Maize can be grown throughout the year at altitude ranging from sea level to about 300m. it grows best in areas with rainfall of 600-900mm. it requires fertile, well-drained soil with a pH ranging from 5.5-8.0, but pH 6.0-7.0 is optimum.

Season

As a rainfed crop, maize is grown in June-July or Aug-Sept. The irrigated crop is raised in Jan-Feb.

Varieties

Hybrids: Ganga Hybrid-1, Ganga Hybrid-101, Deccan hybrid, Renjit, Hi-starch

Composite varieties: Kissan Composite, Amber, Vijay, Vikram, Sona, Jawahar

Seed rate: 20kg/ha

Preparation of land and sowing

Plough the land 3 times and prepare ridges and furrows. Dibble one seed per hole at a spacing of 60cm x 23cm for the rainy season crop. For irrigated crop, beds are prepared. Here, seeds are sown in lines and earthed up later into small ridges to form furrows when the crop reaches knee height.

Manuring

Apply FYM/ compost @ 25t/ha at the time of preparation of the land. The recommended fertilizer dose is 135kg N, 65 kg P₂O₅ and 15 kg K₂O per ha. Apply full dose of P₂O₅ and K₂O and 1/3^rd dose of N as basal. Apply 1/3^rd N, 30-40 days and the rest 60-70 days after sowing.

After cultivation

Hand hoeing and weeding on the 21^st and 45^th DAS.

Irrigation

Irrigate the crop on the day of sowing and on the 3^rd day. Subsequent irrigations may be given at 10-15 days interval.

Plant protection

Need based application of carbaryl is recommended for control of pests.

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