The Effect of Maize Seed Size and Depth of Planting on Seedling Emergence and Seedling Vigour

Abstract: Smallholder (SH) farmers in Limpopo province are mostly involved in the production of maize as a staple food and thereafter sell the surplus. One of the problems experienced by the SH farmers is that of low plant stands due to their planting method of covering seeds through ploughing. The study was undertaken to determine the effect of seed size and planting depth on maize seedling emergence and growth. Treatments comprised of two seed sizes (small seed and large seed) and four planting depths (5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm). Seed size was not significant but planting depth showed significant differences on emergence of seeds. Both seed size and planting depth were significant on the height of the seedlings. Seed size did not influence seedling dry weight and number of leaves. Seedling dry weight decreased with increased planting depth. Results obtained in this study show that seed size does not have an effect on emergence and seedling vigour when planted at the depth of 5 cm and 10 cm but shows an adverse effect on emergence and seedling vigour when planted at 15 cm and 20 cm depth