Evaluation Of Hybrid Maize Varieties In Three Agroecological Zones In Ghana

ABSTRACT Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food crop in Ghana, but its productivity in farmers‟ fields throughout the country is generally low. The low grain yields can be attributed partly to the use of traditional low-yielding maize varieties. Farmers‟ adoption of hybrid varieties would reduce deficit of demand and supply of maize in the country. A study was undertaken to assess the relative yielding abilities and stability of 20 hybrids selected from the breeding programme of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement maize breeding program together with three locally released varieties. The trial was conducted in the coastal, savannah and transitional forest zones over major and minor seasons in 2012 and 2013. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used in each experiment. The relationship between yield and its components were also determined. Significant differences (p