Growth and Yield of Maize as Influenced by Using Lumax 537.5 SE for Weed Control in the Transitional Agro-ecological Zone of Ghana

Two field studies were conducted at the Multipurpose Crop Nursery research field of the University of Education, Winneba, Mampong-Ashanti in the Forest-Savannatransitionzone of Ghana from September-December, 2009 and April-July, 2010, respectively to determine the effects of various rates of Lumax 537.5 SE herbicide on maize growth and yield. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block with four replicates. The treatments were Lumax 537.5 SE at rates 2, 4, 6, and 8l/ha and Hoe-weeded with Unweeded treatment as control. The maize cultivar, Akposoe was used. Differences in percentage of crop establishment among treatments were not significant in both the years. However, 4l, 6l, 8l Lumax/ha and Hoe-weeded treatments produced similarly taller maize plants from 6 to 8 weeks after planting (WAP) with greater leaf area index at 6 WAP and shoot dry matter at 6 WAP and harvest than 2l Lumax/ha and Unweeded control in both years. Differences in 100-seed weight and grain yield of maize among Hoe-weeded and Lumax at 4l/ha, 6l/ha and 8l/ha treatments were not significant during both cropping seasons. The results clearly indicated that the use of 4l Lumax 537.5 SE/ha produced similar maize growth and yields as the higher use rates of 6l Lumax/ha and 8l Lumax/ha and therefore can be recommended for adoption across the transitional agro-ecological zone of Ghana.