Maize-hybrids Response to Low Nitrogen in the Guinea Savannah of Nigeria

Many crops are planted as hybrids to increase yield over open-pollinated varieties, especially maize. Maize is the most consumed cereal crop in the Nigerian savannas, with recent development and commercialization of maize-hybrids, limited information is available on their response to low-nitrogen. To unveil this information, a field experiment was conducted during 2014 and 2016 rainy season at Tudun Wada, Kano and Shika, Zaria in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria in order to study the effect of low nitrogen on the yield and yield components of recent maize-hybrids. The experiment consisted of two nitrogen levels 0 and 120 N kg ha -1 as main plot and 8 drought–tolerant maize hybrids and 2 controls as sub-plots laid out in a split-plot design and replicated three times. Yield and yield components of hybrids were significantly affected by low nitrogen at both locations. Interactions among hybrids and nitrogen were significantly affected at both locations. Application of nitrogen significantly increased the grain yield and yield components of maize-hybrids. However recent maize-hybrids were more tolerant to low nitrogen and out-yielded the commercial hybrids.