COMPARISON OF GROWTH AND YIELD ADAPTABILITY INDICATORS
OF TWO MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) CULTIVARS UNDER PLANTING
BASIN TECHNIQUE IN ZIMBABWE

COMPARISON OF GROWTH AND YIELD ADAPTABILITY INDICATORS
OF TWO MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) CULTIVARS UNDER PLANTING
BASIN TECHNIQUE IN ZIMBABWE

STEPHEN MUTUNGWE

CULVER MVUMI

SEKAI ANNASTASIA MANYIWO

Vol. 16(1), pp. 51-57, 4 January 2017
DOI: 10.5897/AJB2015.15134
Article Number: 34843B162248
ISSN 1684-5315
Copyright © 2017
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article
http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB
African Journal of Biotechnology
Full Length Research Paper
Comparison of growth and yield adaptability indicators
of two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars under planting
basin technique in Zimbabwe
Stephen Mutungwe1* Culver Mvumi1 and Sekai Annastasia Manyiwo2
1Zimbabwe Open University, Faculty of Agriculture, Stand No. 992 C Avenue, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
2Chinhoyi University of Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Technology, Private Bag 7724, Zimbabwe.
Received 30 November, 2015; Accepted 27 October, 2016
In eastern semi-arid Zimbabwe, planting basins are mostly used to boost maize yields, but still low
yields are often obtained due to poor choices of varieties to grow . A comparative study of growth and
yield of the only two locally and commonly grown Pioneer cultivars (P2859W and PHB3253) under
planting basin technique (PBT) was carried out to determine a more adaptable cultivar in Guhune,
eastern Zimbabwe (NR IV). The study was done in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 growing seasons. An
experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), with the two cultivars, each
replicated four times. Yield, leaf length and plant height were measured and averaged. Results showed
that PHB3253 had growth of 75.2 cm after measuring at 2 weeks interval for 10 weeks. Its growth was
significantly (p<0.05) higher in terms of plant height than P2859W. Leaf length of P2859W was not
significantly (p>0.05) greater than PHB3253. Grain yield of PHB3253 (35.1 kg) was significantly (p<0.05)
greater than that of P2859W (26.6 kg). PHB 3253 is therefore more adaptable to semi-arid conditions
under basin technique as signified by its higher growth and yield than P2859W. It is therefore
recommended that farmers who use planting basins in semi-arid areas for growing short season maize
cultivars (P2859W and PHB3253) should opt for PHB3253 for better productivity.

African Journal of Biotechnology

2017