INTRODUCTION
- Zea mays are the scientific name for maize, which belongs to the Poaceae family.
- It is grown throughout the kharif season and cultivated during the rabi season.
- Maize is high in starch, fiber, protein, fat, and other nutrients.
REQUIREMENTS
- Soil- Loamy soil to Clay soil, deep and well-drained soils.
- pH- 5.5 to 6.5.
- Temperature- 18°C and 27°C during the day.
14°C during the night.
32°C Critical temperature.
- Rainfall- Annual rainfall between 60 cm to 110 cm.
- Cultivation- Shifting Cultivation
- Susceptibility- Susceptible to frost temperature(0º)
IRRIGATION
Maize crop is sensitive to both moisture stress and excessive moisture, hence regulate irrigation according to the requirement.
Ensure optimum moisture availability during the most critical phase (45 to 65 days after sowing); otherwise yield will be reduced by a considerable extent.
Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phase of the crop.
Germination & establishment phase : 1 to 14 days
Vegetative phase: 15 to 39 days
Flowering phase: 40 to 65 days.
Maturity phase : 66 to 95 days
DRIP IRRIGATION TO MAIZE: Irrigation once in 2 days
CULTIVATION
- Maize is planted in rows that are 60-75 cm apart, with plants spaced 20 to 25 cm apart.
- To get the best output, you'll need a population of 60-75 thousand plants per hectare at harvest.
- Drilling or dropping the seed behind the plow is the most common methods for sowing in rows.
- Shifting Cultivation- Maize cultivation is best suited to plain areas.
- Dibbling or drilling should be used to sow maize seed. It varies based on the seeding purpose, maize variety, and farm conditions.
- Seed should not be sown deeper than 5-6 cm in the soil.
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY
DISEASES