Maize Production in the Coastal Savanna Zone of Ghana

Abstract

Three field experiments were conducted on maize (Zea mays L.) at the Legon farm in the coastal savanna zone of Ghana during the major and minor seasons in 1975. Several factors affecting maize production were examined. Factors studied included planting date, cultivar, irrigation, side-dressing nitrogen, seed bed preparation and insect damage. During the major season, substantially greater yields were obtained by growing an improved cultivar of maize and planting as soon as possible after rains started. These two factors require little capital expenditure by the Ghanaian farmer. In the minor season, greater yields were obtained through irrigation, stem-borer control with Furadan and planting an improved cultivar. In this study, maize production in the minor season was not practical without the use of irrigation. The capital cost of irrigation would be too great for the average farmer and might not be economically feasible. If an irrigation scheme is developed in this region, the use of an insecticide and an improved cultivar would be warranted. Greater yields were obtained in the minor season with an insecticide, irrigation and an improved cultivar than during the major season. This may reflect the higher level of incoming solar radiation available for photosynthesis during the minor season. The use of furrow or ridge seed beds did not result in greater yields than growing maize in a flat seed bed. Applying nitrogen as a side-dressing after a liberal fertilizer application of planting did not increase yields.