(Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ife, 1984) Adelana, B. O.
Maize (Zea mays L.) and okra (Abelmoxhus esculentus L. Moench) were grown in pure and mixed stands with the mixtures having the same plant density as the pure stands. The sole crops gave higher yields than in mixtures. There was competition for growth factors between the two species with their relative yield total (RYT) slightly above unity. The taller maize was at an advantage in the mixture and its yield was only slightly reduced compared with the pure stand, while the shorter okra plants were heavily shaded and the yield greatly reduced. Planting both crops together was more efficient as their land equivalent ratio was above unity.
(Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ife, 1979) Adelana, B. O.
The effects of seed size on the growth of two varieties of maize (Kelvedon 75A and Inra 200) were studied in both glass-house and field. Large seeds produced greater dry matter and greater relative growth rate than small seeds during the seedling stage. However, in the field experiment, differences in dry matter production and relative growth rate between large and small seeds were not significant. Grain yield increased by 2.5% when large rather than small seeds were sown. It was concluded that there was no significant yield advantage in selecting large seeds for sowing.