Maize

Maize Botanical Name: Zea mays L. Family: Poaceae Origin: Central America and Mexico GEOGRAPHICAL DISRIBUTION OF CROP: Maize is one of the world's leading

crops cultivated over an area of about 139 million hectares with a production of about 600 million tonnes of grain (1999). Among the maize growing countries, USA has the largest area followed by Brazil, China, Mexico and India. In respect of production also USA stands first followed by China. In regard to average yield per hectare Italy ranks first (9695 kg) followed by France (8864 kg). The average maize yield in India is only 1785 kg per hectare which is much lower than most of the maize growing countries of the world In India it is grown over an area of 6.4 million hectares with total production of about 11.5 million tonnes. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab are the leading states growing maize on large scale. Though the maximum acreage and production of maize is in Uttar Pradesh but Andhra Pradesh gives highest average yield per hectare (3182 kg) followed by Punjab (2574 kg)

Economic Importance: Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in world agricultural economy both as food for man and feed for animals. Over 85% of produced in the country is consumed as human food. Several food dishes including chapattis are prepared out of maize flour and grains.

Soil: Maize is best adapted to well drained sandy loam to silty loam soils. Water stagnation is extremely harmful to the crop; therefore, proper drainage is a must for the success of the crop especially during Kharif season. Maize will not thrive on heavy clays, especially low lands. It can be grown successfully in soils whose pH ranges from 5.5 to 7.5. The alluvial soils of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab are very suitable for growing maize crop.

Climate: Maize is a warm weather plant. It grows from sea level to 3000 metre altitudes. It can be grown under diverse conditions. It is grown in

many parts of the country throughout the year. Kharif (monsoon) season is the main growing season in northern India. In the south, however, maize may be sown any time from April to October, as the climate is warm even in the winter. Maize requires considerable moisture and warmth from germination to flowering. The most suitable temperature for germination is 21°C and for growth 32°C. 50-75cm of well-distributed rain is conducive to proper growth. Maize is very sensitive to stagnant water, particularly during its early stages of growth.

Varieties: Cultivar

Uttarakh Hybrid and Composite

Full season maturity

Medium maturity

Early/extra early maturity

Ganga-11, Sartaj

Deccan107

MMH-133, VL-42. Vivek5, Vivek-9

Prabhat, Parvati

Navjot, Pusa comp.-2

VL-88, Kiran,Pusa comp.-1

Field preparation: Maize kernels need a seedbed which is friable, well aerated, and moist and weed free to provide better contact between the seed and the soil. There is no need of preparing an extremely fine seedbed. The first ploughing should be done with soil inverting plough so that at least 20-25 cm deep soil may become loose. It should be followed by two to three harrowing or three to four intercrossing ploughings with local plough. Planking should be done after each ploughing. While preparing the field for maize crop leveling must not be overlooked. A properly levelled and uniformly graded field is required for good water management.

Seed and sowing: Certified seeds of improved varieties should be used for sowing. Before planting, the seed lot must be tested for its germination percentage and the seed quantity to be adjusted accordingly. For getting the highest yield it is necessary to use new hybrid seed every year. The yield may be reduced by using the seed from one's own hybrid crop, by about 30 per cent. However, the composite maize varieties do not have this characteristic and, therefore, a farmer can use the seeds

from his own composite crop for next year also, provided no mixture has been allowed in the field and at the threshing floor. It is advisable to change the seed of composite also after every three to four years.

Seed rate and spacing: 20 kg seed would be needed for one hectare area. Seed should be sown 5 cm deep to ensure good germination. Hybrids

20-25 kg/ha

Composites

18-20 kg/ha

a population of 60-65 thousand plants at harvest per ha would be needed to attain maximum yield. Spacing 75cm x 18cm or 60cm x 22cm Manures and fertilizers: Manures and fertilizers both play important role in the maize cultivation. Add 10 to 15 tonnes of well rotted organic matter in the form of farm yard manure or compost before sowing. The application of organic matter to the soil ensures good tilth and improves water-holding capacity. However, as a general recommendation, apply 120 kg N, 60 kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O per hectare for hybrids and 80 kg N and 30 kg P 205 and 20 kg K2O per hectare for composites.

Irrigation: Maize is very susceptible both to excess water and moisture stress. Never allow water to stand in a maize field at any stage of its growth. Water stagnation even for six hours continuously and sufficiently damage the crop. Maize can tolerate heavy rains, provided water does not stand in the field for long periods. Therefore, drain away excess water by making a drain of adequate capacity at the lower end of the field. A good crop of maize requires about 460 to 600 millimetre of water during its life cycle. Do not allow maize plants to wilt due to water shortage at any stage of the life cycle. Tasselling to silking stage is critical. At this stage water shortage even for 2 days can reduce maize yields by about 20 per cent. The same for 6-8 days can pull down the yield by 50 per cent.

Weed control:

Maize crop is infested with grassy and broad-leaved annual weeds. Among grassy weeds, Echinochloa colonum, Enhinochloa crusgulli (sawan), Dactyloctenium aegypticum(makra), Elusine indica (kodo), Setaria glauca (banra), Cynodon dactylon (doob), Phragmites karka (narkul), Cyperus rotundus (motha), Sorghum halepanse (banchari) are common. The broad-leaved weeds are Celosia argentia (chilimil), Commelina benghalensis (kankoua), Phylanthus niruri (hulhul), Solanum nigrum (makoi), Amaranthus viridis (chaulai) and Portulaca oleraceae (naunia). In such a situation the only effective way to control weeds is the use of pre-emergence herbicides. The following herbicides can be used in maize crop. Atrazine and Simazine: The rate of application varies from 1.0 to 1.25 kg of active ingredient in light soils and 1.25 to 1.50 kg of active ingredient in heavy soils per hectare. Alachlor (Lasso) This weedicide should be used at the rate of 5 litres per hectare. The weedicide should be mixed in 1000 litres of water and evenly sprayed in one hectare. This herbicide controls grassy weeds better than Atrazine

Disease and there management

ph ate in 50 0 litr es of wat er per hec tar e.

Insect pests S.N Pests

Nature of damage

Chemical control

1.

Stem Borer

The damaging stage of the Spray 1.5 litre endosulfan pest is larvae. 35 EC or 2 kg Carboryl 50WP in 1000 litres of water per hectare.

2.

Pink Stem Borer

It generally attacks the crop in -spray 1.5 litre endosulfan the late stage when cob 35 EC or 2 kg Carboryl formation starts in the field. 50WP in 1000 litres of water per hectare.

3.

Maize Leaf Roller

Damage is caused by the caterpillar which is glossy green in colour and becomes pink when fully grown up.

Spray Endosulfan (0.1 per cent) or 0.2 per cent carbaryl (Savin) (4 g of Savin 50 WP in one litre of water) at the rate of 500- 700 lit res per hectare.

4.

Kharif Both adult any nymph stages Grass of this pest are responsible for Hopper the damage. Adults are green or dry grass colored.

Spraying with 0.04 per cent carbaryl (Sevin) at the rate of 500 to 8oo litres per hectare proves effective.

Harvesting: Harvest maize crop when husk has turned yellow and grains are hard enough having less then 30 per cent moisture. Do not wait for stalks and leaves to dry because they remain green in most of the hybrids and composites.Remove the husk from the cobs and then dry them from sun for seven to eight days. Thereafter grains are removed either by beating the cobs by sticks or with the help of maize shellers.

Yield: By all these improved cultivation practices it gives 50-60 quintals of grain per hectare in case of hybrids and 45-50 quintals in case of composites under irrigated conditions. In case of rainfed crop yield levels are about 20-25 quintals for hybrids and 15-20 quintals for composites

Storage: It is always too safe to purchase certified seeds from reliable sources. For storage, hybrid seed which has been recently produced should be obtained and stored in seed bins or earthen wore after putting bhusa all rounds. The container should be sealed with mud plaster.

References: 1.

Handbook of Agriculture.- ICAR

2.

Modern techniques of Raising field crops – Chhida Singh ,Prem Singh, Rajbir Singh

3.

Textbook of Field Crop Production.- Dr. Rajendra Prasad