RABI MAIZE

Maize is known as queen of cereals and is used collectively in the form of foodstuff or fodder. From grains products like starch, corn flakes also glucose are prepared. It is also used as animal feed in poultry. Maize can be cultivated in any soil as they require less fertile soil.

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. In Haryana, winter maize can be successfully taken and is more profitable than Kharif maize as pest and disease attact is less in winter.

It can be grown on wide range of soils including loamy sand to clay loam. Fertile well-drained sandy loam to silt loam are ideal soils for maize cultivation. Soils with fine organic matter containing good water holding capacity with pH ranging from 5.5-7.5 are required for good yield. Heavy clay soil is not suitable for cultivation.

Soil test is necessary to know deficiency of any nutrient in the soil.

HM 5: Suitable for kharif as well as rabi season. Grains are of attractive white color. It is tolerant to frost conditions. In rabi, it gives average yield of 28-30 qtl/acre.

HM 6: Early maturing variety, suitable for kharif as well as rabi season. It is resistant to rust disease. It can survive in frost conditions. In rabi, It gives average yield of 27.2 qtl/acre. 

HQPM 1: Suitable for kharif as well as rabi season. Grains are of yellow color and in rabi gives average yield of 26-28 qtl/acre.

HHM 1: Early maturing variety, suitable for kharif as well as rabi season. Grains are of yellow color. It can withstand in drought conditions. In rabi it give average yield of 24-26 qtl/acre.

HHM 2: Suitable for kharif as well as rabi season. Grains are of white color. In rabi, it gives average yield of 26-27 qtl/acre.

HM 4: Baby corn variety suitable for kharif as well as rabi season. Baby corn and grains are of attractive color. In rabi gives average yield of 27-29.2 qtl/acre. Baby corn yield is about 4-6 qtl/acre.

HM 10: Suitable for growing in rabi season all over country. Grains are of yellow color. It is resistant to rust disease.

HM 11: Late maturing hybrid suitable for cultivation in kharif as well as rabi season. Grains are of orange color. It gives average yield of 30 qtl/acre.

Other States varieties

Madhuri and Priya: Suitable for kharif as well as for kabi season. In rabi season, these varieties are ready for harvest in 80-85 days. 

P3522, P1864, KMH-25K45 (Bumper)

For cultivation selected land should be free from weeds and remains of previously grown crop. Plough the land to bring the soil to fine tilth. It may take 6 to 7 plough. Apply 4-6tons/acre of well decomposed cow dung across the field, also apply 10 Azospirillum packets in field. Prepared furrow and ridges with 45cm to 50cm spacing.

Cultivation of spring maize is popular these days. 20January to 15 February is optimum time for spring cultivation.

Time of sowing
For winter cultivation, on levelled soil, optimum time for sowing is from 25 October to 10 November. In case sowing on ridge, complete sowing from 11 November to 20 November. Sowing on ridge is beneficial as crop germination is earlier also it protect crop from cold. 

Spacing
To obtain higher yield along with resource-use efficiency, optimum plant spacing is the key factor. For winter maize, use spacing of 60x20cm.

Sowing Depth
Seed should be sown at depth of 3-4cm on levelled soil whereas for ridge sowing use sowing depth of 5-6cm.

Method of sowing
Sowing can be done manually by dibbling seeds or by mechanically with the help of tractor drawn ridger seed drill.

Seed Rate
Purpose, seed size, season, plant type, sowing method these factor affect seed rate. For winter and spring maize use seed rate of 8-10 kg/acre.

Seed Treatment
To protect seeds from soil borne diseases and insect pest, seed treatment is necessary. To protect seeds from downy mildew, treat seeds with Carbendazim or Thiram@2 gms/kg of seeds. After chemical treatment, treat seeds with Azospirillum@600gm+ rice gruel. After treatment shade dry seeds for 15-20 minutes. Azosprillum helps in fixing of atmospheric nitrogen in the soil.

Use any one fungicides from below:

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

For optimum yield apply Nitrogen@72kg, Phosphorus@24kg and Potash@24 kg/acre in form of Urea@157kg. Super phosphate@150kg and 40kg of Potash per acre.
 
Apply whole dose of P and K fertilizer and 1/3rd amount of urea fertilizer at time of sowing. Give remaining quantity of urea in two equal splits. Apply 1/3rd of urea in mid January and remaining 1/3rd at time tasseling stage.

Zinc and magnesium deficiency are common in maize crop. To overcome this deficiency, apply Znso4@10kg/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 kg/acre mixed with 18 kg of sand after sowing the maize seed.

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. To keep check on weeds take spray of Atrazine @500gm per 100 Ltr of water after sowing and before emergence of weeds. After weeding, apply fertilizer as top dressing and carry out earthing up operation.

Thinning and Gap filling: Thinning means removing excess plant and keep only healthy seedlings and maintained plant to plant distance of 20cm. Carry out thinning operation at time of first hoeing. Do gap filling with seedling of 4-6 days older than main crop at time of first irrigation.

3-4 weeks after germination apply first irrigation. Apply remaining irrigation at intervals of 4-5 weeks upto mid march. Additional 1 or 2 irrigations are required depending rainfall and temperature conditions. 
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.
If crop is affected due to severe cold apply light irrigation immediately. 

• Pest and their control:
  

Stalk borer or stem borer: Chilo partellus, commonly known as stalk borer that appears throughout the monsoon time period. It is a serious bug all over the nation. Chilo lays eggs 10-25 nights after germination on inferior portion of the leaf. The larva gets into in the whorl and then triggers deterioration in the leaf and cause shot hole. Larva of stem borer is yellowish brown with a brown head.
For stem borer, release egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis@1,00,000/acre coinciding egg laying period. Three releases at weekly interval are desirable. Third release is to be accompanied with larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes@ 2000/acre.

Mix Phorate 10%CG@4kg/acre or Carbaryl 4%G@1kg/acre with sand to make up total quantity of 10kg and apply in the leaf whorls on the 20th day of sowing. Or Spray insecticide like Carbaryl 50WP@1 kg/acre on the 20th day of sowing or Dimethoate 30% EC@200ml/acre. Spray of Chlorpyriphos@1-1.5ml/Ltr of water at 10-12 days after germination provides good control.
 

Corn worm: Larva feeds on silk and developing grains. Larva of corm worms shows colour variation from greenish to brown.It has dark brown grey lines on the body with lateral white lines.
Set up pheromone traps at@6 /acre. Apply Carbaryl 10D@10kg/acre or Malathion 5D@10kg/acre on 3rd and 18th day after panicle emergence.

Shoot bug: Shoot bug laid eggs inside leaf tissue and covered with a white waxy substance. Due to infestation plant become unhealthy, stunted and yellow. The leaves wither from top to downwards.The midribs of the leaves turn red due to egg-laying and may
dry up subsequently.
If infestation is observed take spray of Dimethoate@2ml/Ltr of water.

Shoot fly: It is a major pest of South India but sometime observed in spring and summer crop in North India. It cause damage at seedling stage and causes drying of seedling or dead heart.
To control shoot fly infestation, Plough land after harvesting of previous crop also remove stubbles and remains of previously harvested crop. Do seed treatment with Imidacloprid @ 6ml/kg of seeds, it provides good control of the shoot fly. Soil application of Phorate 10%CG@4kg/acre at the time of sowing. Spray any one of pesticide like Dimethoate 30%EC@500 ml/acre or Methyl demeton 25%EC@400 ml/acre.

Termites: Serious pest of maize observed in most areas. To control apply Fipronil@8 kg/acre followed by light irrigation. If the termite incidence is in patches, than spot application of Fipronil@2-3kg granuled/plant should be done. Keep cleanliness in field.

Pink Borer (Sesamia inference): It inference arises in times of the winter season mainly in peninsular India. Larvae of the pink borer cause damage by feeding on all parts of maize plant except roots. The larvae form circular or “S” shaped tunnels filled with excreta inside the stem and, also show exit holes on the surface. In case of severe damage, breaking of stem occured. Seed treatment with Carbofuran (40F) 5% W/W @ 2.5g/kg of seed was also found effective. The Chilo can be regulated by introduction of 8 Trichocards (Trichogramma chilonis) per hectare at ten days after germination. Light and pheromone traps can be used to assess the incidence of adult moths.

• Disease and their control:
  

Turcicum leaf blight (TLB): This is one of the most important diseases in northern and north-eastern hills and peninsular India. Early symptoms show slightly oval, water soaked, small spots produced on leaves. First appears on lower leaves in severe infestation complete plant give burning appearance. If not controlled at proper time, it has the potential to cause yield reduction up to 70%.
To control take spray of Mancozeb or Zineb @2-4 g/litre at 10 days interval after first appearance of the disease.

Maydis leaf blight (MLB): It is generally appears in warm tropical and sub-tropical areas to wet temperate climate. Young lesions are small and diamond shaped. As they mature, they elongate. Lesions may coalesce, producing a complete “burning” of large areas of the leaves.
Application of 2-4 sprays of Dithane M-45 or Zineb @ 2.0-2.5 gm/litre of water at 7-10 days interval from the first appearance of disease controls the spread of pathogen.

Brown stripe downy mildew: Lesions start developing on lower leaves as narrow chlorosis or yellow stripes,3-7 mm wide, with well defined margin and are delimited by the veins. The stripes later become reddish to purple. Lateral development of lesions causes severe striping and blotching.
Grow resistant varieties. Do Seed treatment with Metalaxyl@6gm/kg of seeds. Remove infected plant and destroyed away from the field. Spray with Metalaxyl@1gm/Ltr or Metalaxyl + Mancozeb@2.5gm/Lit of water.

Post flowering stalk rot: It affects roots, crown region and lower internodes of crops.
If incidence of this disease is observed then minimize use of potassium fertilizer. Follow crop rotation. Do not give water stress at flowering stage. Application of bio-control agent such as Trichoderma formulation in furrow @10 gm/kg of FYM at 10 days prior to sowing provides good control.

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 20-17%. Drying place or equipment should be dry, clean and disinfected.

Sweet corn must be moved quickly from the field to packing sheds, where it should be rapidly sorted, packed, and cooled. It is generally packed in wire bound wooden crates, which can hold from 4 to 6 dozen ears, depending on the size of the crate or ears.