| dc.description.abstract | Weeds are among the major production constraints of maize globally. Farmers in Uganda
predominantly depend on conventional tillage and they are not aware of alternative means of
controlling weeds. Therefore the main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of weed
control strategies on weed management and maize performance. Conventional tillage, pre-
emergence herbicide application weed control strategies (and a control of no weeding) were
tested for their efficacy in controlling weeds in maize. Seeds of Longe 5 maize variety were
planted on 20/04/2021 in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at
Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK). The analysis of
variance (ANOVA) for the data of this study showed that weed control strategies had no
significant effect on number of rows per cob, cob length and number of leaves per plant.
Nonetheless, weed control strategies significantly increased plant height, number of ears per
plant, number of grains per row, 1000 grain weight and maize grain yield. Whereas, weed vigour
and weed density per square metre were reduced significantly. Conventional tillage produced the
tallest plants, highest number of ears per plant, highest number of grains per row, highest 1000
grain weight, highest grain yield and lowest weed vigour and density per square metre. However,
values for plant height, number of grains per row, grain yield and weed density were statistically
similar to those obtained in herbicide treatment. The results of conventional tillage were opposite
to those of the weedy check. Conventional tillage was the most effective weed control strategy
among the three weed control strategies of this study. I therefore recommend that the farmers use
conventional tillage as the most effective strategy for controlling weeds in maize since it
produced the highest values for maize growth and yield parameters. | en_US |
