Inter-seasonal Effects on Selected Maize Variety (DK8031) Grown under Varying Irrigation and Nitrogen Levels in Embu County, Kenya

The present study highlights about Inter-seasonal Effects on Selected Maturity Parameters of DK8031 Maize Grown under Varying Irrigation and Nitrogen Levels in Embu County, Kenya. For a significant section of the population in Kenya, maize is a staple grain and a good source of carbohydrates. A multitude of variables, including climate, soil properties, and variety, affect how well agricultural plants, like maize, perform. This has an impact on physiological and biological maturity, milk stage, time to tassel, and other maturity indices, which in turn affect crop performance. A study was carried out at the University of Embu Demonstration Farm which lies at 03° 30 ' S latitude, 37° 30 ' E longitude, and an altitude of 1480 m above sea level, soils being Humic Nitisols. To evaluate the effects of seasonal weather variability on maturity parameters of DK8031 maize, an RCBD in a split-plot experimental arrangement was set up in which four irrigation levels (I) and five nitrogen fertilizer rates (N) were allocated the main and subplot treatments in two seasons, respectively. The results revealed that the irrigation levels and nitrogen rates significantly (P<0.05) affected the time to reach the 50% tasseling, 50% milk stage and 50% physiological maturity, ranging from 69 to 73, 99 to 107 and 128 to 140 days after planting, respectively. In all cases, the Season I (cool and less rainfall, 530.3 mm) crop took longer to reach any of the three developmental stages, compared to Season II (warm and more rainfall = 605.6 mm). It is concluded that the crop in Season I (April-September), which had cold and windy conditions, took longer to mature and yielded less compared to Season II (October-March). The effects of utilizing nitrogen and supplemental irrigation were also apparent. The time variation in reaching the developmental stages was attributed to the seasonal weather conditions. Farmers can opt to plant their maize crop in Season II to take advantage of the shorter period the crop takes to mature.