Abstract:
Maize is staple food and the most cultivated crop in Ethiopia. However, its yield is very low partly
due to use of improper spacing’s Thus, an experiment was conducted at Bahir Dar, Amhara
Regional State of western Ethiopia during the 2019/2020 cropping season. The objective of this
study was to investigate the effects of spacing between rows on growth, yield and yield component
of maize, (Zea mays L.) Variety BH-540.The experiment was arranged in a factorial combination
of the four inter-row spacing (40, 70, 80, and 90 cm) and three intra-rows (35, 40 and 45 cm)
spacing. Also the experiments were laid out in complete randomized design (CRD) with three
replications by using Analysis of variances (ANOVA) for the data recorded were conducted using
the SPSS (Version 20). The results showed that there was significant (P< 0.01) main effect of interrow
spacing
on
the
growth,
yield
and
yield components of maize. Leaf area, number of ears per
plant, 100 kernels weight per ear, above ground dry biomass yield and number of kernels per ear
significantly increased with increased the interaction of inter and intra-row spacing. The maximum
leaf area (1002.55cm
2
), number of ear per plant (1.60), 100 kernels weight per ear (21.11g), above
ground dry biomass yield (620.60g), and number of kernels row per ear (14.20), were obtained
from 90 cm inter-row with 45 cm intra-row spacing combinations. In addition to there were
significant difference (P < 0.01), due to the main effects of intra-row spacing was observed on
stand count and ear weight. Maximum stand count (100.00 %), and ear weight (276.60g), were
formed from 90 cm inter-row with 45 cm intra-row spacing interaction. There was significant
effect (P < 0.05), of intra-row on above ground dry biomass yield per hectare. The maximum above
ground dry biomass yield per hectare (27.54 t ha
-1
), was obtained from the interaction of 70 cm
inter-row with 35 intra-row spacing. There was highly significant interaction effect (P < 0.01), of
inter-row by intra-row spacing on grain yield per plant, and grain yield per hectare. The maximum
grain yield per plant (274.00g), was obtained from the interaction of 90 cm inter-row by 45 cm
intra-row spacing. While grain yield per hectare (19.94 t ha
-1
), was obtained from 70 cm inter-row
by 35 cm intra-row spacing. In general, significantly, higher grain yield per hectare and above
ground dry biomass yield per hectare with highest economic benefit (356570 birr ha
), were
obtained from 70 cm inter- row x 35 cm intra-row. It could therefore be concluded that farmers in
the study area can use spacing combinations of 70 cm inter- row x 35 cm intra-row spacing for
enhancing maize grain yield and above ground dry biomass yield.