Maize grow in which soil

Whether this is just a cyclical pattern or the result of climate change is a subject for a separate debate. The delayed onset of rains is already causing anxiety among farmers as they ponder on the implications of this on their yields. Maize is undoubtedly the primary staple food in Kenya. Any factor that influences maize yields is therefore of key concern to farmers. Extraneous factors such as weather patterns notwithstanding, it is important for maize farmers to pay attention to all the good standard practices needed for optimum production.

Firstly, the farmer needs to understand their agro ecological zone. This helps determine the climatic conditions ideal for maize production and informs correct hybrid seed choice.

At this juncture, the farmer needs to understand the soil characteristics prevalent in their field. Maize is a nutrient intensive and requires adequate supplies of all nutrients for all growth stages. Fertile, well drained, well aerated and good textured soil is able to supply these nutrients.

However, soil pH determines the availability of nutrients in the soil. Maize crops grow best at a soil pH of between 5. The U. An average, good soil should contain nearly one-half mineral particles, one-fourth water, one-fourth air, and a few percent organic matter.

Water is necessary for plant growth and for the soil organisms, but not too much or too little. Some of these friendly microbes also produce plant growth stimulators, others help feed nutrients directly to roots, and others trap fix nitrogen from the air— free fertilizer. But things can go wrong. Harold Willis. Apart from these states maize is also grown in Jammu and Kashmir and North-Eastern states. Hence, the maize has emerged as important crop in the non-traditional regions i.

Maize can be grown successfully in variety of soils ranging from loamy sand to clay loam. However, soils with good organic matter content having high water holding capacity with neutral pH are considered good for higher productivity. Being a sensitive crop to moisture stress particularly excess soil moisture and salinity stresses; it is desirable to avoid low lying fields having poor drainage and also the field having higher salinity. Therefore, the fields having provision of proper drainage should be selected for cultivation of maize.

AICRP organizes interdisciplinary, interinstitutional, co-operative and systematic testing of newly developed cultivars of both public and private sectors for different agro-climatic zones of the country.