Enhancing Maize Growth and Yield through Hydropriming in Buuri East Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Maize crop is a source of staple diet in Kenya, providing nourishment for millions of humans as well as livestock. However, population growth has outpaced the output of maize, due to low crop yield which has been largely attributed to low water status in the plants, leading to poor nutrient uptake and utilization. This study aimed to explore the effects of hydropriming on plant germination, growth vigour and yields of maize in Buuri East Sub County, Meru County. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) was deployed to lay down the experiments. The hydropriming treatments were set at 0 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 36 hours, and effects tested on two maize varieties; namely, H614 and Pioneer 38.  Sowing was done on the same day. Data was collected on stem height, leaf length, stem diameter, node length, cob weight, cob length, weight of 100 seeds, and total yields, summarized in Excel and analysed using SPSS version 21. ANOVA was performed to determine which treatments had statistically significant effects at alpha = 0.05. LSD was used to separate the means. Results showed that hydropriming for 24 hrs and 36 hrs had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on plant height, leaf length, stem diameter, node length, cob weight, cob length and weight of 100 maize grains which were parameters for growth vigour significantly affected by hydropriming with 36 hours of soaking performing better. The 36 hour priming yielded highest grain per hectare, producing 9,050kg/ha for H614 and 9,600kg/ha for Pioneer 38 respectively. This was 4-fold compared to the non-primed seeds in both varieties. The study concludes that hydropriming of maize would result in better and improved yields in this area. The study recommends that farmers consider hydropriming at 36-hour priming in order to optimize high seedling growth vigour and total maize yields.