Growth and Productivity of Maize (Zea mays L.) as Influenced by Inter- and Intra-Row Spacing in Kombolcha, Eastern Ethiopia

Effect of intra- and inter-row spacing on growth, yield components and grain yield of maize was investigated at Kombolcha, Eastern Ethiopia in 2014. The Objective of the experiment was to investigate the influence of intra- and inter-row spacing on growth, yield components and grain yield of maize in Kombolcha, East Hararghe zone. The experiment was arranged in a factorial combination of the three intra-rows (20, 25 and 30 cm) spacing and five inter-row spacing (45, 55, 65, 75 and 85 cm) spacing which were laid out in RCBD with three replication using maize (Zea mays L.) BH 660 variety. The results obtained had shown that there was highly significant (P< 0.01) main effect of inter-row spacing on leaf area, leaf area index, number of ears per plant, above ground dry biomass yield per hectare, number of kernels per ear, 1000 kernels weight and harvest index. Thousand kernels weight and number of kernels per ear highly significantly increased with decreased inter-row spacing while above ground dry biomass yield decreased with decreased inter-row spacing. Highly significant difference due to the main effects of intra-row spacing was observed on all the above parameters except harvest index. Thousand kernels weight and number of kernels per ear highly significantly increased with decreased intra-row spacing. There was highly significant interaction effect of inter-row by intra-row spacing on stand count percent, above ground dry biomass yield per plant, grain yield per plant, and grain yield per hectare. In general, significantly higher grain yield and above ground dry biomass yield were obtained due to intermediate and closer spacing. It may therefore be concluded that spacing combinations of 65 x 25 cm responded favorably in attaining higher grain yield of maize in the area. Keywords: Density, Phenology, Population, Yield, Yield components,