MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

I. IRRIGATED MAIZE

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 + Phosphobacteria 2 kg each/ha or Azophos at 4 kg/ha and incorporate in the soil.

APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS

• 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, ZnSO4 at 37.5 kg/ha.
• Apply quarter of the dose of N; full dose of P2O and K2O basally before sowing.
• 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.
• Apply the fertilizer mixture along the furrows evenly and cover to a depth of 4 cm with soil.
• If bed system of planting is followed, open furrows 6 cm deep at a distance of 60 cm apart.
• Place the fertilizer mixture along the furrows evenly and cover to a depth of 4 cm with soil.

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.

SEED TREATMENT

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.

TOP DRESSING WITH N

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

II.  RAINFED MAIZE

 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) + 10 packets of Phosphobacteria (2000 g/ha) or Azophos at 4 kg/ha and incorporate in the soil.

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
• 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).  

PRE-TREATMENT OF SEEDS WITH BIOFERTILIZER

Seeds treated with fungicides may be treated with three packets (600 g/ha) of Azospirillum + Phosphobacteia (600 g/ha) or Azosphos (600g/ha).

Hybrid Maize

Fertilizer Requirement

Apply 150: 75: 75 kg N, P2O5 and K2O/ha
Other nutrient management practice are same as in the case of Maize varieties.

Updated on : 29.05.2013