Effect of rainfall and temperature distribution in Yewa North savannah and Onigambari rainforest zones of Nigeria on maize and cassava intercrop

Abstract

This study was carried out in the savannah region of Ayetoro in Yewa North and the rainforest region of Onigambari in Ibadan North to determine the effects of rainfalland temperature distributions on the growth and yield of tropical Zea mays resistant variety with yellow flint (TZSR-Y) in the two ecological zones. The meteorological results showed even distributions of rainfall and temperature at Onigambari rainforest zone in 2004 and 2005 while those of Ayetoro savannah vegetation followed an irregular pattern. There was higher vegetative growth of the maize plants in terms of number of leaves, leaf area, stem height, number and length of internodes. The yield values such as the number and weight of grains per hectare were higher in Ayetoro than Onigambari. There were no significant differences in the moisture contents of the grains in both ecological zones.