Effect of Water logging on Selected Morphological Characteristics in Maize
Palapala Valerie and Nyamolo Moses
Full Length Research Paper I Published July,2016
Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology
ABSTRACT
A
greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine
waterlogging tolerance in acidic soils for maize crop
improvement in low lying flood prone regions of Western
Kenya where waterlogging is a severe problem. Three
replicates of nine cultivars, seven tolerant and two
susceptible accessions identified after a preliminary
screening were subjected to waterlogging to select traits
for tolerance to waterlogging using randomized complete
block design. 17 day-old seedlings planted in acidic
ferralsol soil were exposed to field capacity flooding for
10 days, drained and growth monitored. Waterlogging caused
significant reduction in mean number of leaves, leaf area,
root collar diameter, seedling height and grain yield. K8
recovered least from water logging. Kan2 and K27 were least
affected with regard to leaf tip death and wilting. K8, Br2,
K24 and C8 recorded the most significant reduction in leaf
area. K3 and Kan2 recorded the least internode length. Plant
height recovery was most significant in K27 and K8. Lowest
reduction in yield was recorded in Br2 and K3 while the
highest grain yield was K3 and Kan2. Reduction on collar
root diameter had a significant influence (F value = 2.7) on
total grain yield of maize in the affected accessions (y=
1.0183x – 0.5685). There exists a significant genetic
variability among Kenyan maize germplasm in terms of
response to waterlogging, which can be exploited for crop
improvement.
Key Words: Waterlogging, Leaf size, Internode length,
Root and Yields.
- Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology (JASFT)
- Journal of Medical and Biological Science Research (JMBSR)
- Journal of Scientific Research and Essays (JSRE)
- Research Journal of Educational Studies and Review (RJESR)
- Journal of Physical Science and Environmental Studies (JPSES)
- Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (RJET)
- Pearl Journal of Management, Social Science and Humanities (PJMSSH)