17 D. F. Uwah G. A. Iwo Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences JAPS 20112011/06/01 21 3 525-530 1018-7081 NA <p>A two-year field experiment was conducted during the dry seasons of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 on the acidic coastal plain soils of south eastern Nigeria to evaluate the effectiveness of organic mulch on the productivity of maize (<em>Zea mays&nbsp;</em>L.) and weed growth. Five mulch rates (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 t/ha) were laid in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Soil moisture reserves were highest at the 8 t/ha mulch rate, followed by 6 t/ha rate. The unmulched control plots had the highest weed infestation, lowest soil moisture reserves, shortest plants and least number of leaves/plant. Weed infestation at the unmulched plots were higher by as much as more than 6 and 11 times those at 6 and 8 t/ha rates respectively. Plant height and number of leaves/plant were maximized at 8 t/ha rate, while dry stover yield, weight of grains/cob and grain yield/ha peaked at 6 t/ha rate. The grain yield obtained at 6 or 8 t/ha rates was more than double that of the unmulched control plots.</p> Growth; Maize; Mulch; Soil moisture; Weed infestation; Yield. Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2011-JAPS-321