Package of Practices (POP) for Maize

1. Land & Soil Preparation

Soil type: Maize grows best in well-drained, fertile soils with pH 5.5–7.5. Avoid saline, alkaline, or waterlogged soils.

Ploughing: 2–3 deep ploughings followed by harrowing to achieve fine tilth.

Organic matter: Apply 10–12 tons of FYM/compost per hectare during land preparation.

2. Sowing Practices

Variety: Maize Indo-7777xx, Maize Indo-4425 x and other hybrid varieties.

Season:
Kharif: June 15 – July 15 (depending on monsoon onset).
Rabi: October 15 – November 15 (Telangana, Rayalaseema); up to January in coastal Andhra.

3. Seed Rate

Hybrids: 20–25 kg/ha
Composites: 18–20 kg/ha

Spacing: 60 cm × 20 cm (row × plant).

Seed treatment: Treat seeds with Captan/Thiram/Mancozeb @ 3 g/kg to prevent seed-borne diseases.

4. Nutrient Management

Basal dose (per hectare):
Nitrogen (N): 120–150 kg
Phosphorus (P₂O₅): 60 kg
Potassium (K₂O): 40 kg

5. Application

• 1/3 N + full P & K at sowing.
• Remaining N in two equal splits at knee-high and tasseling stages.
• Micronutrients: Apply Zinc sulphate @ 25 kg/ha if deficiency symptoms appear.

6. Irrigation

Critical stages: Knee-high stage, Tasseling, Silking, Grain filling.

Frequency:
Every 10–12 days in light soils;
15–20 days in heavy soils.

Avoid waterlogging.

7. Weed & Pest Management

Weeds:
Pre-emergence: Atrazine @ 0.5–1.0 kg a.i./ha.
Manual weeding: 2–3 times (20 DAS and 40 DAS).

Pests:
Stem borer: Spray Carbofuran granules or Chlorpyriphos.
Fall armyworm: Spray Emamectin benzoate or Spinosad.

8. Diseases

Turcicum leaf blight: Spray Mancozeb @ 2.5 g/litre.

9. Harvesting & Yield

Harvesting: When husks turn brown and grains are hard with 20–25% moisture.

Yield potential:
Hybrids: 50–60 quintals/ha
Composites: 40–50 quintals/ha

INDO AGRI GENETICS

E/111, G.I.D.C., Sector-26, Gandhinagar-382026 (Gujarat)
Customer Care: 94295 24908
E-mail: indoagri@hotmail.com