Effect of Fresh and Dry Aqueous Leaf Extracts of Senna Siamea On The Growth and Yield Of Maize (Zea Mays L.) in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

The experiment to evaluate the effect of fresh and dry aqueous leaf extracts of Senna siamea on the growth and yield of Maize (Zea mays) was carried out at the experimental site and laboratory of the Department of Plant Science, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, (Lat 7⁰ 40N and Long 15⁰ 15E) Nigeria. Harvested fresh leaves and dry leaves of Senna siamea were blended and 5g, 10g, 15g, 20g each of the material separately soaked in 100ml of distilled water for 24 hours and later filtered to make the aqueous leaf extract. Three seeds of maize, downing mildew resistance variety (DMRT) were planted into 27 horticultural pots. The young growing maize plants were then sprayed with fresh and dry aqueous leaf extract separately after 3 weeks of planting. The growth and yield of the maize was monitored until maturity and harvesting. The 10% dry aqueous extract and 15% fresh aqueous extract of Senna siamea gave the highest growth performance as well as yield in terms of cob weight, cob length and grain weight while the control produced the lowest values. The results revealed that folia application of Senna siamea at concentration required concentration could bring a considerable increase in growth and yield performance of maize in the study area.