maize agronomy for increasing productivity

A member of CGIAR consortium www.iita.org

S. MesekaMaize Breeder

Maize improvement program

Iita-ibadan, Nigeria

Maize agronomy for increasing productivity

Implementer Induction training 16 – 18/3/2016


Outline of presentation

• Importance of maize

• Constraints to maize production

• Basic requirements for maize production

• Agronomic management practices

• Harvest and post-harvest management



The most important cereal crop in sub-Saharan Africa including

Nigeria & staple food for >1.5 billion people (SSA, LAmer & Asia)

Fresh maize serves as good source of cash, with Nigeria as leading

country in Africa

Food industry – Nestle, and others

Feed industry in West Africa including Nigeria

Importance of maize


http://www.google.com.ng/url?url=http://southpawgroup.com/iqfoodplatter/native-pear-and-corn/&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=j5ygU_zFFbGS0QXo-oDwCg&ved=0CBcQ9QEwAA&usg=AFQjCNFtPj-dX90uHO9oQholwhsv7tEDRQ

http://www.google.com.ng/url?url=http://southpawgroup.com/iqfoodplatter/native-pear-and-corn/&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=j5ygU_zFFbGS0QXo-oDwCg&ved=0CBcQ9QEwAA&usg=AFQjCNFtPj-dX90uHO9oQholwhsv7tEDRQ

http://www.southpawgroup.com/iqfoodplatter/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/1q-Food-platter-095.jpg

http://www.southpawgroup.com/iqfoodplatter/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/1q-Food-platter-095.jpg


Maize production is faced with several challenges:

The lack of good seed (quality seed vs grain)

Pests and diseases (Stemborers, Streak, Blights, Rust)

Weeds including Striga

Soil degradation and low fertility (Low N, Acid soils, etc)

The lack of fertilizers & other agro-chemicals

Lack of funding/ source of loan

Constraints to maize production

Stemborer

Streak

Low Nitrogen

Striga


http://www.google.com.ng/url?url=http://www.agbioforum.org/v7n12/v7n12a02-thomson.htm&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=luIGVfqPO_LW7Aa_i4HQDA&ved=0CCUQ9QEwCA&sig2=gThVTPqT_k7agE07ODSxow&usg=AFQjCNFm-EUiaf4jeKhLd0c0QCnWbBUl2A

http://www.google.com.ng/url?url=http://www.agbioforum.org/v7n12/v7n12a02-thomson.htm&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=luIGVfqPO_LW7Aa_i4HQDA&ved=0CCUQ9QEwCA&sig2=gThVTPqT_k7agE07ODSxow&usg=AFQjCNFm-EUiaf4jeKhLd0c0QCnWbBUl2A



Climatic fluctuations (Drought, Heat, Flood)

The lack of implements


https://www.google.com.ng/url?url=https://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/105501706-farmall-cub-parts-farm-implement-catalog-manual&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=v7wFVeLhMIHW7gakw4CACw&ved=0CDMQ9QEwDw&sig2=UIN3a_shMg_z49APYwPeog&usg=AFQjCNEneZBc7KUPmvtcj_wTkfn3p_PBJA

https://www.google.com.ng/url?url=https://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/105501706-farmall-cub-parts-farm-implement-catalog-manual&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=v7wFVeLhMIHW7gakw4CACw&ved=0CDMQ9QEwDw&sig2=UIN3a_shMg_z49APYwPeog&usg=AFQjCNEneZBc7KUPmvtcj_wTkfn3p_PBJA

http://www.google.com.ng/url?url=http://www.dumontimplement.com/FarmProducts.htm&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=v7wFVeLhMIHW7gakw4CACw&ved=0CCUQ9QEwCA&sig2=LVb0LZHs9TXKh6m7FjZzMw&usg=AFQjCNFxxss1LgE0BcCSYbyXeeWjK7zkXA

http://www.google.com.ng/url?url=http://www.dumontimplement.com/FarmProducts.htm&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=v7wFVeLhMIHW7gakw4CACw&ved=0CCUQ9QEwCA&sig2=LVb0LZHs9TXKh6m7FjZzMw&usg=AFQjCNFxxss1LgE0BcCSYbyXeeWjK7zkXA



Other constraints

the lack of labour force

the lack of good market

low market value



Basic requirements for production

Know your production environment(s) – rainy forestry,

savannas (northern/southern guinea/Sud. savanna)

Type of maize seed – OPV/ Hybrid & source

Optimum time of planting & management practices

Other inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides) & source

The use (home consumption) and market (local/ regional)

Storage facility



Basic requirements for production

Rainfall - quantity, distribution and duration

enough total annual rainfall to support crop: planting – harvest

Relative humidity – low RH at harvest time for good quality grains

Soils – fertile and well drained soils give good yields

Site selection - crucial for the success of maize production

accessibility into the farm/ field – input & product transportation

avoid sandy areas, steep slopes, fields planted to maize previously



Agronomic management practices

Land preparations Important determinant of yield

good land preparations ensures soil aeration, moisture holding capacity

poor land preparation can lead to soil erosion, high weed population



Germination test using plastic bowls

Seed Germination Tests





Planting time/ sowing date – essential management tool

decline in yield can be attributed to very early / late planting

plant at optimum time when rains are stable

Method of planting - row planting

hand hoe

bamboo peg

Jack planter

Plant populations

spacing between rows (75 – 80 cm)

spacing between hills (25 – 50 cm)



Maize Morphology





Weeds control – good weed is essential for high grain yield

Weeds compete with maize crop for sunlight, nutrients, water, space

Hand weeding is expensive; – pre- & post-emergency herbicides

Timely weeding

Weeds & droughtTime to weed

No weeding & Fertilizer

Late weeding


http://www.google.com.ng/url?url=http://modernfarmer.com/2013/06/macho-herbicides/&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=M78FVajhEvKy7QbSwIHABg&ved=0CDkQ9QEwEg&sig2=E5n53ZwjgZ-0vLmYwwkdqw&usg=AFQjCNHYV2HFetA-iIBz0VHJljWoEjhh4Q

http://www.google.com.ng/url?url=http://modernfarmer.com/2013/06/macho-herbicides/&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=M78FVajhEvKy7QbSwIHABg&ved=0CDkQ9QEwEg&sig2=E5n53ZwjgZ-0vLmYwwkdqw&usg=AFQjCNHYV2HFetA-iIBz0VHJljWoEjhh4Q



Fertilizer application

maize plant must be supplied with adequate nutrients (NPK)

5 bags of compound fertilizer (NPK 15:15:15) at planting/ 2 WAP

3 bags of urea (N) 5-6 WAP as top-dressing

UREA


http://www.123rf.com/photo_10253847_urea-fertilizer-or-46-0-0-formula.html

http://www.123rf.com/photo_10253847_urea-fertilizer-or-46-0-0-formula.html

http://shandonglvfeng.en.made-in-china.com/product/XemJNsMxZOVQ/China-NPK-15-15-15-Complex-Granules-Fertilizer.html

http://shandonglvfeng.en.made-in-china.com/product/XemJNsMxZOVQ/China-NPK-15-15-15-Complex-Granules-Fertilizer.html

http://www.google.com.ng/url?url=http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/npk-and-urea-fertilizer_575364803.html&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=Mb4FVYSsPNKR7Abjx4CIAg&ved=0CB0Q9QEwBA&sig2=qj3zaH8izrqyIq0F1jmXtg&usg=AFQjCNGq-uephpx0bJOHIZaS9mU6qX3Bag

http://www.google.com.ng/url?url=http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/npk-and-urea-fertilizer_575364803.html&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=Mb4FVYSsPNKR7Abjx4CIAg&ved=0CB0Q9QEwBA&sig2=qj3zaH8izrqyIq0F1jmXtg&usg=AFQjCNGq-uephpx0bJOHIZaS9mU6qX3Bag



Pest & Disease control

Maize steak virus (MSV)

Leaf blight

Rust

Downy mildew

Stemborer (Best, phrynx, etc)

Use of resistant varieties/ hybrids



Harvest and post-harvest management

Harvest - optimum time when stem have dried and grain moisture 20%

Also determined by black sport at the base of kernel

Threshing - important for cleaning, sorting and grading

Storage – transitional period - market


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OMXecO_BNMA/ThDEP-J_IkI/AAAAAAAADD8/FENwhIHn6OQ/s1600/corn-ear-husked-web.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OMXecO_BNMA/ThDEP-J_IkI/AAAAAAAADD8/FENwhIHn6OQ/s1600/corn-ear-husked-web.jpg

http://www.google.com.ng/url?url=http://www.21food.com/products/corn-threshing-and-separating-machine-5xyt-10-150608.html&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=_ZigU-TcOvLP0AWN0oDwCQ&ved=0CCEQ9QEwBg&usg=AFQjCNHLud53QdL7pCn2oDU0Ueb5sgSEsg

http://www.google.com.ng/url?url=http://www.21food.com/products/corn-threshing-and-separating-machine-5xyt-10-150608.html&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=_ZigU-TcOvLP0AWN0oDwCQ&ved=0CCEQ9QEwBg&usg=AFQjCNHLud53QdL7pCn2oDU0Ueb5sgSEsg

A member of CGIAR consortium www.iita.orgImplementer Induction training 16 – 18/3/2016

maize agronomy for increasing productivity

Government & Nonprofit