cultivation of maize

1. prepared by : Bishwas Kafle

2. Prepared by : Bishwas kafle

3.  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

4. prepared by : Bishwas Kafle

5. 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 210
C and for
growth 320
C.
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.
prepared by : Bishwas Kafle

6. 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 sowing
Seed 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
 Dibbling
Time of sowing: winter maize :oct-nov
spring maize :jan-feb
summer maize: march-may
prepared by : Bishwas Kafle

7. 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 and
dough stage.
5 irrigation Six leaf stage, late knee-high stage, tasseling, 50% silking
and dough stage.
prepared by : Bishwas Kafle

8. Seed dibbler Pora method
Seed driller Cob sheller
Pora method
prepared by : Bishwas Kafle

9. 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.
prepared by : Bishwas Kafle

10. prepared by : Bishwas Kafle
Rajkumar
Rampur yellow
Rampur composite
Hetauda composite

11. 1.Army worm
2. Stem borer
3.Painted bug
4.Cob worm(helicoverpa armigera)
prepared by : Bishwas Kafle

12.  Control : Application of nuclear polyhedrosis virus
(NPV), application of Endosulfan
5.Maize shoot fly
prepared by : Bishwas Kafle
Control: apply 2 ml
Endosulphan @ 1 lit
Of water

13. 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
prepared by : Bishwas Kafle

14. prepared by : Bishwas Kafle
Downy mildew
Stalk rot

15. prepared by : Bishwas Kafle