EFFECTS OF THORNY MIMOSA INTERFERENCE ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE

Abstract

Interference of thorny mimosa with maize was studied at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan in 1997 and 2000 growing season.  Various population levels of thorny mimosa fro 53,333 plants ha^-1 to the natural population of 1.4 million plants ha^-1of the weed were tested on maize.  Interference of thorny mimosa did not reduce the growth of maize in the first month of growth.  However, 8 weeks after planting (WAP) in 1997, maize leaf area was reduced by mimosa population over 160,000 plants ha^-1.  In 2000, maize plant height was reduced in plots that had the natural population of thorny mimosa and other weeds.  Maize yield varied from 2.2 tons ha^-1  to 2.9 tons  ha^-1 in 1997 and 1.7 tons ha^-1 to 2.0 tons ha^-1 in 2000 but was not significantly affected by interference of mimosa populations studies.