Time of sowing:
Maize can be grown in all seasons viz; Kharif (monsoon),
post monsoon, Rabi (winter) and
spring. During Rabi and spring seasons
to achieve higher yield at farmers field assured irrigation facilities are required.
During Kharif season it is desirable to complete the
sowing operation 12-15 days before the onset of monsoon. However, in rainfed areas, the sowing time should be coincided with
onset of monsoon. The optimum time of sowing in different seasons are given
below.
Optimum sowing time in different seasons
|
Season |
Optimum time of sowing |
|
Kharif |
Last week of June to first fortnight July |
|
Rabi |
Last week of October for inter cropping and up to 15th of November for sole crop |
|
Spring |
First week of February |
Seed rate and plant geometry:
To achieve higher productivity and resource-use efficiencies optimum plant stand is the key factor. The seed rate varies depending on purpose, seed size, plant type, season, sowing methods etc.The following crop geometry and seed rate should be adopted.
|
S. No. |
Purpose |
Seed rate (kg ha-1) |
Plant geometry (plant x row, cm) |
Plant population |
|
1 |
Grain (normal and QPM) |
20 |
60 x 20 75 x 20 |
83333 66666 |
|
2 |
Sweet corn |
8 |
75 x 25 75 x 30 |
53333 44444 |
|
3 |
Baby corn |
25 |
60 x 20 60 x 15 |
83333 111111 |
|
4 |
Pop corn |
12 |
60 x 20 |
83333 |
|
5 |
Green cob (normal maize) |
20 |
75 x 20 60 x 20 |
66666 83333 |
|
6 |
Fodder |
50 |
30 x 10 |
333333 |
Seed treatment:
To protect the crop from seed and major soil borne diseases and insect-pests, seed treatment with fungicides and insecticides before sowing is advisable/ recommended as per the below given details.
Seed
treatment for major diseases and pests
|
Disease/insect-pest |
Fungicide/Pesticide |
Rate of application (g kg-1 seed) |
|
Turcicum Leaf Blight,, Banded Leaf and Sheath Blight, Maydis Leaf Blight |
Bavistin + Captan in 1:1 ratio |
2.0 |
|
BSMD |
Apran 35 SD |
4.0 |
|
Pythium Stalk Rot |
Captan |
2.5 |
|
Termite and shoot fly |
Imidachlorpit |
4.0 |