Abstract
The influence of season (dry and wet) and spacing (75cm × 25cm, 70cm × 30cm) on maize varieties (Bende white, Oba Super 6, Oba Super 98, Provitamin A) was studied at the Rivers State University Teaching and Research Farm, Port Harcourt. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot combination and laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Parameters evaluated were stover yield, cob length, cob weight, cob circumference, number of grains per cob, and 1000 grains/plot. Results on seasonal influence showed that wet season cropping was significantly higher in stover yield (3.5kg), cob weight (1107.1g), cob circumference (15.0cm), cob length (29.3cm), number of grains/cob (297.6), 1000 grains/plot (183.3 g) than dry season cropping. 70cm × 30cm spacing had the highest cob weight, cob circumference, cob length, number of grains/cob, and 1000 grains/plot, while 75cm × 25cm spacing was high in stover yield, respectively. In varietal difference, the Bende white variety had a high P<0.05 cob circumference (13.8cm) and 1000 grains/plot (182.5g), and the Oba super 98 variety had a high number of grains/cob (240.8), the Provitamin A variety had high cob length (25.2cm), and cob weight (923.0g), respectively. Bende white variety produced high yield characters (P<0.05) in wet season cropping in terms of cob length (30.1 cm), 1000 grains/plot (215.0 g), cob circumference (16.9cm), and OBA Super 98 in wet season was high in cob weight (1253.7) and number of grains/cob (331.0). Oba Super 6 had the highest stover yield of 3.7kg in wet-season cropping. Thus, Provitamin A and OBA Super 6 varieties are recommended for farmers in this region as they produce higher grain weight and stover yield. Plant spacing of 70cm × 30cm is ideal for optimal yield production in this ecological zone.