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 Full Medium Early/extra
season maturity early
maturity maturity

Uttarakh Hybrid Ganga-11, Deccan- MMH-133,

and Sartaj 107 VL-42. Vivek-
5, Vivek-9
Composite Prabhat, Navjot, VL-88,
Parvati Pusa Kiran,Pusa
comp.-2 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 The damaging stage of the Spray 1.5 litre endosulfan
Borer pest is larvae. 35 EC or 2 kg Carboryl
50WP in 1000 litres of
water per hectare.

2. Pink It generally attacks the crop in -spray 1.5 litre endosulfan

Stem the late stage when cob 35 EC or 2 kg Carboryl
Borer formation starts in the field. 50WP in 1000 litres of
water per hectare.
3. Maize Damage is caused by the Spray Endosulfan (0.1 per
Leaf caterpillar which is glossy cent) or 0.2 per cent
Roller green in colour and becomes carbaryl (Savin) (4 g of Savin
pink when fully grown up. 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