MAIZE
GENERAL INFORMATION
Maize (Zea mays L) is second rated grain used collectively in form of foodstuff or fodder. Globally, maize is known as queen of cereals because it has highest genetic yield potential among the cereals. Grains provides food items which are consumed in the form of starch, corn flakes also glucose. It is also used as animal feed in poultry. Maize can be cultivated in any soil as they require less fertile soil and various chemicals. Moreover, it fetch less ripening span, 3 months, in comparison to paddy, which takes 145 days. By growing maize, farmers can easily shield the deteriorating grade of soil , preserve 90% of water and 70% of potency as compared with paddy and can make more profit than wheat and paddy,” reported by vice chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. It serves as basic raw material to thousands of industrial products like oil, starch, alcoholic beverages etc. Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, J & K and Punjab are major maize growing states. AP and Karnataka is major producer of maize in south.
temprature
25-30°CSowing Temperature
25-30°CHarvesting Temperature
30-35°CRainfall
50-100 cmSOIL
Fertile well-drained alluvial or simply red loams free of coarse elements and full off nitrogen are ideal soils for maize cultivation. Maize can be grown on wide range of soils including loamy sand to clay loam. Definitely depleted plains are effective suited to the cultivation, even though it grows up in various hilly zones equally. Soils with fine organic matter containing good water holding capacity with pH ranging from 5.5-7.5 are required to increase yield. Heavy clay soil is not suitable for cultivation. Soil test is necessary to know deficiency of any nutrient in the soil.POPULAR VARIETIES WITH THEIR YIELD
Prabhat
Long duration variety. Cultivated throughout the state under irrigated conditions kharif, spring and summer season. It is medium tall plant with medium thick stem and resistant to lodging. Matures in 95 days. Average yield is 17.5 qtl/acre.kesari
Medium duration variety, Matures in 85 days. Grains are of orange color. Gives average yield of 16 qtl/acre.Prakash
It is drought tolerant early maturing (82 days) hybrid. It gives average yield of 15-17 qtl/acre.Megha
Short duration variety, mature in 82 days. It has yellow- orange flint grains. It gives average yield of 12 qtl/acre.Punjab sathi 1
Matures in 70 days, it is a short duration summer season variety. Tolerant to heat. Average yield is about 9qtl/acre.Pearl Popcorn
Applicable for cultivation throughout the state, under irrigated conditions. It is composite variety of popcorn. It has medium plant height. Ears are thin, cylindrical with small round flint grains, Matures in 88 days. Average yield is 12 qtl/acre.Punjab sweet corn
This variety is highly suitable for sweet corn on commercial basis. Because of its developing and immature grains in green ears possess high sugar content. Matures in 95-100 days. Its green ears average yield is 50 qtl/acre.Private company varieties
Pioneer 39V92 & 30R77, Pro Agro 4640, Monsanto Hi, Shell & Double, Shri Ram Genetic chemical Ltd.Bio 9690 & Raj Kumar, Kanchan Seed, Polo, Hybrid Corn & KH 121 (Sonalika), Mahyco MPM 3838. Zuari C. 1415, Ganga Kaveri GK 3017, GK 3057, Syngenta India Ltd NK 6240.Other state varieties:
PEEHM 5: Pusa extra early hybrid makka. It is tolerant to high temperature. Suitable for sowing in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Gives average yield of 20 qtl/acre.PC 1: Pusa composite 1, early maturing variety. It give resistance to stalk rot, corn borer and leaf blight. It gives average yield of 12 to 14 qtl/acre.
PC 2: Early maturing variety. It give resistance to stalk rot, leaf blight, sheat blight and brown stripe downy mildew. It give average yield of 14 qtl/acre.
PC 3: Early to medium maturing variety. It is tolerant to stem borer and give resistance to lodging and moisture stress. It give average yield of 16 qtl/acre.
PC 4: Early maturing composite. It is tolerant to stem borer and give resistance to lodging and moisture stress. It give average yield of 16 qtl/acre.
SOWING
Time of sowing
Time of sowing In kharif season, crop is sown in month of May end to June corresponding with the onset of monsoon. Spring crops are sown during late February to end of march. Plantation of baby corn can be done all the year round, except December and January. Kharif and rabi season are best for sweet corn sowing.
Spacing
To obtain higher yield along with resource-use efficiency, optimum plant spacing is the key factor. 1) For kharif maize : use spacing of 60x20 cm. 2) Sweet corn : use spacing of 60x20 cm spacing. 3) Baby corn: Use 60x20 cm or 60x15 cm spacing. 4) Pop corn: Use 50x15 cm spacing. 5) Fodder: use spacing of 30x10 cm spacing
Sowing Depth
Seed should be sown at depth of 3-4 cm. For sweet corn cultivation keep depth of sowing to 2.5 cm.Method of sowing
Sowing can be done manually by dibbling seeds or by mechanically with help of tractor drawn ridger seed drillSeed Rate
Purpose, seed size, season, plant type, sowing method these factor affect seed rate. 1) For kharif maize : use seed rate of 8-10 kg/acre2) Sweet corn : use seed rate of 8 kg/acre
3) Baby corn: 16 kg/acre seed rate.
4) Pop corn: 7 kg/acre seed rate.
5) Fodder: 20 kg/acre seed rate.
Intercropping: Pea can be taken as intercrop in maize plant. For that take one row of pea between maize crops. In autumn sugarcane and maize can also be intercropped. Sow one row of maize plant after two row of sugarcane.
FERTILIZER
Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre) UREA DAP or SSP MURIATE OF POTASH ZINC 75-110 27-55 75-150 15-20 8 Nutrient value (kg/acre) NITROGEN PHOSPHORUS POTASH 35-50 12-24 8-12 (Apply fertilizer based on soil test result). Apply Super phosphate@75-150 kg, 75-110 kg of Urea and 15-20 kg of Potash (apply only if soil show its deficiency) per acre maize crop. Apply whole amount of SSP and MOP and one third of Urea at time of sowing. Apply remaining dose of nitrogen at knee height stage and pre tasseling stage. Zinc and magnesium deficiency are common in maize crop. To overcome this deficiency, apply Znso4@8kg/acre as basal dose. Along with zinc and magnesium deficiency, iron deficiency is also observed. Due to this whole plant gives yellow appearance. To overcome this deficiency, apply micro-nutrients mixture@25/acre mixed with 25 kg of sand after sowing the maize seed.WEED CONTROL
Weeds are the serious problem in maize, particularly during kharif/monsoon season they competes with maize for nutrient and causes yield loss upto 35%. Therefore, timely weed management is needed for achieving higher yield. Take atleast one or two hand weeding in maize crop. First 20-25 days after sowing and second when on 40-45 days after sowing. If weed infestation is high, spray with Atrazine @500gm per 200 Ltr of water. After weeding, apply fertilizer as top dressing and carry out earthing up operation.IRRIGATION
Apply irrigation immediately after sowing. Based upon soil type, on third or fourth day give lifesaving irrigation. In rainy season, if rain is satisfactory then it is not needed. Avoid water stagnation in early phase of crop and provide good drainage facility. Crop required less irrigation during early stage, 20 to 30 days after sowing afterwards it required irrigation once in a week. Seedling, knee height stage, flowering and grain feeling are the most sensitive stage for irrigation. Water stress at this stage cause huge loss in yield. In case of water scarcity, irrigate alternate furrow. It will save water also.DEFICIENCY AND THEIR REMIDY
Zinc Deficiency
mostly observed in areas having use of high yielding variety. Broad band of white-yellow along with reddish veins are appeared on each side of mid rib on second or third leaf from top of plant. To overcome zinc deficiency, apply Zinc Sulphate@10 kg/acre at time of sowing. If deficiency is observed in standing field, apply Zinc Sulphate and mixed with equal quantity of dry soils and apply along the rows.Magnesium Deficiency
Common is maize crop. Mostly observed on leaves. Basel leaves give yellowish appearance between edge and veins of leaves. As a preventive measure foliar spray of Magnesium Sulphate@1kg/acre in maize.Iron Deficiency
Whole plant give yellowish appearance. As a preventive measure for Iron deficiency, apply mixture of Micro-Nutrient@25 kg/acre along with sand@18 kg/acre after sowing of maize crop.HARVESTING
Harvesting should be done when cobs outer cover turns from green to white. The optimum time of harvesting maize is when the stalks have dried and moisture of grain as about 17-20%. Drying place or equipment should be dry, clean and disinfected.Sweet corn harvesting: When crops come nears to maturity, examined a few ears daily to determine the time for the first picking. Corn is ready for harvest when the ear is full size for the variety, has a tight husk, and has somewhat dried silks. The kernels are fully developed and exude a milky liquid when punctured. Delay harvesting causes reduction in sugar content. Whether harvesting is done by hand or machine, sweet corn should be collected at night or early in the morning.,
Baby corn: Ears are harvested 45-50 days after emergence, when silks are 1-2 cm long (within 1-2 days after silk emergence). Harvesting is carried out in morning when temperature is low and moisture is high. The picking of baby corn should be done once in three days and generally 7-8 pickings are required depending on genotypes used.
Pop corn: Leave ears of popcorn on the plant for as long as possible. If the weather allows, leave them in the field until the husks are dry and papery.