Julius Yirzagla*, Iddrisu Yahaya, Peter Quandahor and Ophelia Asirifi Amoako

CSIR-Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala, Ghana

*Corresponding Author: Julius Yirzagla, CSIR-Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala, Ghana.

Received: July 01, 2026; Published: September 30, 2026

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) production in northern Ghana is constrained by erratic rainfall, recurrent drought and rising temperatures associated with climate change. On-farm demonstration trials were conducted over the 2024 and 2025 cropping seasons to evaluate the agronomic performance of seven improved climate-smart and nutritionally enhanced maize hybrids (CSIR-Adubi-Boyo, CSIR- Denbea, CSIR-Dimaali-Engee, CSIR-AKpasoe, CSIR-Abontem, CSIR-Enibankye and CSIR-Obatanpa) relative to a local farmers’ variety. Trials were established in six communities (Laabiisi, Pusu Namogo and Kanabiisi in Talensi District, and Kobore, Teshie and Yarigu in Bawku West District) in the Upper East Region, using a randomized incomplete block design with farmers as replications. Data were collected on shelling percentage, stover yield, total shelled grain weight, cob weight, grain yield, 100-seed weight and grain moisture content, and analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with mean separation by least significant difference (LSD) at the 5% probability level. Across both seasons, the improved hybrids consistently outyielded the farmers’ variety for all traits measured. CSIR-Dimaali-Engee recorded the highest shelling percentage, stover yield, total shelled grain weight, cob weight and grain yield in both seasons, with grain yield of 3,880 kg ha⁻¹ in 2024 and 2025, compared with 1,546 and 1,646 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, for the farmers’ variety. These results demonstrate the superior yield potential and productivity of the evaluated climate-smart hybrids under Sudan savanna conditions and support their promotion as a pathway to improved maize productivity and food security among smallholder farmers in northern Ghana.

Keywords: Climate-Smart Maize; Hybrid Performance; Sudan Savanna; On-Farm Trial; Upper East Region; Ghana

References

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Citation

Citation: Julius Yirzagla., et al. “Performance of Improved Climate-Smart Maize Hybrids Relative to a Local Farmers’ Variety in the Sudan Savanna Agro- Ecological Zone of Northern Ghana". Acta Scientific Microbiology 9.10 (2026): 05-09.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Julius Yirzagla., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.