maize 11

prepared by : Bishwas Kafle

Prepared by : Bishwas kafle

Scientific name: Zea mays L. Maize protein : zeatin Family: Gramineae monocious plant C4 plant Maize is the most important cereal crop of Nepal ranked

second position after rice in terms of area (849635 ha) and production (1999010 tons) with a productivity of 2.4 tons/ha (CBS, 2013).

It is a staple crop of the hilly region, which occupies about 80% of the total maize area and contributes more than 75% to the total production in the country.

The 20% area of land and about 25% production of maize in the country are under terai and inner terai region

The production of maize is highest in western region followed by central, eastern, mid western and far western. prepared by : Bishwas Kafle

Temperature: mean daily temperature is 19 ºC. Maize can be grown in three seasons i.e. spring, summer and winter in Nepal. suitable temperature for germination is 210C and for growth 320C.

Light: Maize is C4 plant therefore it is photosynthetically more efficient, which needs bright sunny days.

RH: The average RH should be around 80-90%Rainfall :Maize can be grown successfully in areas

having average of 600mm well distributed rainfall throughout its growth period

Soil: The ideal soil for maize cultivation is well-drained sandy loam to silty loam soil. The best pH range is 6.5-7.5.


Field preparation: seedbed should be friable, well aerated, and moist and weed free to provide better contact between the seed and soil. 1 deep plough followed by 2-3 harrowing then planking is sufficient.

Seed sowingSeed rate and spacing :seed rate of 20-25 kg/ha and

spacing of 60-75 cm RR and 20-25 cm PP and depth 5-7 cm.

Method of sowing: Broadcasting Sowing behind local plough (kera and pora mehod) Drilling DibblingTime of sowing: winter maize :oct-nov spring maize :jan-feb summer maize: march-may


Manure and fertilizer management: FYM or compost 15-20 tons/ha, and120:60:40 kg NPK/ha has been recommended. All the P, K and 1/3rd of N should be applied as basal dose and the rest two third (2/3rd) N in two equal splits at knee high and tasseling stages.

Water management: No. of irrigation Growth stages

3 irrigation Early knee high stage, tasseling and 50% silking stage

4 irrigation Six leaf stage, late knee-high stage, 50% silking anddough stage.

5 irrigation Six leaf stage, late knee-high stage, tasseling, 50% silkingand dough stage.


Seed dibbler Pora method

Seed driller Cob sheller

Pora method


Weed management: important weeds of maize are Amaranthus spp (latte jhar) Cynodon dactylon (dubo) Cyperus rotundus (mothe) Solanum nigrum (aalu jhar) Eleusine indica (kode)Control method : same as wheat, in chemical method

Simazine or Atrazine 50 WP @ 3-4 kg/ha in 400 lits of water within 4 days of sowing

Harvesting & threshing: The maize ears are harvested manually, when they are still green, The maturity indices are: the cob sheath turns brownish; grains become hard and containing 20-24% moisture grains are separated by beating with bamboo stick or by cob Sheller.



Rajkumar

Rampur yellow

Rampur composite

Hetauda composite

1.Army worm2. Stem borer3.Painted bug4.Cob worm(helicoverpa armigera)


Control : Application of nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV), application of Endosulfan

5.Maize shoot fly


Control: apply 2 ml Endosulphan @ 1 litOf water

Name of disease symptoms control

Downy mildew(perenosclerospora philippinesis )

White powdery mass beneath the leaf surface, yellow streaks on leaves

Disease resistant variety (rampur composite), seed treatment with bevistin

Bacterial stalk rot(Erwina carotovora)

Blackening of stem near soil surface, water soaked spot and later lodging ,offensive smell

Drainage, proper density of plant (53000 plant/ha), avoid excess use of nitrogen, seed tratment with fungicide (bevistin) and bactricide (streptomycin)

Fungal stalk rot (pythium cephalosporium)

Yellowing and wilting of plant, no offensive smell as in bacterial leaf spot

Cercospora leaf spot (cercospora zea maydis)

yellow spot on leaves later enlarge into oval, long extending lesion

Disease resistant variety (manakamana-3), crop rotation, DM-45



Downy mildew Stalk rot

maize 11

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