MAIZE YIELD DETERMINANTS IN FARMER-MANAGED TRIALS IN THE NIGERIAN NORTHERN GUINEA-SAVANNA

Farmer-managed tests of Striga hermonthica-resistant maize varieties w ere conducted in 1994 in a moderately intensified zone in the northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria. Field history, soil properties, current se ason fertility management, and crop management observations were recor ded for 37 farmer-managed trials. Site averages for maize grain yield varied from 300 to 4000 kg grain ha(-1) In spite of the tremendous var iability observed, the grain yield was significantly higher for the st riga-resistant hybrid 8321-18 compared with an improved open-pollinate d variety, STR Syn-W, and the farmers' current variety. Correlation an alysis and stepwise regression analysis of grain yield on measured var iables suggested that maize yield was a function of plant density for all three varieties. The rate of nitrogen fertilizer application was a n important variable only for the hybrid, while the day of first weedi ng was most important for the improved varieties. The yield of the loc al varieties and STR Syn-W was related to the number of emerged striga at harvest in the stepwise regression, and the yield of the local var ieties was highly correlated with the striga-damage score on maize. Th e striga-damage score was significantly lower on 8321-18 than on the o ther varieties, suggesting some degree of resistance in the hybrid. Th e number of emerged striga was lower for the hybrid but not significan tly different. Farmers were almost unanimous in ranking the hybrid as least damaged by striga and highest yielding. Besides being related to maize variety, striga-damage score was lower if crop residue was obse rved on the field at the time of site confirmation. Highest yields (ap proximately 4 t ha(-1)) were recorded on fields near the homestead (co mpound fields) where soil organic carbon values were 2.0-2.5%. Realiza tion of maize yield potential in the absence of manure or fertilizer w ill only be possible on long-term compound fields. Striga-resistant ma ize can maintain high yields under S. hermonthica infestation.