Crop Production :: Millets (Maize (Zea mays l.)

Maize (Zea mays l.)

Directorate of Maize Research, New Delhi

I. SEASON AND VARIETIES

SEASON	STRAIN
Adipattam (July - August)	TNAU maize hybrid Co 6, Baby corn Co(Bc) 1
Purattasipattam (September - October)	TNAU maize hybrid Co 6, Baby corn Co(Bc) 1
Thaipattam (January - February)	TNAU maize hybrid Co 6, Baby corn Co(Bc) 1

MAIZE - MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION

PARTICULARS	CO 1	COH(M) 4
Parentage	Unit Selection from Indonesian popu­ lation Suwan 1	(UMI 90 x xUMI 285) x UMI 112
Duration (days)	105 - 110	94 (90 – 95 days)
Area of Adoption	Coimbatore, Erode, Tirunelveli, Tanjore and Pudukottai	Coimbatore, Dindugul, Erode, Salem, Virudhunagar, Perambalur, Tuticorin, Madurai and Theni districts
Rainfed/Irrigated	Both	Both
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Irrigated	5200	5694
Rainfed	3300	4521
Special features	Resistant to downy mildew Orange flint grains	Shorter duration,  suitable for rainfed areas Moderate resistance to downy mildew and stemborer
Sheath colour	Green	Green
Node colour	Green	Green
Mid rib	White	White
Cob size	Big	Big
Husk coverage	Full	Full
Grain colour	Deep orange	Yellow
Nature of kernels	Flint	Flint

PARTICULARS	TNAU maize hybrid Co 6	Baby corn Co(Bc) 1
Parentage	(UMI 1200 x UMI 1230)	Composite involving UMI 836 and UMI 836-1-2
Duration (days)	110 days	55 – 65 (fresh cobs harvest)
Area of Adoption	All maize growing areas	All maize growing areas
Rainfed/Irrigated	Both	Both
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Irrigated	7400	6.7 tonnes of tender cobs & 32.3 tonnes of green fodder / ha
Rainfed	5000	3 tonnes of tender cobs per ha.
Special features	High starch (76.30 %), high protein (11.25%) and high beta- carotein (0.48 mg/100g) with moderate level of fat (4.65 %) and crude fibre (1.25%). High shelling (81%) with high test weight (400 g /1000 seeds). Multiple disease resistance to Sorghum downy mildew, Maydisleaf blight, Turcicum leaf blight, Post flowering stock rot and Banded leaf and sheath blight. Moderately resistant to stem borer. Hybrid seed production is much easier since male and female parents can be sown simultaneously for flowering synchronization.	2 to 3 cobs / plant, possessing delightful sweet taste and flavour Suitable for inland and export market Green fodder has good forage value.
Stem colour	Green	Greenish pink
Leaf: Anthocyanin colouration of sheath	Present	Nil
Ear: Anthocyanin colouration of silk	Present	Present
Cob size	Big	Small
Ear: Husk coverage	Full	Full
Colour of top of Grains	Orange Yellow	Yellow
Type of kernels	Semi dent	Dent

Maize - HYBRID COH (M)

Source: www.resimao.org

CROP MANAGEMENT

I.  IRRIGATED MAIZE

1. APPLICATION OF FYM OR COMPOST

Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith evenly on the unploughed field along with 10 packets of Azospirillum (2000 g/ha) and incorporate in the soil.

2. FIELD PREPARATION

Plough the field with disc plough once followed by cultivator ploughing twice, after spreading FYM or compost till a fine tilth is obtained.

3. FORMING RIDGES AND FURROWS OR BEDS

• Form ridges and furrows providing sufficient irrigation channels. The ridges should be 6 m long and 60 cm apart.
• If ridges and furrows are not made, form beds of size 10 m2 or 20 m2 depending on the availability of water.
• Use a bund former or ridge plough to economise cost of production.

4. APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS

i.      Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation as far as possible. If soil test recommendation is not available adopt a blanket recommendation of 135:62.5:50 NPK kg/ha.
ii.     Apply quarter of the dose of N; full dose of P2O and K2O basally before sowing.
iii.    In the case of ridge planted crop, open a furrow 6 cm deep on the side of the ridge, at two thirds the distance from the top of the ridge.
iv.    Apply the fertilizer mixture along the furrows evenly and cover to a depth of 4 cm with soil.
v.     If bed system of planting is followed, open furrows 6 cm deep at a distance of 60 cm apart.
vi.    Place the fertilizer mixture along the furrows evenly and cover to a depth of 4 cm with soil.

1. When Azospirillum is used as seed and soil application, apply 100 kg of N/ha (25% reduction on the total N recommended by soil test).

Deficiency symptoms

Nitrogen deficiency	:	Leaves become yellow, older leaves show drying at the tips which progress along mid veins, stalks become slender.
Phosphorus deficiency	:	Leaves are purplish green during early growth. Growth spindly, slow maturity, irregular ear formation.
Potassium deficiency	:	Leaves show yellow or yellowish green streaks, become corrugated. Tips and marginal scorch.  Tips end in ears are poorly filled. Stalks have short internode. Plants become weak and may fall down.
Magnesium deficiency	:	Older leaves are the first to become chlorotic at margins and between veins. Streaked appearance of leaves. Necrotic or chlorotic spots seen in leaves.
Zinc deficiency	:	Older leaves have yellow streaks or chlorotic striping between veins. In several cases, unfolding of young leaves, which may be white or yellow.
Iron deficiency	:	Interveinal chlorosis. The entire crop may exhibit bleached appearance.

5. APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENT

• 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu, mixed with sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg/ha is to be applied.
• Apply TNAU MN mixture @ 30 kg /ha as Enriched FYM (Prepare enriched FYM at 1:10 ratio of MN mixture & FYM ; mix at friable moisture &incubate for one month in shade).
• (or) 5 kg Zn + 40 kg S + 1.5 kg B in deficient soils.
• Zinc sulphate @ 37.5 kg/ha is recommended for hybrid maize in Zn deficient soils
• Apply the mixture over the furrows and two thirds in the top of ridges, if ridge planting is followed.
• If bed system of sowing is followed, apply the micronutrient mixture over the furrows.
• Do not incorporate the micronutrient mixture in the soil.

6. SEED RATE

Select good quality seeds and adopt the seed rate of 20 kg/ha for CO 1 and TNAU Maize Hybrid CO 6 and 25 kg /ha for COBC 1.

7. SPACING

Adopt a spacing of 25 cm between plants in the rows which are 60 cm apart.
Population :  For varieties and hybrids 6 – 7 plants / sq. m. and
        For baby corn, 8 – 9 plants / sq. m.

8. SEED TREATMENT

Step 1: Use pelleted seeds with insecticides (treat one kg of seeds with Chlorpyriphos 20EC or Monocrotophos 36 WSC or Phosalone 35 EC @ 4 ml + 0.5 gram gum in 20 ml of water) for the control of stem borer or seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WS 10 g/kg of seeds.
Step 2: Seed treatment with Metalaxyl or Thiram @ 2 g/kg of seed for the control of downy mildew and crazy top 
Step 3: Seeds treated with fungicides may be treated with three packets (600 g/ha) of Azospirillum before sowing.

9. SOWING

i.      Dibble the seeds at a depth of 4 cm along the furrow in which fertilizers are placed and cover with soil.
ii.     Put one seed per hole if the germination is assured otherwise put two seeds per hole   

Seed sowing operation
(25 cm between plants X rows with 60 cm apart) 

10. WEED MANAGEMENT

• Apply Atrazine @ 0.25 kg/ha as pre-emergence on 3-5 DAS using Backpack/ Knapsack/ Rocker sprayer fitted with a flat fan nozzle using 500 litres of water/ha followed by one hand weeding on 30-35 DAS. (or)
• Apply Atrazine @ 0.25 kg/ha as pre-emergence on 3-5 DAS followed by 2,4-D @ 1 kg/ha on 20-25 DAS, using Backpack/Knapsack/Rocker sprayer fitted with a flat fan nozzle using 500 litres of water/ha.
• In line sown crop, apply PE Atrazine @ 0.25 kg/ha on 3-5 DAS followed by Twin Wheel hoe weeder weeding on 30-35 DAS.
• Apply herbicide when there is sufficient moisture in the soil.
• Do not disturb the soil after herbicide application.
• If pulse crop is to be raised as intercrop, do not use Atrazine. Spray Pendimethalin @0.75 kg/ha as pre emergence on 3-5 DAS.

Unweeded Maize field

 
Hoeing and hand weeding on the 17th or 18th day of sowing

Weedfree maize field

 11. THINNING AND GAP FILLING

i.      If two seeds were sown, leave only one healthy and vigorous seedling per hole and remove the other on the 12-15 days after sowing.
ii.     Where seedlings have not germinated, dibble presoaked seeds at the rate of 2 seeds per hole and immediately irrigate.

12. HOEING, HAND-WEEDING AND EARTHING UP

i.        Hoe and hand-weed on the 30th day of sowing.
ii.       Earth up and form new ridges so that the plants come directly on the top of the ridges. This will provide additional anchorage to the plants.

13. TOP DRESSING WITH N

i.      Place half of the dose of N on the 25th day of sowing along the furrows evenly
       and cover it with soil.
        ii.     Place the remaining quarter of N on the 45th day of sowing

14.  WATER MANAGEMENT

Maize crop is sensitive to both moisture stress and excessive moisture, hence regulate irrigation according to the requirement. Ensure optimum moisture availability during the most critical phase (45 to 65 days after sowing); otherwise yield will be reduced by a considerable extent.

Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phase of the crop.
Germination & establishment phase                     1 to   14 days
Vegetative phase                                                 15 to 39 days
Flowering phase                                                   40 to 65 days
Maturity phase                                                     66 to 95 days

Heavy soils
Stage	No. of irrigation	Days after sowing
Germination & establishment	3	After sowing, Life irrigation -4th,12th day
Vegetative	2	25th, 36th day
Flowering (Irrigate copiously)	2	48th,  60th day
Maturity phase (Control irrigation)	2	72nd, 85th day
Light soils
Germination & establishment	3	After sowing, Life irrigation -4th ,12thday
Vegetative Phase	3	22nd ,32nd & 40th day
Flowering phase (Irrigate copiously)	3	50th ,60th & 72nd day
Maturity phase (Controlled irrigation)	2	85th , 95th day

DRIP IRRIGATION TO MAIZE

• Irrigation once in 2 days

• Irrigation based on climatological approach

Irrigation volume = Pe x Kp x Kc x A x Wp – Re

• Pe – Pan evaporation rate (mm/day)
• Kp – Pan co-efficient (0.75 to 0.80)
• Kc – Crop co-efficient (0.4 – Vegetative stage; 0.75 – Flowering stage; 1.05 – Grain formation stage)
• A – Area (75 x 30 cm)
• Wp – Wetted percentage (80% for maize)
• Re – Effective rainfall (mm)

Irrigation duration =	Water requirement per plant once in 2 days
	No. of dripper / plant x Discharge rate (lph)

DRIP FERTIGATION TECHNOLOGY

• Method of planting : paired row planting (60/90 × 30 cm)
• Fertilizer dose =150:75:75 kg NPK per ha
• Drip fertigation with Water soluble fertilizer (WSF)

N	Polyfeed	19-19-19
P	MAP	12-61-00
K	KNO3	13-00-45

• Fertigation Device: Ventury assembly (3/4”) with injector pump (0.5 HP)

Fertigation schedule for Hybrid maize with Water Soluble Fertilizers at (75 % RDF)
Stage (days)	Duration(days)	Fertilizerform	Fertilizer grade			Dose/ha/day	TotalQty(Kg/ha)	Nutrients kg/ha
			N	P	K			N	P	K
6 to 25	20	MAP	12	61	0	2.813	56.25	6.75	34.31	0.00
	20	Urea	46	0	0	0.938	18.75	8.63	0.00	0.00
26-60	35	PolyFeed	19	19	19	2.143	75.00	14.25	14.25	14.25
	35	Multi- K	13	0	45	1.500	52.50	6.83	0.00	23.63
	35	Urea	46	0	0	2.143	75.00	34.50	0.00	0.00
61-75	15	PolyFeed	19	19	19	2.750	41.25	7.84	7.84	7.84
	15	Multi- K	13	0	45	1.600	24.00	3.12	0.00	10.80
	15	Urea	46	0	0	4.500	67.50	31.05	0.00	0.00
								112.96	56.40	56.51
Fertigation schedule for Hybrid maize with Normal Fertilizers (100% RDF)
Stage (days)	Duration(days)	Fertilizerform	Fertilizer grade			Dose/ ha/day	Total Qty(Kg/ha)	Nutrients kg/ha
			N	P	K			N	P	K
6 to 25	20	DAP	18	46	0	5.00	100	18.0	46.0	0.0
	20	Urea	46	0	0	2.50	50	23.0	0.0	0.0
26-60	35	DAP	18	46	0	1.86	65	11.7	29.9	0.0
	35	Urea	46	0	0	4.29	150	69.0	0.0	0.0
	35	MOP	0	0	60	2.14	75	0.0	0.0	45.0
61-75	15	Urea	46	0	0	4.13	62	28.5	0.0	0.0
	15	MOP	0	0	60	3.33	50	0.0	0.0	30.0
								150.2	75.9	75.0

 

Drip irrigation in Maize field

15. HARVESTING

STAGE OF HARVEST

Observe the following symptoms, taking into consideration the average duration of the crop.
i.   The sheath covering the cob will turn yellow and dry at maturity.
ii. The seeds become fairly hard and dry.  At this stage the crop is ready for harvest.

HARVESTING THE CROP

i.      Tear off the cob sheath by using the gunny needle and remove the cobs from the plant.
ii.   Carry out harvest operations at a single stage for easy transportation.

THRESHING THE COBS

i.      Dry the cobs under the sun till the grains are dry.
ii.     Use mechanical threshers or by running the tractor over dried cobs to separate the grains from the shank.
iii.    Clean the seeds by winnowing
iv.    Collect and store the dry grains in gunnies.

Use mechanical threshers to separate the grains from the shank

STACKING THE STRAW FOR FEEDING CATTLE
 

1. Maize straw can also be used as a good cattle feed when it is green. 
2. Harvest the crop and cut the green straw into bits with a chaff cutter or chopping knife and feed the cattle.

Dry the cobs under the sun till the grains are dry

RAINFED MAIZE

1. FIELD PREPARATION

Chisel the soil having hard pan formation at shallow depths with chisel plough at 0.5 M interval first in one direction and then in the direction perpendicular to the previous one once in three years. Apply 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith besides chiselling, to get an additional yield of about 30% over control.
 
2. APPLICATION OF FYM OR COMPOST

Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith evenly on the unploughed field along with 10 packets of Azospirillum (2000 g/ha) and incorporate in the soil.

3. APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER

• Apply NPK as per soil test recommendation as far as possible. If soil test recommendation is not available, adopt a blanket recommendation of 60 : 30 : 30 NPK kg/ha for Alfisols and 40 : 20 : 0 NPK kg/ha for Vertisols.
• Apply half of N and full dose of P2O and K2O with enriched FYM as basal along with Azospirillum (10 packets/ha).
• Top dress remaining half of N at tasseling.
• Apply TNAU MN mixture @ 7.5 kg /ha as Enriched FYM (Prepare enriched FYM at 1:10 ratio of MN mixture & FYM ; mix at friable moisture &incubate for one month in shade).

4. SEED RATE

Select good quality seeds. Adopt the seed rate @ 20 kg/ha for hybrids and 25 kg/ha. for varieties

5. SPACING

Adopt a spacing of 45 cm between rows and 20 cm between plants in the row.
Population   : 10 - 11plants/m­­2

6. PRE-TREATMENT OF SEEDS WITH BIOFERTILIZER

Seeds treated with fungicides may be treated with three packets (600 g/ha) of Azospirillum

7. SOWING

Dibble or drill the seeds at a depth of 4 cm.

8. CROPPING SYSTEMS

• Intercropping system of maize + cowpea or maize + blackgram is recommended for higher net returns in the red lateritic soils of Southern districts.
• For Vertisols of Southern district, maize + redgram intercropping systems is ideal.

9. CROP PHYSIOLOGY

• Foliar spray of TNAU Maize Maxim @ 3 kg/acre in 200 litres of water at tassel initiation and at grain filling stages improves grain filling, grain yield and drought tolerance.