Influence of the Year and Growing Area on Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) Production in the Central and North-Central Zones of Côte d’Ivoire (Departments of Bouake and Katiola)

Abstract

Several studies conducted in recent years in C&#244;te d’Ivoire reveal that agriculture is increasingly affected by the adverse effects of climate variability. The present study aims at evaluating the effect of the zone and the year of cultivation on the productivity of maize in the Central and North-Central zones of Cote d’Ivoire. It was carried out for two years (2020 and 2021). The experimental design used was a completely randomized block design with three replications. Observations were made on 12 agronomic parameters (plant size, internode size, collar diameter, number of leaves, number of internodes, cob insertion level, cob length, cob diameter, total kernels, cob dry weight, kernel dry weight, yield). The results showed that all agronomic traits of maize were significantly influenced by locality, except for the number of leaves. The highest values of the traits were observed in the locality of Bouaké. However, the year of cultivation did not influence the agronomic parameters of maize. This study will help to avoid yield decreases due to rainfall disturbances as a consequence of climate change.