GROWTH AND YIELD OF ACHA (Digitaria exilis Kippis Stapf) AS INFLUENCED BY SOWING METHODS AND NITROGEN RATES IN THE GUINEA SAVANNA AREA OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted in the cropping season of 2015 and repeated in 2016 at the National Cereals Research Institute, Acha Sub-Station Riyom , Plateau State to determine the appropriate sowing method and optimum nitrogen rate for acha (D. exilis) production in Southern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments consisted of two sowing methods (Broadcasting and drilling at 30cm inter-row spacing) and three nitrogen rates (0, 30 and 60kg Nha-1). Plot size was 3.0m x 4.0m. The parameters studied were number of tillers, leaf area, spike length, straw weight and grain yield (kg ha-1). The results indicated that drilling method of sowing had superior influence on number of tillers, leaf area, spike length, straw weight (kgha-1). While the maximum grain yield (kgha-1) was also recorded under drilling method of sowing than under broadcasting method and the lowest grain yield was produced at when nitrogen was not applied