The effects of seedling transplanting on growth and yield performance of maize (Zea mays L.) for climate change resilience in Burie District, Northwestern Ethiopia: Dataset Article

Abstract

Maize is produced throughout the world and it is also a primary staple food crop in many developing countries. The field experiment was conducted during the main rainy season of 2018 in Burie district to study the effects of types and growth stages of seedlings on the growth and yield of transplanted maize (Zea mays L.). Factorial combinations of two types of seedlings (bare rooted and poly bagged); five levels of seedling's growth stages (seedlings of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 true leaf/ves) and one control (direct seeded) were laid down in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on phenological, vegetative growth and yield-related parameters were collected following standard methods and procedures. All data were subjected to analysis of variance using SAS software, and mean separation for significant treatments was done by LSD. Both main effects affected the number of grains cob^-1, grain, and stover yield highly significantly and days to 50% silking very highly significantly. Types of seedlings affected days to 50% tasselling significantly; and days to 90% physiological maturity and plant height highly significantly. In addition, types of seedlings affected the number of cobs plant^-1, cob length, number of grains row^-1and biomass yield, very highly significantly. Seedlings' growth stages had a very highly significant effect on days to 50% tasseling and days to 90% physiological maturity. The number of cobs plant^-1, cob length, number of grains row^-1and biomass yield were also highly significantly affected by seedlings' growth stages. The interaction effect was highly significant on the number of cobs plant^-1, grain, and stover yield and very highly significant on the harvest index. The highest (10.7t ha^-1) grain yield of maize was found from the transplantation of polybagged seedlings at four true leaf stages. Although it is difficult to conclude based on one season and one location research trial, transplanting of poly-bagged seedlings at four true leaf stages gave superior grain yield. This treatment combination also gave the highest net benefit with an acceptable range of marginal rate of return. Therefore, transplanting polybagged seedlings at four true leaf stages is economically feasible and can be recommended tentatively for Burie District. However; it's also advised to repeat the study in areas having terminal moisture stress for maize production.