A 2-yr (four cropping seasons) trial was conducted with nine maize (Zea mays L.) varieties and four fertilization treatments in three replicates to determine the appropriate variety-fertilization combinations. Fertilization treatments were: no fertilization (T1), 6 t ha-1 of farmyard manure (FYM) (T2), the national recommendation of 200 kg N 15 P 15 K 15 plus 100 kg urea (46% N) ha-1 (T3) and 3 t of FYM plus 100 kg N 15 P 15 K 15 plus 50 kg urea ha-1 (T4). Across fertilization treatments, 2-yr average grain yields were highest (6.41 to 6.76 t ha-1) for Bassar, TZEE and Obatampa varieties and lowest (4.63 and 5.07 t ha-1) for Wahala3 and Agoèbli in the first cropping season. TZEE, Dapaong, Obatampa and Bassar performed better (4.0 to 4.39 t ha-1) during the second season. Across varieties, grain yields for T4, T3 and T2 increased by 92 to 58, 69 to 42 and 57 to 34% in comparison with T1, respectively, those under T4 and T3 were 22.6 to 18 and 8 to 6% higher than that for T2, respectively, and the yield for T4 was 11 to 13.5% superior over that for T3. Fertilization treatment T4 proved suitable for improved grain yield and five varieties were no more recommended for the second cropping season.

With the aim of simultaneously improving maize grain productivity and nutritional value towards enhancing food security and fight against hidden hunger, a 2-year experiment (2020-2021) was carried out at the University of Lomé Agronomic Experiment Station. The experimental design was a split-plot with three replicates. Four maize varieties: Ikenne, Tzee, Sotubaka and Sammaz 52 and three iron application rates including a control (no iron application–Fe0), 7.50 litters ha-1 (Fe45) and 10 litters ha-1 of Feramin (Fe60) were the studied factors. Maize grain yield and grain Fe concentration were determined. Results showed that, on 2-year average basis, the highest maize grain yields under Ikenne (3.32±0.08 t ha-1) Tzee (2.49±0.10 t ha-1), Soubaka (4.03±0.10 t ha-1) and Sammaz 52 (3.85±0.19 t ha-1) was obtained with Fe60. Globaly, yield obtained under Fe60 was higher than those under Fe0 and Fe45 by 26 and 4% respectively. For the two years of study, the highest Fe concentrations were obtained in Ikenne and Tzee grains while the lowest were obtained in the first year in Sotubaka grains(55.21±2.96 mg kg-1) and in the second year in Sammaz 52 grains (41.66±2.19 mg kg-1). On 2-year average basis, the Fe concentration in Ikenne grains was higher than those in Tzee, Sotubaka and Sammaz 52 grains by 8.91; 13.92 and 19.27%, respectively. On this same basis, the highest grain Fe concentrations were obtained under the four varieties with Fe60. Globally, grain Fe concentration under Fe60 was higher than those under Fe0 and Fe45 by 141.89 and 20.31% respectively.

The sustainable improvement of maize productivity and smallholders’ incomes to contribute to food security is the objective of this study carried out over two consecutive years (2020 and 2021) at the University of Lomé Agronomic Experiment Station. The experiment was set up in a split-plot design, composed of sixteen (16) treatments in three (03) replicates each. Four varieties: Ikenné (V1) Tzee (V2), Sotubaka (V3) and Sammaz 52 (V4) and four fertilization schemes: 0 kgha-1 (F0); 200 kgha-1 of NPK: 15-15-15+100 kgha-1 of urea 46%N (F1); 6 000 kgha-1 of chicken dungs (F2) and 6 000 kgha-1 of small ruminant dungs (F3) were the studied factors. Maize grain yields were determined, and an economic analysis was done. The results analysis showed that varieties and fertilization schemes significantly affected maize grain yields. Sotubaka (V3) was the most productive variety during the two years of experiment. The average yield obtained under V3 (3.56±0.65 t ha-1) was higher than those of Ikenné, Tzee and Sammaz 52 varieties respectively by 20, 57 and 5%. The average yield recorded under F2 was higher than those of F0, F1 and F3 by 54, 3 and 17% respectively. On a 2-year average basis, the application of 200 kgha-1 of NPK: 15-15-15+100 kgha-1 of urea 46%N (F1) gave the highest maize grain yields under V1 (3.43±0.13 t ha-1) and V2 (2.60±0.15 t ha-1); while the highest maize grain yields under V3 (4.29±0.12 t ha-1) and V4 (3.95±0.11 t ha-1) were obtained with the supply of  6 000 kgha-1 of chicken dungs (F2). On the same 2-year average basis, the highest profits were obtained under Ikenné (343 000 FCFA ha-1=US$ 512.46) and Tzee (177 000 FCFA ha-1=US$ 264.45) with the application of F1. For Sotubaka (480 000 FCFA ha-1=US$ 717.14) and Sammaz 52 (415 000 FCFA ha-1=US$ 620.03), the highest profit was obtained with the application of F2. For successful maize cultivation, it was advisable to use F1 for Ikenne and Tzee varieties and F2 for Sotubaka and Sammaz 52 varieties.