Weather Factors Affecting Canopy Orientation Of Maize In The Rainforest Of Southwestern Nigeria

Despite the wide recognition of plant architecture as a key factor for optimum productivity in most crops, factors affecting maize (Zea mays L.) crop configurationis poorly understood and often neglected in the rainforest ecologies of sub-Saharan Africa. The present study provides an analysis of the weather factorsaffecting canopy architecture of maize in the rainforest of sw Nigeria. Five maize varieties were planted weekly from March to November of 2016 and 2017 in randomized complete block experiments at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching & Research Farm (OAU T&RF). Data were collected on upper and lower leaf angle (LAUpper and LALower), and leaf orientation values (LOVUpper and LOVLower) which served as indices for canopy architecture.Weather data were obtained from the automatic weather station located on the farm. ANOVA revealed that environment had significant effects on canopy architecture andgrain yield (P = 0.01; R2 ≥ 80 %). Correlation and regression analyses showed thatsoil moisture, soil temperature, and solar radiation greatly affected canopy configuration (P ≤ 0.01), particularly LA and LOV. Sequential path analyses confirmed that soil moisture for LA, and soil temperature for LOV, were the most important weather factors directlyinfluencing canopy architecture in maize. Leaf angle was directly influenced by soil moisture and indirectly byair relative humidy and rainfall, while LOV was directly influenced by soil temperature and solar radiation, and indirectly by air relative humidity, heat unit, total radiation, rainfall, and soil heat flux.