PROJECT PROPOSAL LETTER
NAMES
ABDUL SHAKUR ALHASSAN
ASUMANU SHERIFUDEENI
SALIFU SALIA BADUON
NAME OF SUPERVISOR
MR. TETE MENSAH
BSC. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
CROPS DEPARTMENT
AMMUSTED
25TH MAY, 2021
Introduction
Background and Context
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food crop because it is consumed worldwide due to its
nutritive value (Anonymous, 2010). Maize is a grain cop belongs to the grass family Poaceae
(Paliwal 2000) and is the only cultivated species of importance in the tribe Mydeae (Salian
2007). It is grown under diverse environmental conditions compared to other important grain
crops such as wheat and rice (Du Plessis, 2003; FSSA, 2007). Wheat, rice and maize are the
most important cereal crops in the world but maize is the most popular due to its high yielding,
easier of processing, readily digested and costs less than other cereals (Jaliya et al. 2008). The
crop is of significant economic importance world-wide as human food, animal feed and as a
source for a large number of industrial products (Paliwal, 2000).
Origin and distribution of maize.
Maize is one of the oldest human-domesticated plants. Its origin is believed to be 7000 years ago
when it was grown in the form of a wild grass called teosinte in Central Mexico. Maize was
reported for the first time in West Africa in 1498, six years after Columbus discovered the West
Indies (Badu-Apreku et al., 2003). This process ed to the gradual transformation of teosinte to its
present-day form known as maize. It is grown in all countries of Africa. from the coast through
savanna regions to the semi-arid regions of West-Africa, and from sea-level to the mid, and highaltitudes of East and Central Africa
Problem Statement
Maize production is constrained among other factors by poor crop management, notably
inadequate weed control especially during the first six weeks after sowing resulting in maize
yield losses ranging from 50% to 90% (Chikoye et al, 2005). Yield reduction in maize results
from high competition between the crop and weed for water, light and nutrients especially when
the competing weeds are of the same family with maize. Worldwide maize production is
hampered up to 40 percent by competition from weeds which are the most important pest group
of this crop (Oerke and Dehne, 2004). Weeds interfere with har vesting and increase the cost
involved in crop production. Overall, weeds have the highest loss potential (37%) which is
higher than pathogens (16%) and viruses 2% (Oerke, 2005).
Research Questions
OBJECTIVES
Overall objective
the overall objective of study is to demonstrate the effect of weeds on maize growth rate and
yield.
Specific objectives
To determine the effect of emergency pattern of weed species on maize growth rate and yield.
2. To determine the duration of weed competition and the time of weeding in maize crop.
Relevance and Importance of the Research
The findings will also serve as an important source of information for researchers and farmers as
it will provide an insight into the effect of weeds on maize growth rate and yield.
Literature review
Botanical descriptions of maize crop
Maize is a tall, monecious annual grass with overlapping sheaths and a broad conspicuously
distichous blade, it belongs to the tribe Maydeae of the grass family Graminae (Hitchcock and
Chase, 1971). Crop has adventitious fine root system Leaves, consists of a sheath. ligule s, and a
blade, it arranged spirally on the stem, and alternately in two opposite rows. Inflorescence, the
male and female flowers are borne on the same plant (Dhilon and Prasanna. 2001).
Ecological Requirements of maize
Maize can grow on a wide range of ecological zones and soils, especially in well drained aerated
soil loam or silty loams or alluvial soils with the pH of 5.5 to 7. Maize crop cannot tolerate water
logging. It can grow to ecological zones with altitude ranging from 0 to 3000 m above the sea
level, at very low or high altitudes result in poor yield, maize crop requires an optimum
temperature of 30 C and rain fall ranging from 600 to 900 mm for well maize growth (MOA.
2008). Availability of soil moisture at the time of tasselling is essential for the production of high
yields (Tweneboah 2000)
Welds Weeds are undesirable plants, which infest different crops and inflict negative effect on
their yield. Generally, weed-crop competition is complicated as weeds compete with the
crop plants by occupying a space, which would otherwise be available to the crop plant.
Anything that reduces this space reduces the plant growth (Wright et al., 2001). Water
requirement for the growth of weeds is primarily of interest from the stand-point of competition
with the crop plant for the available moisture (Gibson, 2000).
Design and methods
Location
The experiment will be carried out at the department of crop science farm at the AKENTEN
APPIA-MENKA UNIVERSITY OF SKILLS TRANING AND ENTREPREN
DEVELOPMENT which is few kilometres away from the campus.
Experimental materials
Maize seeds (planting for food and Jobs seeds) certified, hand hoes, note book, pen, ruler, tape
measure, rope, dry oven, weighs balance and calculator.
Experimental design and treatment applications
The experimental design embayed was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three
repetitions. The planting space was 70 cm x 50 cm. Number of rows is four (4) per plot and the
number of plants per row is five (5). Total number of pants per plot is 20 plants. Plot size is 2m
x1.5 m = 4.5 m².
The treatments would be
1. Continuous weeding from emergence up to maturity.
2. Continuous unwed from emergence up to maturity.
3. Unwed for first 3 weeks after emergence then weed up to maturity.
4. Unwed for first 6 weeks after emergence then weed up to maturity.
5. Weed for first 3weeks after emergence then unwed up to maturity.
6. Weed for first 6 weeks after emergence then unwed up to maturity.
Data collection and analysis
Parameters that would be collected
1.
2.
3.
4.
Leif area index
Plant hight
Crop growth rate
Dry weight
Budget of the sturdy
The following materials are going to be used for the sturdy
Maize seeds (planting for food and Jobs seeds) hand hoes, note book, pen, ruler, tape measure,
rope, dry oven, weighs balance and calculator.
With the exception of dry oven, weighing balance which we can get in the school farm for free
the remaining materials is going to cost us GHC 500.00.
Duration of the sturdy
This project will take us about three month or less to be completed.
References;
Abbaspour, M. and P. R Moghaddam. 2004. The crtical period of weed control of
corn in Mashhad region, Iran (in Farsi). Iranian Agronomic Research 2: 182-19
Abouziena, HE, LM. EE Metwally and E. R. El-Desoki 2008. Effect of plant spacing
and weed control treatments on maize yield and associated weeds in sandy
soils. American- Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci 41:9-17.
Abouziena, HE., M. F. ELkarmany. M. Singh and S.D. Sharnma, 2007. Effect of
nitrogen rate and weed control treatments on maize yield and associated
weeds in sandy soils. Weed Technology, 21: 1049-1053.
Badu-Aprak u B., Fakorede, M. A. B., Ouedrago, M., Carsky, R. J. and Menkir, A.
(Editors), (2003). Maize revolution in West and Central Africa. Proceedings of a
regional maize workshop. II'TA Contonou Benin Republic, 14-18 May 2001.