To realize optimum growth and yield of maize conventional tillage (RT) and conservation tillage (MT) practices should adopted in the area.