Maize

Varieties

Maize Varieties

Introduction

Maize is one of the cereals grown in Rwanda, on a wide variety of soils, but performs best on well-drained, well-aerated, deep warm loams and silt loams containing adequate organic matter and well supplied with adequate nutrients.

Although it grows on a wide range of soils, it does not yield well on poor sandy soils and heavy clay soils, except with the heavy application of fertilizers, deep cultivation and ridging is necessary to improve drainage.

  • Disseminated varieties and descriptors
  • In low and middle land altitudes, they grow the following maize varieties: Kigega (ZM607), ISARM081 (Pool15_ QPM_SR), Ndaruhutse (Pool 32), H513, SC513, SC525, ISARM101, ISARM103, RHM101, RHM102, RHM103 and WH505.
  • In high altitude areas, they grow Tamira (Pool 9A), Mamesa (Pool 8A), ISARH071, PAN691, H 628, H 624 and PAN 691.
  • There are also  improved hybrid varieties which are crosses between the existing varieties and other improved varieties following the breeders considerations ( pest and disease tolerance, early yielding or high yielding varieties, etc). We can mention the following varieties which were recently developed, tested and disseminated:

1. RHM104:It has drought tolerance traits and adapted to mid altitudes from 900 masl up to 1800 masl. It yielded on average 7.89 t/ha in multi-site trials conducted by the Seed Unit of Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) and some private seed companies..

2. RHM1407:  It is adapted to mid altitudes from 900 masl to 1800 masl. The hybrid was evaluated under artificial and natural inoculation for Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) disease and it was proven to possess MLN tolerance. On average, it yields 7.87 t/ha.

3. RHT132: It is adapted to altitudes from 1400 to 2000 masl (transitional zones). The hybrid was evaluated under artificial and natural inoculation for Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) disease and it was proven to possess MLN tolerance

4. RHM1409: It is adapted to mid-altitudes from 900 masl to 1700 masl. It has been evaluated under MLN artificial and natural inoculations and was found to be mild resistant to MLN disease. It yielded on average 8.67 t/ha on average.

5. RHM1402: It is adapted to mid-altitudes from 900 masl to 1800 masl. The hybrid was evaluated in four sites: Rubona, Nyagatare-Cyabayaga, Karama and Bugarama in 2015 B and 2016 A. It yielded on average 8.59 t/ha on average.

6. RHMM111: It is specifically adapted to semi-moist mid altitudes. It is an extra-early maturing variety. It matures on average in 100 days. It yields on average 6.16 t/ha on average.

7. RHMMM113: It is adapted to altitudes from 900 masl to 1700 masl. It is an early maturing variety and matures on average in 110 days. It yields, on average, 8.23 t/ha.

8- RHMH1520 is adapted to highlands ecology at altitudes >1800 masl. It has an average grain yield of 7.8 t/ha. 

9. RHMH1521 is adapted to highlands ecology at altitudes>1800 masl. On average, the grain yield is 7.6 t/ha.