About Maize: Maize is recognized as the “Queen of Cereals” around the world because it has the highest genetic production potential of all cereals. Grains give food in the form of starch, corn flakes, and glucose, among other things. It’s also used in poultry as a feed. Maize may be grown in every soil since it requires less fertile soil and different chemicals. Furthermore, it has a shorter ripening period, 3 months, than paddy, which takes 145 days.
Thousands of industrial products, such as oil, starch, and alcoholic beverages, rely on it as a primary raw element. Major maize-growing states include Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, and Punjab. In the south, AP and Karnataka are the leading maize producers.
Growing Season and varieties: From mid-October to mid-November, sow maize in rows at a spacing of 60-20 cm using a seed drill, maintaining an ideal depth of 5-7 cm. Cultivate improved hybrid variety like Ganga 11, DHM 103, DHM 105, Rajendra hybrid makka-1, ICI 705, Dhawal, Laxmi, Devaki, Saktiman 1, Saktiman 2, Saktiman 3, Saktiman 4. With a zero till drill, it is possible to sow maize on time.
Procedure and chemicals required: For weed management, apply Gramoxone 24 SL (paraquat) @1.25 L per hectare in 500 litres of water before sowing. Apply the necessary amount of manure and fertilisers for a higher corn yield. Apply the full phosphorus and potassium doses, as well as 1/3 N, at the time of sowing, 1/3 N at the knee-high stage, and the remaining 1/3 at the pre-tasselling stage.
Apply 25 kg of zinc sulphate heptahydrate (21%) or 16.25 kg of zinc sulphate monohydrate (33%) per ha in zinc-deficient areas at the time of sowing. The most crucial stages for irrigation in maize are seedling, knee height stage, blooming, and grain filling. At least one or two manual weedings are required for weed control, the first 20-25 days after sowing and the second 40-45 days after sowing, as well as intercultural operations and earthing up.
Pest control: If the field is plagued with motha, apply 2,4-D amine salt 58 [email protected]/ha 20-25 days after sowing, dissolved in 375 litres of water. Monitor the area on a regular basis to collect and eliminate autumn armyworm egg masses in the leaves. Hairs cover the egg masses, making them plainly visible. Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 0.4ml/litre of water or emamectin benzoate 5SG @0.4 g/litre should be sprayed on the crop.