How to grow a good maize crop in Nigeria MAIZE 1 Step 1. Site selection Deep moderately heavy textured, sandy-loam soils are preferable. 2 Choose flat or fairly-flat welldrained soils. Adequate organic matter is important. Avoid waterlogged field. Avoid shades on the field. Step 2. Land preparation Clear land well ahead of the rains. Till the land properly for good soil aeration. Practice minimum tillage in sandy soils. Make ridges or mounds particularly in poorly drained soils. Prepare the land a few days before planting to enhance good weed regrowth for effective herbicide control and avoidance of herbicide wastage. 3 Choice of desirable varieties The agro-ecological zone in which you want to plant determines the choice of varieties. Types of varieties: Late-maturing varieties, matures in 110-120 days: good for zones with long rainy season. Early-maturing varieties, matures in 90-100 days: can be planted after a late-maturing variety in zones with two seasons of rainfall. Extra-early varieties, matures in 80-90 days: can be planted in zones with very short rainy season (2-3 months). The best maize varieties: Grow fast, are high yielding, mature earlier than the local varieties, are rich in zinc, iron, vitamin A and quality protein, utilize soil nitrogen efficiently, are resistant to major pests and diseases e.g. stem borers, larger grain borers, downy mildew, maize streak virus, Striga, etc. in some cases, some are drought tolerant. For high yielding and healthy planting materials, contact: IITA. NSS. State offices of the Agricultural Development Programs (ADP). Agric. offices of the local government areas. Agents of registered seed companies. IAR, Zaria. IAR&T, Ibadan. NOTE: A list of registered high-yielding resistant maize varieties and the corresponding agroecological zone(s) is attached. 4 Step 3. Selecting healthy seeds 10 g of Apron Plus Avoid buying maize seeds from the local/open market. Do not choose broken seeds; avoid seeds that are rotten. Treat the seeds with appropriate insecticide and fungicide eg. Fernasan D and Apron plus, Homai, Topisin M. and Luxan. For example, a 10 g sachet of Apron plus can treat 3 kg of maize seeds. 5 Step 4. Treating maize seeds Put half of the seeds you want to treat in a container. 6 Pour half of the Apron plus on the seeds. Pour in the remaining half of the seeds. Step 5. Treating maize seeds (contd.) • Seal the mouth of the container then shake very hard for about three minutes until the seeds are well coated with the chemical. • Wash your hands clean with soap and water after treating the seeds. The treated seeds are ready for planting. 7 Corrrect planting time The planting date should be based on the previous history of rains in the agroecological zone of your choice and the local farming calendar. However, it is good to plant after 2-3 consecutive rains. This ensures good seed germination and proper plant establishment. 8 Step 5. Methods of planting maize Hand sowing. Use of Jab-planters. Machine sowing. 9 Step 6. Correct plant spacing and density Sole crop Plant two seeds in holes that are spaced on ridges 0.25 m apart on the ridge • An optimum plant and thin to 1 plant per hill population is essential for two weeks after planting. maximum yield in maize. • Ridges/mounds should be spaced 0.75 m apart or •This depends on the cropping plant three seeds in holes system (sole cropping or 0.50 m apart and thin to intercropping). 2 plants per hill two weeks after planting. 10 Intercrop The intra-row spacing should be wider than that for sole cropping. Note: • The practice of alternating rows of maize with other crops is highly recommended, as it will allow the adoption of recommended packages for each crop. • The adequate plant population per hectare is 53,333 plants. Step 7. Fertilizer and application • The need for adequate and balanced nutrition of maize important. N, P and K are essential for obtaining high yields of is maize. • Types of fertilizers needed; NPK, eg. 15-15-15 CAN/ urea, organic fertilizers, eg. animal dung, farmyard manure and composts. Time of Application: • Do this in two split doses. For the two applications, nitogen is critical for maize; ensure that the rate of 100-120 kg ha-1 of nitrogen is applied. 11 Step 7. Fertilizer and application (contd.) Ring application Side dressing Application of fertilizer At planting or two weeks after planting, apply 8 bags of NPK (1515-15) 400kg per hectare. At 4-6 weeks after planting, apply 2-3 bags (100-150kg) of CAN or urea per hectare. 12 band application NOTE: Apply fertilizer in two split doses to ensure that nitrogen is available at every stage of growth of the maize crop. Nitrogen is very mobile in the soil. Methods of application: Ring application, side dressing or band application. Step 8. Weed control When pre-emergence herbicides are used, the field should remain weed-free for most of the time that maize is on the field. Pre-emergence herbicides that are good for maize include... Pre-emergence herbicides are used after planting and before emergence. The amount to use is... Manual or hand weeding — Do hand weeding after planting, just before the second dose of fertilizer application. NOTE: If the field is weedy at the time of application of the first dose of fertilizer, do weeding before the application. Post-emergence weed control can be done with careful use of post-emergence herbicides. Apply Grammoxone only about 8-9 weeks after planting, using spray guards. NOTE: The 2nd application of Grammoxone might not be necessary if you don’t have weeds on the field. 13 Step 9. Recognition of weeds Striga 14 Euphorbia Spear grass Stubborn grass Step 10. Pest and disease control Spray with insecticides eg. Pyrinex, Karate, etc., at the rate of 1 liter per hectare. Ensure proper field cleanliness and remove all alternative hosts. In the case of rodents, clear surrounding bush. 15 Step 11. Major production constraints Striga 16 Drought poor soil nitrogen Healthy Plant. Note: Plant tolerant or persistent maize variety. Step 12. Major pests Army worms Leafhoppers Grasshoppers Rodents Termites Stem borers 17 Step 13. Harvesting Harvest as soon as the maize cobs are mature. Time of harvesting depends on: Type of maize variety planted (extra-early, early, intermediate or late) and utilization (fresh cobs, grains). 18 Step 14a. Storage of cobs • Spray all harvested cobs with insecticides, eg. Actellic to prevent field pests from getting in the store. • Remove all rotten cobs, debris and other contaminants. 19 Step 14b. Storage of cobs Smooth metal sheets Dry the remaining cobs on a flat concrete surface; the cobs are properly dried if the kernels scatter when the cobs are dropped on a concrete surface. 20 Store the dried cobs in cribs and wrap the legs of the cribs with smooth metal sheets to prevent rodents from climbing up into the cribs; spray the cribs and the cobs at regular intervals with Actellic. Step 15. Storage of grains Shell the maize. • Pack the grains in 100 kg Bagco or jute sacs. • Fumigate the bags with one tablet of toxin placed in the middle, and the mouth tight. Phossew • Clean a well-ventilated area, place wooden slates or slabs on the floor and stack the maize bags on them. • Spray these at regular intervals with Actellic. 21