Maize production technology

By Umair Rasool Azmi. MNS University of Agriculture, Multan.

1. Maize Production Technology By Umair Rasool Azmi

2. Nomenclature

3. Origin & History Corn plant is indigenous to America and principle food grain of native Americans It was domesticated 8000 years ago For western civilization, the story of corn began in 1492 when Columbus's men discovered this new grain in Cuba. Archeological evidence of corn's early presence in the western hemisphere was identified from corn pollen grain considered to be 80,000 years old obtained from drill cores 200 feet below Mexico City

4. Introduction Highest yielding cereal crop in the world 3rd most grown crop in world 3rd largest grown cereal crop in Pakistan 4th largest crop grown crop in Pakistan Rich source of starch, vitamins, proteins and minerals

5. Introduction Continue…………… World production-----------------600 million metric tons World area--------------------------118 million hectare Total Pakistan area---------------1 million hectare Total production-------------------3.5 million metric tons Contribution of different provinces to total area Punjab---------------------------------------------39 % KPK -------------------------------------------------56 % Sindh ------------------------------------------------ 5 % Baluchistan----------------------------------------3 %

6. Introduction Continue…………… Types Flour corn Popcorn Dent corn Flint corn Sweet corn Waxy corn Amylomaize Pod corn Striped maize

7. Uses Worldwide consumption of maize is more than 116 million tons Its flour is used For Noodles Corn flour as thickening agent in Soups, Custards etc. An unleavened bread called makki di roti is a popular bread eaten in Punjab region of India and Pak istan.

8. Uses Continue…….. Edible oil Levulinic acid (used as ingredient in anti freeze) Plastic and fabrics are made from corn stocks Ethanol used as biomass fuel Corn silk used as herbal supplements

9. Production Technology

10. Soil and climate Maize is adapted to wild variety of soil and climate Well drain heavy soils with high organic matter content and good water holding capacity. Soil pH 6.5—7.5 & Temp. should be 12⁰C. The optimum temperature for maize growth and development is 18 to 32 ° C.

11. Seed bed preparation Fine and compact bed needed Land is loosened 20 to 25 cm deep through ploughing or disking 2–3 times Planker is used after soil is loosened

12. Sowing time Autumn Maize First weak of February up to first week of March Spring Maize Last week of July to mid of august

13. Seed rate 12—15 kg per acre (for drill sowing) 8—10 kg per acre (for bed sowing)

14. Hybrid Varieties

15. Sowing methods R idge sowing 75 cm apart ridges are made with ridger Choka method or manual sowing is practiced Flat sowing Automatic tractor drawn drill or hand drill with 75 cm distance between rows is used. Plant to plant distance 20—25 cm Thinning is done after 10—15 days of emergence Plant population should be 70,000—75,000 per hectare

16. Fertilizer Application NPK @ 150—100—100 kg per hectare respectively DAP as side dressing should be applied at or before sowing @ 100 kg/ha. Nitrogen is added in two splits first at knee height second at tasseling . Methods of Application Broadcasting Fertigation Top and Side dressing

17. Irrigation Requires frequent irrigation (6-9) Irrigation 10—15 days intervals No Drought Tolerance. Drought will reduce yield Moisture stress at critical stages can reduce yield up to 40%

18. Plant protection measures Insect Pests Diseases Weeds

19. Plant Protection Measures Insect Pests Maize crop faces serious threat after emergence Shoot fly Maize stem borer Solution Furadon powder should be dropped into shoots @ 20 kg/hectare

20. Plant Protection Measures Diseases Maize dwarf mosaic virus Stalk rot/ Ear rot Corn rust Cultivate Resistant Varieties

21. Plant protection measures Weeds Weeds Reduce yield 29—43 % Common weeds are Deela Itsit Jangli chulai Tandla Jangli swank Jangli haloon

22. Weeds Continue…… Weeding at interval of 2 months until the harvesting time is due. Timely weeding + Removal of Dead Leaves Grazing or burning

23. Harvesting & Storage Traditionally , when red maize cobs have dried down and it is time for harvest, the cobs are handpicked, hand shelled and dried in the sun. This is very labor intensive, which has a significant impact on the gross margin for maize. Combined Harvester is used when moisture levels drop below 18% to 24% and then dried to below 14% for delivery or storage .

24. H&S Continue……. Store at moisture content 15% Temperature for storage 20—25 c° Humidity 30—50 %

25. Yield Hybrid Varieties has potential 125—130 m unds/Acre