Yield of sweet corn (Zea mays ssp. saccharata) in response to duration of weed competition

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that effective weed control remains critical for optimum sweet corn production. To investigate the critical period of weed competition in the crop, a field experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research farm of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria in the rainy seasons of 2012 and 2013. Six weed competition duration namely; season-long weed free (WF) period, weed free from 15, 30, 45, 60 days after sowing (DAS) and no weeding throughout the season (weedy check-WDY) were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated that weed dry weight increased significantly as duration of weed competition was prolonged beyond 30 DAS. Similar superior weed control efficiency was recorded in season long WF period, WF from 15 and 30 DAS beyond which it declined. The longest and largest cobs and heaviest kernel were recorded in WF all season and WF from 15 DAS. Fresh cob yield reduction due to duration of weed competition was pronounced during the period from 15 DAS to full season weedy check by 11.6 to 56.4%. These results suggest that the critical period of crop weed competition in sweet corn lies between 15 and 30 DAS; which was also an indication of the need for early weeding for maximum fresh cob yield.