2.4 Discussion
2.4.7 Conclusions and Implications for maize breeding
The results of the present study indicated that farmers require from maize breeders traits of a quantitative nature, such as the components of grain yield, physiological maturity and adaptation in the varieties they prefer. Traits related to grain yield components involved number of kernels per ear, number of kernels per plant and number of ears per plant.
Calendar physiological maturity, especially of the extra early category, was highly required in the study areas. There was a big demand for adaptive traits, such as stay-green and rapid rate of kernel dry-down in Mbarali, demonstrating that this district has a harsher maize production environment than that of Mbozi. The preferred traits in the study areas were needed most where farmers used unimproved varieties, applied anything from suboptimal amounts to no amount at all of fertiliser, especially N, and experienced drought, thus posing challenges to the maize breeder when it came to providing suitable cultivars for the study areas.
Overall results indicated that maize productivity could be enhanced by improving both genetics (varieties) and management of the crops by investing in fertiliser, credit schemes, and training and education among other factors. The ‘idealised’ variety identified in the study
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is the one that yielded higher, matured earlier (≤140 days), stayed green longer and whose kernels dried down faster upon physiological maturity, and were tolerant to local stresses.
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