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በቆቆሎሎ
በቆቆሎሎ
Leaves
Stem
Inflorescence
Maize ear
Maize kernel
Endosperm
Germ Pericarp
Tip cap
Endosperm—hard 54,2
Endosperm—soft 27,5
Endosperm—total 81,7 80,6
Embryo 11,0 13,5
Pericarp and tip 7,2 5,8
cap
Tassel
Ear Leaves
Stem
Brace roots
Roots
Temperature
Water
Soil requirements
Production potential
CULTURAL PRACTICES
Soil tillage
Mouldboard ploughs
Chisel ploughs
Rippers
Rotary tiller
Tined cultivators
Harrows
Tillage systems
No-till
Stubble-mulch tillage
Reduced tillage
This could be any type of tillage practice
which leaves 15 to 30 % of the soil
surface covered with stubble. Weeds
are controlled chemically or
mechanically.
Conventional tillage
This includes tillage that leaves less than
15 % of the soil surface covered with
stubble. Conventional tillage usually
implies a plough action or an intensive
range of cultivations.
It is important to bear in mind that 1 ton
of grain/ha delivers one ton of plant
residue, which is sufficient to cover 10 %
of the soil. If conservation tillage is
considered as an alternative, a minimum
yield of 3,0 ton/ha must be obtained to
provide a surface cover of 30 %.
When conservation tillage is practised
with the aim of conserving moisture, at
least 50 to 60 % of the soil surface
should be covered.
With any tillage system, it is of
paramount im- portance to ensure that a
compacted layer, that may impair plant
growth, does not occur in the effective
root zone. Any soil has the potential to
form a compacted layer and therefore all
cultivated soils should be inspected
regularly for such restric- tions. If a
confined layer is detected, it should be
broken using a ripper implement to
ensure better drainage, conservation and
utilisation of water.
ESTABLISHMENT PRACTICES
Planting date
Wide Narrow
rows (1,5 rows (0,91
to 2,1 m) to 1,0 m)
• Low and • Medium and
medium yield high yield
target target
• Low and medium • Medium and high
rainfall rainfall
• Wind erosion • Water and
problems sloping
contours
• Weed problem; • Good weed
weeds control with
controlled complete
chemically in spraying
• Strip tilage only • Total tillage
in rows
80 80 90
000 000 000
TABLE 6. Within row spacing (cm) at
different populations and row
widths
Plant Row
populati width (m)
on 0,7 0,9 1,5 0,91 x 2,
5 1 2,3 3
90 000 15 12
80 000 17 14
70 000 19 16
60 000 22 19
50 000 27 22
45 000 30 25
40 000 33 28
35 000 38 32 19
30 000 44 37 22 21
27 500 40 24 23
25 000 43 26 25
22 500 50 29 28
20 000 56 33 31 22
18 000 37 35 24
16 000 42 39 27
14 000 45 31
12 000 53 36
10 000 62 44
CULTIVAR CHOICE
Disease resistance
Lodging
Ear prolificacy
FERTILISATION OF MAIZE
Application methods
Nitrogen (N)
Fertiliser
Fertiliser Fertiliser
N and K applications should not exceed 70, 50 and 30
kg/ha for the respective row widths. Larger
quantities can, however, be applied, provided that
these are placed 70 to 100 mm to the side and
below the seed.
Phosphorus (P)
Potassium (K)
Zinc (Cn)
WEEDS
Large thorn apple
Physical methods
Cultural practices
Chemical methods
Preventive control
Cultivation control
Biological control
Insect-resistant plants
Irrigated maize
Dryland maize
IRRIGATION
HARVESTING PROCESS
Hand harvesting
Mechanical harvesting
ENQUIRIES
• ARC-Grain Crops
Institute Private Bag
X1251 Potchefstroom
2520
Tel. (018) 299 6100