MAIZE (KHARIF)

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. Mainpur, Bahraich, Kheri, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Gonda, Farrukhabad, Jaunpur and Etah are major maize producing areas of Uttar Pradesh.

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.

Ganga 2: Hybrid ready to harvest in 100-105days. It is suitable for plain areas. Gives average yield of 14-16qtl/acre. Grains are white.
 
Ganga-II: Hybrid ready to harvest in 100-110days. It is suitable for plain areas. Gives average yield of 16qtl/acre. Grains are yellow.
 
Tarun: Composite variety ready to harvest in 80-85days. It is suitable for whole UP. Gives average yield of 14-16qtl/acre.
 
Naveen: Composite variety ready to harvest in 80-85days. It is suitable for whole UP. Gives average yield of 14-16 qtl/acre.
 
Kanchan: Composite variety ready to harvest in 75-80days. It is suitable for whole UP. Gives average yield of 14-16 qtl/acre. 

Shweta: Composite variety ready to harvest in 80-85days. It is suitable for whole UP. Gives average yield of 14-16 qtl/acre.
 
D-765: Composite variety ready to harvest in 75days. It is suitable for whole UP. Gives average yield of 12-14 qtl/acre.
 
Surya: Composite variety ready to harvest in 75days. It is suitable for whole UP. Gives average yield of 12-14 qtl/acre.
 
Novjyoti: Composite variety ready to harvest in 75days. It is suitable for western UP. Gives average yield of 16 qtl/acre.
 
Mahi kanchan: Composite variety ready to harvest in 80-85days. It is suitable for whole UP. Gives average yield of 16-18 qtl/acre.
 
Merut Yellow: Local variety ready to harvest in 75-80days. It is suitable for plains areas of UP. Gives average yield of 8-10 qtl/acre.
 
Jaunpuri: Local variety ready to harvest in 70-75days. It is suitable for plains areas of UP. Gives average yield of 8-10 qtl/acre.
 
Sartaj: Local variety ready to harvest in 100-110days. It is suitable for whole areas of UP. Gives average yield of 18-20 qtl/acre
 
Prakash: Local variety ready to harvest in 85-90days. It is suitable for whole areas of UP. Gives average yield of 18-20qtl/acre.

Deccan-107: Local variety ready to harvest in 85-90days. It is suitable for whole areas of UP. Gives average yield of 18-20qtl/acre.

Prabhat: Local variety ready to harvest in 100-110days. It is suitable for whole areas of UP. Gives average yield of 16-18qtl/acre.

Gaurav: Local variety ready to harvest in 80-85days. It is suitable for central areas of UP. Gives average yield of 16-18qtl/acre.

Other States varieties

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

P3522, P1864, KMH-25K45 (Bumper), CoH 8, Bio 9544, KMH 3712.

For cultivation selected land should be free from weeds and remains of previously grown crop. Plough the land at depth of 10-15cm. Plough land for 6 to 7 times and bring the soil to fine tilth. 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. 

Time of sowing
In irrigated areas, complete sowing 10 to 15days before onset of monsoon. This practice will help to increased yield by 10-15%. In rainfed areas complete sowing with onset of monsoon so that proper soil moisture will get developed in the soil. Soil moisture is necessary to ensure proper germination.
 
Spacing
Optimum plant spacing is the key factor for good growth and yield. For kharif crop, use row to row spacing of 70cm and plant to plant spacing of 22cm.

Sowing Depth
For easy germination, sow seeds at depth of 3-5cm on levelled soil.  
 
Method of sowing
sowing can be done manually by dibbling seeds or by mechanically with help of tractor drawn ridger seed drill.

Seed Rate
Purpose, seed size, season, plant type, sowing method these factor affect seed rate. For kharif maize, use seed rate of 7-8kg/acre.

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

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

For optimum yield apply Nitrogen@24-50kg in form of Urea@52-110kg/acre, Phosphorus@16-25kg i.e 100-160kg of SSP and Potash@16kg/acre in form of MOP@27kg per acre.
 
Apply whole dose of P and K fertilizer and 1/4th of Nitrogen fertilizer at time of sowing. Place fertilizer at depth of 5-7cm. Apply rest of nitrogen in two splits first at time of knee height stage and apply half of nitrogen and second at time of flag leaf emergence i.e. remaining 1/4th of Nitrogen.
 
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 20-25 days after sowing and second when on 40-45 days after sowing. To keep check on weeds take spray of Atrazin @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 20 cm. 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.
 

Provide irrigation depending rainfall intensity, frequency and temperature conditions. Seedling, knee height stage, flowering and grain feeling are the most sensitive stage for irrigation. Water stress at this stage causes huge loss in yield. In case of water scarcity, irrigate alternate furrow. It will save water also.

• Pest and their control

Stalk borer or stem borer: It appears throughout the monsoon period. It is a serious bug all over the nation. Larva of stem borer gets into in the whorl and then triggers deterioration in the leaf and cause shot hole. Larva of stem borer are yellowish brown with a brown head.
 
Mix Phorate 10%CG@10kg/ha or Carbaryl 4%G@20kg/ha with sand to make up total quantity of 50kg and apply in the leaf whorls on the 20th day of sowing. Or Spray insecticide like Carbaryl 50WP@1kg/ha on the 20th day of sowing or Dimethoate 30% EC@660ml/ha. Spray of Cholopyriphos@1-1.5ml/Ltr of water at 10-12 days after germination provides good control.

Pink Borer (Sesamia inference): 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@2.5gm/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.

Corm 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@5/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@2gm/Ltr of water.
 

Shoot fly: It is a major pest of South India but sometime observed in 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@462ml/acre or Methyl demeton 25%EC@400ml/acre.

• Disease and their control

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@ 2-3 kg/acre as soil drench at pre-flowering stage.

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

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 appeared 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 @2-4g/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 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.

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 @10gm/kg of FYM at 10days prior to sowing provides good control.

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. Maintain optimum plant population in field. Do Soil drenching with Captan at basal internode (5-7week growth stage)@1gm/Ltr of water.
 

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.