Maize is known as queen of cereals and is used collectively in 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. 

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.

Early Maturing Varieties (Ready to harvest in 80-100days)

Panchganga, Prakash, Kiran, Vivek, Sankul etc.

Hybrids

Vivek 9, Vivek 21, Vivek 27, J.H 3459, Pusa Hybrid 1, J.K 2492

Medium Duration Variety (Ready to harvest in 100-110days)

Karveer, Manjari, Navjyot, 

Hybrids

Rajashree, DHM 119, DHM 117, HM 8, HM 4, PHM 4, Bio 9637

Late Duration Variety (Ready to harvest in 110-120days)

Bio 9681, HM 11, PHM 3, PHM 1, Prabhat, Shatak 9905

Sweet corn: 

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

Other States varieties

P3522, P1864, KMH-25K45 (Bumper)

HM 5: Suitable for Kharif as well as Rabi season. Grains are of attractive white color. It is tolerant to frost conditions. In kharif, it give average yield of 24-26qtl/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 kharif, It give average yield of 22qtl/acre.  

HQPM 1: Suitable for Kharif as well as Rabi season. Grains are of yellow color and in kharif gives average yield of 23-25qtl/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 kharif it give average yield of 22qtl/acre.

HHM 2: Suitable for Kharif as well as Rabi season. Grains are of white color. In kharif, it gives average yield of 22qtl/acre.

HM 4: Baby corn variety suitable for Kharif as well as Rabi season. Baby corn and grains are of attractive color. In kharif gives average yield of 22-24qtl/acre. Baby corn yield is about 4-6qtl/acre.

HM 11: Late maturing hybrid suitable for cultivation in Kharif as well as Rabi season. Grains are of orange color. It give average yield of 24-26qtl/acre.

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. Prepared furrow and ridges with 45cm to 50cm spacing. Mix P.S.B and Azotobactor@3kg in well decomposed cow dung@100-150kg and then spread in field before seed sowing.   

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply fertilizer on the basis of soil test result. Overall maize crop required, Nitrogen@50kg, Phosphorus@24kg and Potash@16kg/acre in form of Urea@105kg. Super phosphate@150kg and 30kg of MoP per acre.

Apply 1/3rd of Nitrogen fertilizer and whole dose of Potash and Phosphorus fertilizer at time of sowing. Apply remaining quantity of Urea in two equal splits, first 30days after seed sowing and second 40-45days after sowing.

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@25kg/acre mixed with 18kg of sand after sowing the maize seed.

Take at least one or two hand weeding in maize crop. First 20-25days after sowing and second when on 40-45days after sowing. To keep check on weeds take spray of Atrazin @500gm per 1000Ltr 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 4-6days older than main crop at time of first irrigation.

3-4weeks after germination apply first irrigation. Apply remaining irrigation at intervals of 4-5weeks up to mid march. Additional 1 or 2 irrigations are required depending rainfall and temperature conditions.

Seedling, knee hight 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.  

• Pests 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 @5kg/acre or Carbaryl 4%G @ 1 kg/acre with sand to make up total quantity of 10 kg and apply in the leaf whorls on the 20th day of sowing. Or Spray insecticide like Carbaryl 50 WP @ 1 kg/acre on the 20th day of sowing or Dimethoate 30% EC @ 250ml/acre. Spray of Chlorpyriphos @ 1-1.5 ml/Ltr of water at 10-12 days after germination provides good control.

Corn worm: Larva feeds on silk and developing grains. Larva of corn worms shows color 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 10 D @10kg/acre or Malathion 5 D @ 10kg/acre on 3rd and 18th day after panicle emergence.

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 occurred. Seed treatment with Carbofuran (40F) 5% W/W @ 2.5 g/kg of seed was also found effective. The Chilo can be regulated by introduction of 3-5 Trichocards (Trichogramma chilonis) per acre at ten days after germination. Light and pheromone traps can be used to assess the incidence of adult moths.

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 @ 2 ml/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 causes 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 @ 6 ml/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@300 ml/acre or Methyl demeton 25% EC@400 ml/acre.

Termites: Serious pest of maize observed in most areas. To control apply Fipronil@6kg/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.

• Diseases and their control:

Maydis leaf blight (MLB): MLB is caused by Bipolaris maydis and 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 Diathane 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.

Post flowering stalk rot: It is one of the most destructive diseases and is caused by complex association of multiple pathogens. 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.

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@6 gm/kg of seeds. Remove infected plant and destroyed away from the field. Spray with Metalaxyl@1 gm/Ltr or Metalaxyl + Mancozeb@ 2.5 gm/Ltr of water.

Pythium stalk rot: In this disease, basal internodes become soft, dark brown water soaked, causing the plants lodge. Damaged internodes commonly twist before the plants lodge.

Remove remains of previous crop and keep field clean before sowing. Maintained optimum plant population in field. Do Soil drenching with Captan at basal internode (5-7 week growth stage)@1 gm/Ltr of water.

Turcicum leaf blight (TLB): This is one of the most important diseases in Northern and North-eastern hills and peninsular India and is caused by Exserohilum turcicum. If infection take place at silking stage then significant economic damages observed. Early symptoms show slightly oval, water soaked, small spots produced on leaves. First appear 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.

Bacterial Stalk Rot: The stalk near the ground become water-soaked with brownish discolouration and are easily breakable and give unpleasant smell.

Avoid water logging in field and provide proper drainage. Apply Bleaching powder containing 33% chlorine@4 kg/acre as soil drench at pre-flowering stage.

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.

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.