Leaf area manipulation and Nitrogen Fertilization on yield and Agronomic traits of maize

Abstract

The grain yield of maize is severely reduced by leaf diseases and pest’s which are fairly abundant in tropical environments because of the favourable weather conditions. The most common leaf diseases of maize in Nigeria are maize rust caused by Puccinia polysora leaf blight caused by Helminthosporium maydis leaf spot caused by Curvularia pallescens maize streak virus (MSV) transmitted by insect vectors of the genus Cicadulina and brown spot caused by Physoderma maydis (Fajemisin, 1978). Yield losses in the humid rain forest zone especially to rust, as high as 44 percent have been recorded (Craig, 1966).