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Crop Production :: Millets :: Rainfed Maize
Rainfed Maize

1.Field Preparation

Chisel the soil having hard pan formation at shallow depths with chisel plough at 0.5 M interval first in one direction and then in the direction perpendicular to the previous one once in three years. Apply 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith besides chiselling, to get an additional yield of about 30% over control.
 
2. 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) and incorporate in the soil.

3. 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 along with Azospirillum (10 packets/ha).
  • 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).

4. Seed Rate

Select good quality seeds. Adopt the seed rate @ 20 kg/ha for hybrids and 25 kg/ha. for varieties

5. Spacing

Adopt a spacing of 45 cm between rows and 20 cm between plants in the row.
Population   : 10 - 11plants/m­­2

6. Pre-Treatment of Seeds with BioFertilizer

Seeds treated with fungicides may be treated with three packets (600 g/ha) of Azospirillum

7. Sowing

Dibble or drill the seeds at a depth of 4 cm.

8. Cropping Systems

  • Intercropping system of maize + cowpea or maize + blackgram is recommended for higher net returns in the red lateritic soils of Southern districts.
  • For Vertisols of Southern district, maize + redgram intercropping systems is ideal.

9. Crop physiology

  • Foliar spray of TNAU Maize Maxim @ 3 kg/acre in 200 litres of water at tassel initiation and at grain filling stages improves grain filling, grain yield and drought tolerance.

10. Crop Protection