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MAIZE study

Performance of Maize on Root Growth Potential and Spatial

Arrangement Trials of Yemane in Cotabato Philippines

Onofre S.Corpuz1,W.M.Carandang2,R.G.Visco3

Email add:nfr_uplb@https://www.wendangku.net/doc/6815536596.html,

Abstract

Maize was intercropped with6-month-old Gmelina RGP trials in various spatial arrangements at Matalam,Cotabato Philippines,arranged in a strip-plot design with three replications.Analysis of data showed significant differences in all agronomic and morphological characters as affected by tree spacing but not to RGP classes.Mono-corn crop were dominated significantly in all morphological and agronomic characters compared to the corn planted in between rows of the trees.Tree spacing was correlated significantly with corn yield,weight of500seeds and biomass while RGP class was negatively correlated with yield,weight of500seeds,biomass,leaf area,and leaf area index.

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Keywords:RGP class,spatial arrangement,mono-corn

Introduction

Agroforestry is a farming practice that combines annual crops and woody perinials together in a habitat that permits suitable yield and growth of selected crops.The intelligent application of agroforestry requires an understanding of the various species interactions in the system.Vandermeer(1989)categorized the species interactions involved in agricultural intercropping as either“competitive or facilitative”.This approach has been applied to species mixtures in agroforestry(Anderson and Sinclair1993)and silviculture(Kelty1992).

Intercropping of corn in different spatial arrangement of Gmelina RGP trials in this study attempted to investigate the effect of RGP class and spatial arrangement of trees on the growth and yield of maize.

1Asst.Professor,Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology,Forestry Department

2Professor,UPLB,College of Forestry and Natural Resources

3Asst Professor12,UPLB,College of Forestry and Natural Resources

Methodology

The study was conducted on May 8–August 23,2007(1st cropping)and September 16–December 31,2007(2nd cropping)in a field trials of RGP of Gmelina planted at different spacing in Matalam,Cotabato Philippines.The climate is warm tropical with mean annual temperature ranging from 28o C –40o C and a mean annual rainfall of 2373.5mm.The soil is silty clay with pH value ranging from 6.2to 7.2.

Six months after outplanting of the trees,round-up ready corn seeds (RR corn2)were sown in the furrows prepared in between rows of the trees at 25cm x 60cm planting distance.Basal application of complete fertilizer (14-14-14)and side dressing of urea (46-0-0)at a rate of 120-28-28(prevailing farmer’s practice in the area)are employed.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Growth and Yield Performance of Maize

Grain Yield

The mean yield trend of the corn as affected by spatial arrangement and RGP class of Gmelina is shown in Figures 1and 2.The yield of corn was significantly affected by tree spacing.Corn mono-crop has significantly higher yield compared with the corn planted with the trees both in the 1st and 2nd croppings.In the 1st cropping,mono-corn crop did not significantly differed with 2m x 4m tree spacing.This implies that planting of corn in between rows of wider spaced Gmelina plantation at early stage yields similar with mono-corn plantation.Corn-mono crop has a mean of 5.44tons/ha and 6.39tons/ha in the 1st and 2nd croppings respectively.The next higher mean was found in corn planted between the 2m x 4m tree spacing with a mean of 4.79tons/ha in the 1st cropping and 4.55tons/ha in the 2nd cropping.

RGP class also significantly affected the yield of the corn in both cropping periods.The corn planted along root class 3has significantly lower yield compared to root class 1and 2which were not significantly different to each other (Figure 2).The interaction of tree spacing and RGP class did not show significant result as revealed in the analysis of variance.

Figure 1.Grain Yield of corn on both cropping

season as affected by tree spacing Mono-corn

x 4m

Tree Sapcing

Crop C o-corn

RGP C C Cro Figure 2.Grain Yield of corn on both cropping

season as affected by RGP class

The two cropping periods showed insignificant results in terms of the three planting distances,namely:2m x2m,2m x3m,and2m x4m.However,the mono corn crop varied significantly among the three planting distances with a mean yield of5.92tons/ha followed by2m x4m with4.67tons/ha.The least yield was2m x2m tree spacing with3.24tos/ha.

Young(1988)stated that G.arborea is a valuable source of poles and timber but has a depressive effect on yields of adjacent crops,which may be caused by dense shade.Yields of upland crops are usually affected by the spacing of tree component of the system. Seekabembe(1985)mentioned that population of annual crops should be higher in the wider alleys(crops in between rows of tree component).He stressed that wider spacing of alleys could prevent excessive shading of the agricultural crops especially when pruning height is high.Likewise,wider alleys could also minimize competition between the hedgerows and the crops especially in dry areas.Escalada(1980)reprted that in the Philippines,pruned ipil-ipil plants developed thin and lanky stems with reduced herbage yield per plant in a narrow alley.However,higher number of plants per unit area compensated for reduced vegetation growth.The yield of intercropped cassava was highest with the widest alley width.The hedgerow trees competed to a significant extent with the upland rice crop in terms of nutrients and https://www.wendangku.net/doc/6815536596.html,petition was most severe in the2-3rice rows closest to the hedgerows where yields are reduced by50-75percent compared to those at the center of the alleys Basri et al.(1990).In Colombia,Rachie(1983)reported a higher corn yield of6tons/ha at lower population of ipil-ipil(13,000trees/ha).Higher population of4,000trees/ha gave a total corn yield of4.5tons/ha only.

Abas(2006)in his study on Bagrass(Eucalyptus deglupta Blume)and Maize(Zea mays L.)aboveground interactions in alley cropping system at Claveria,Misamis Oriental, Mindanao Philippines found that maize grain yield across cropping season was consistently lower under hedgerow system than in the sole maize treatment.Yin and He(1997)reported a 60–100%reduction of crop yields from higher tree density and or later stage of rotation in a paulownia intercropping system.

Kang et al.(1981)attributed the low yield of maize from rows adjacent to the hedgerows to shade from the Leucaena leucocephala hedges cut at1–1.5meter height.A similar yield reduction was also reported from cowpea grown in2meter alleys.Among the tree species tested,Gliricidia sepium depressed the yield most,followed by Leucaena. leucocephala,Alchornea cordifolia and Acioa bacterii.Such a phenomenon is more or less in line with the size and leafiness of the trees(IITA,1982).Bertomeu(2003)in his study reduced maize yield from4.9tons/ha to2.7tons/ha in the hedgerow(1m x10m),4.9tons/ha to3.0tons/ha along trees spaced at2m x2.5m.He further stated that even if trees of Gmelina are as far as10meters,yield in alley crops are reduced below economic levels two cropping seasons after tree establishment.He suggested however that Gmelina would be preferably planted on farm boundaries,home gardens or other farm niches away from crop areas.

Comparison of the two cropping period as affected by tree spacing showed significant results.The yields from plots with trees were reduces by as much as22%-29%.For the corn mono-crop,the yield increased by15%.The RGP class reported a reversed result with the tree spacing.The yield of the corn increased in crop2.However,RGP is negatively correlated with corn yield as shown in the multiple correlation analysis of the corn growth and yield(Table1).This negative relationship implies that the increase of RGP in tree would mean a decrease in yield of the corn crops.Increasing roots of trees would increase its

competitive ability in absorbing water and nutrients from the soil that may suppresse water and nutrient absorption of corn roots resulting to yield reduction.

Table1.Multiple correlation analysis of the growth and yield of corn as affected by tree spacing and RGP classes.

RGP D H NL YD WT500BIOM LA LAI RGP 1.000

D0.000 1.000

H0.1440.127 1.000

NL0.1590.1330.354 1.000

YD-0.3440.821**0.1060.138 1.000

WT500-0.0740.668**0.1730.1710.677** 1.000

BIOM-0.4540.862**0.1380.2040.904**0.605** 1.000

LA-0.1240.1870.072-0.1340.2490.1660.211 1.000

LAI-0.1230.1810.069-0.1290.2410.1620.2050.999** 1.000

Bertomeu(2003)stated a reducing maize yield of the second crop to an estimated1.5 tons/ha to2tons/ha.He further stressed that after planting Gmelina trees in block arrangement,farmers could expect to grow only1crop with average yields and second crop with reduced yields close to the break-even.

Weight of500Corn Seeds

The weight of500seeds of corn revealed significant result in terms of tree spacing and RGP classes.Mono corn crop was significantly different with corn planted under2m x 2m tree spacing in both cropping seasons,but insignificant with the other two planting distances.Mono corn crop has a mean of500seed weight of126.67g and128.65g in crop1 and crop2respectively.The lowest mean value was found in2m x2m tree spacing(120.83g and120.68g).

Comparison of the two cropping periods also presented significant result particularly mono corn crop which is significantly heavier in weight as compared with the corn planted with the trees.The2m x3m and2m x4m are not significantly different but they showed significant variation with the2m x2m tree spacing(Table2).

The RGP class on the other hand reported mono-corn crop as significantly higher in weight of500corn seeds compared to the corn planted with the trees(Figure3).Interactions of tree spacing and RGP class revealed insignificant result in the weight of500corn seeds.

Table2.Mean of weight of500seeds in both cropping season as affected by tree spacing TREE SPACING WEIGHT OF500CORN SEEDS

Crop1Crop2 Mono-corn crop126.67a128.65a 2m x2m120.83b120.68b

2m x3m123.50ab124.57ab

2m x4m122.50b124.50b

Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different

Corn Biomass

Corn biomass showed a significant result in terms of tree spacing and RGP classes. The estimated corn biomass in mono-corn crop as affected by tree spacing(Table3)and RGP classes(Figure4)was significantly higher with the other treatments in both cropping season.The2m x4m tree spacing however is not significantly different to2m x3m but significant with2m x2m spacing in the1st cropping but not in the2nd cropping period (Table3).There is no significant interaction of the tree spacing and RGP classes on corn biomass as showed in the analysis of variance.

Guevarra(1976)mentioned that in Hawaii,yield of annual dry matter decreased with wider plant spacing.In wider alleys,the percentage forage production of dry matter was higher and the stems thicker.At IITA,Ibadan,Nigeria,a higher quantity of biomass per unit area was observed from a2-meter alley width than from a4-meter alley width because of higher plant population.

Table3.Mean weight of500seeds(g)and corn biomass(tons/ha)in both cropping season as affected by tree spacing.

TREE SPACING CORN BIOMASS

Crop1Crop2 Mono-corn crop7.3000a7.5867a 2m x2m 4.0233b 4.0367b

2m x3m 4.7800bc 3.8500b

2m x4m 5.3133c 4.5500b

Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different at P>F

Corn Height

The monthly mean height of the corn during the 1st and 2nd croppings showed a linear pattern of growth.This trend is significant in both cropping periods in terms of the tree spacing and RGP classes.Corn planted as mono crop differed significantly with corn planted in the 2m x 2m tree spacing both in crop 1and crop 2with a mean height of 2.096m and 2.091m,respectively.However,mono corn crop is insignificantly different with corn planted at 2m x 4m tree spacing in crop 1and corn planted in 2m x 4m and 2m x 3m tree spacing in crop 2(Figure 5).Tree spacing of 2m x 4m tree has a mean height of 2.078m and 2.05m in the 1st and 2nd cropping respectively.The lowest mean height was found in the 2m x 2m tree spacing.

The corn height in RGP class 1was significantly lowered compared to the mono-corn crop and the other two tree spacing (Figure 6).Comparison of the two cropping periods showed no significant differences in terms of corn height as affected tree spacing and RGP classes.Significant interactions of D x R was evident in 30DAP –90DAP in crop 1.No significant interactions of D x R in crop 2.

Figure 5.Height of Corn in both cropping period as affected by tree spacing and RGP classes

The number of corn leaf showed no significant result in terms of tree spacing in crop

1.However,RGP class showed significant variations in 105DAP.R3was significantly different with the other root classes in both cropping period.Significant result showed both

tree spacing and RGP classes in crop 2.The corn mono crop and 2m x 4m spacing were significantly different with 2m x 3m and 2m x 2m tree spacing in 30DAP,90DAP and 105DAP.While mono-corn and 2m x 4m spacing showed significant differences in 90DAP and 105DAP in crop 2.Analysis of variance revealed a significant interactions of D x R in crop 1but not in crop 2.

period as affected by tree

spacing and RGP class

Leaf Area

The leaf area of the corn demonstrated a significant difference in terms of tree spacing and RGP classes.The mono corn crop had bigger leaf compared with the other factors in both cropping periods.The 2m x 4m tree spacing were also significantly different with 2m x 2m and 2m x 3m tree spacing in the 1st cropping but not in the 2nd cropping (Figure 9).

Figures 9and 10showed the significant dominance of corn mono crop in both cropping periods in terms of leaf area compared with the corn planted with the trees.RGP class 3had the lowest leaf area but is not significantly different with RGP class 2and 3in crop 1but significant in crop 2.The relationship of RGP class with leaf area was negative (see Table 1)thus,the increase in RGP of the trees may cause tremendous effect on the leaf area of the corn in the system but the reduction may not be that significant.

Interaction of tree spacing and RGP class was found significant in both cropping periods.

F C r e a t o r - P D F 4F r e e v 3.0 h t t p ://w w w .p d f 4f r e e .c o m

Leaf Area Index

Both cropping period showed significant differences of leaf area index (LAI)as affected by tree spacing and RGP classes.Corn mono crop is significantly different with the other treatment in both cropping periods (Figure 11and 12).Corn planted under 2m x 4m tree spacing was also significantly different with the other two tree spacing arrangement in crop 1but not in crop 2.

Mono-corn crop and root class 1were significantly higher in leaf area index in both cropping periods as compared to the other two RGP classes.The significant effect of RGP class in leaf area index in crop 1became insignificant in crop https://www.wendangku.net/doc/6815536596.html,parison of the two crops also showed significant differences.Mono corn crop had significantly higher LAI than the corn planted under 2m x 2m tree spacing but not to 2m x 4m and 2m x 3m tree spacing.

The interactions of tree spacing x RGP class on leaf area index were found significant in both cropping periods.Correlation analysis reported a negative correlation of RGP class with LAI of the corn.Per analysis,the LAI of mono-corn crop is comparable with LAI of RGP class 1in both cropping periods.It says that when the relationship of two factors is negative,it means that the increase of one will cause the decrease of the other.In the case of the RGP class and LAI relationship,when RGP increase,LAI will probably decrease but it may not be significant.

Mono-corn

Tree Spacing

Crop Crop Mono-corn

R2R3

RGP Crop Crop Leaf area corn affected tree

spacing

Leaf area corn as affected RGP

classes

Regression and Correlation Analyses

Only biomass has significant regression with RGP class.The corn yield and weight of 500seeds is significantly regressed with tree spacing.Figure13presents the correlation path ways of the tree spacing versus the different morphological and agronomic characters of the corn.Regression between yield and other character provides significant results in biomass and weight of500seeds.Maize yield is strongly correlated positively and significantly with biomass,and weight of500seeds.On the other hand,the production of biomass is dependent on leaf area and leaf area index as shown in the analysis.Biomass is positively and significantly correlated with LA and LAI.As proof,LAI is99.99%correlated positively with leaf area index.In physiology,LAI determines the amount of photosynthetic activity in plant. Higher LAI indicates the presence of shading in plants does lower production may be resulted.In the case of the present study,however,corn yield was poorly related with leaf area index(Figure43)thus,production of the mono-corn crop(open field)was high with higher LAI.

On one side,regression between corn yield and biomass was found to be highly significant with R2=0.904.Yield vs.leaf area and leaf area index has regression coefficient value of R2=0.249and0.241,respectively.Yield vs height has the lowest value of R2= 0.106.The significant R2value obtained from regression and correlation analysis implied positive relationship of the two characters.The yield of the maize is affected by the tree spacing.This is true as the two parameters were highly related to each other.In the case of yield and biomass,the two have higher correlation value which means that the increase in yield would mean an increase in biomass.

number of leaves,leaf area and leaf area index.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The intercropped maize showed significant difference in all agronomic and morphological characters as affected by tree spacing and RGP classes.Mono-corn crop was dominated significantly in all traits compared to the corn planted with the rows of trees.

Tree spacing was significantly related to corn yield,weight of500seeds,and biomass,while RGP class was insignificantly and negatively correlated with corn yield, weight of500seeds,biomass,leaf area and leaf area index.The significant relationship of tree spacing with corn yield,weight of500seeds and biomass implies that wider tree spacing will mean higher yield in corn and the reversed is true with the negative relationship.

Recommendation

The results of the analysis of the corn yield as affected by tree spacing and RGP class were significant.Yield of the mono crop corn is significantly higher in both cropping periods.The2m x4m tree spacing reported an insignificant yield with the monocorn crop in the1st crop period.Therefore recommended to intercrop corn with Gmelina at the early stage (not more than a year)of the tree component with wider tree spacing.A reducing corn yield would be expected when trying to intercrop corn in an older Gmelina plantation because of above ground competition of sunlight and below ground competition of absorbing water and nutrients by plant roots.The result of this study showed a negative relationship of RGP class with corn yields.This implies a reversed relationship between the two parameters.

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Department of Agronomy and Soil Science,Visayas State College of Agriculture, Baybay,Leyte,Philippines.

GUEVARA,A.1976.Management of Leucaena leucocephala for Maximum Yield and Nitrogen Contribution of Hawaii,Honolulu,Hawaii,USA.126pp.

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