Maize Grower Guide

PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR 1 HECTARE OF MAIZE

Seed requirements: 25 kgs of seed

Plant population: 45 000 to 55 000 depending on the variety, time of planting, agro-ecological region and intended purpose.

Successful cultivation of maize depends largely on three crucial factors namely:

Appropriate soil conditioning
Appropriate and timely soil nutrition management
Efficacy of weed control.

Weed control during the first six to eight weeks after planting is crucial, because weeds compete vigorously with the crop for space, nutrients and water during this period as well as harboring noxious insect pests such as fall armyworm, leaf hoppers amongst the list.

In fact, the crop must be weed free for the first 8-10 weeks of the crop cycle. Annual yield losses occur because of weed infestations in cultivated croplands.

The annual yield loss in maize because of weed problems can even reach 50% or more. The loss occurs as a result of weed competition for nutrients, water and light.

NB: If you fail to control weeds in maize for the first 5 weeks of the crop cycle, then 50% of the yields will be lost. Never allow weeds to seed, it will enhance the weed seed bank and result in future weed control costs and difficulties.

Herbicide Name	Active Ingredient	Rate/Ha	Time of application
Atrazine 500 SC	Triazine	3l/ha	Pre and Early Post-emergence
S-Metolachlor 960 EC	S- Metalachlor	1-1.5l/ha	Pre-emergence
Natto 260 OD	Nicosulfuron, Terbuthylazine Mesotrione	2.0-2.5l/ha	Early post-emergence
Rescue 650EC	Flumetsulam, S-Metolachlor	0.7-1.7l/ha	Pre-emergence
Stellar Star	Topramezone, Dicamba	1l/ha	Post-emergence
Auxo	Tembotrione, Bromoxynil	1.5l/ha	Post-emergence
Broom 537.5 SE	Terbuthylazine, Mesotrione and Metalachor	2l/ha	Post-emergence
Nicosulfuron 75 WDG	Nicosulfuron	45g/ha	Post-emergence (Shamva)
Savior Star		60g/ha	Post-emergence
MCPA 40 SL	MCPA		Post-emergence
Dicamba 480 SL	Dicamba	500ml/ha	Post-emergence
Frontier Optima	Dimethenamid	1-1.25l/ha	Pre-emergence
Galaxy 480 SC	Mesotrione	260ml/ha	Pre- and Post-emergence
Servian	Halosulfuron	50g/ha	Post-emergence (Nutsedge)

Problem	Product	Application Rate	Critical Remarks
Stalk borers African Armyworm Cutworms Boll Worms Fall Armyworm	Lambda-cyhalothrin Acetamiprid+Indoxacarb (Horizon) Decis forte Carbaryl 85 WP Chlopyrifos Fenvelerate Belt Cartap hydrochloride Emamectin Benzoate (Spear) Acetamiprid+Emamectin benzoate (Volt Star)	200mls/ha 600ml/ha 125mls/ha 1kg/ha 350 – 400 mls 200mls/ha 38mls/ha 800grms/ha 300grms/ha 200-500 ml/ha	Apply as at first sign of infestation Apply as at first sign of infestation Apply as at first sign of infestation Full cover spray and repeat as necessary. Spray over the top in 200 – 500 litres of water Apply as at first sign of infestation Apply as at first sign of infestation Apply as at first sign of infestation Apply as at first sign of infestation Apply as at first sign of infestation
Hoppers /	Dimethoate 40 EC	500-750mls/ha	Apply as a high-volume spray. Repeat every 7-10 days. Apply as seed dresser at planting
Streak Virus	Gaucho 600FS / Imidacloprid 200 SC	580mls/100kgs of seed
Grey leaf spot	Propiconazole 25EC Tebuconazole	750mls/ha 1lt/ha	Spray when disease is seen on 3rd leaf below the cob. Apply when disease first appears on basal 4 – 5 leaves
Termites,	Chlopyrifos	1lt/ha	Band apply at planting or spray 8 – 10 weeks after planting Apply 8 – 10 weeks after planting
white grubs	Imidacloprid	200 mls
Stored grain Insects	Grain protectants Actellic gold dust Fumigation Aluminium Phosphide tablets/pellets	25g/50kg bag (shelled grain) 11-30 tablets/pellets per tonne	Mix well into grain Cover for 7-14 days (Consult an Agronomist)