MAIZE production is profitable if one is a disciplined and ‘hands-on’ operator.
In applying a business approach to maize cropping, any farmer will reap healthy harvests, especially if timing and good management are applied.
This is true for Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Commissioner General Paradzai Zimondi who is a successful maize grower.
Backed by the support of his son Tafadzwa Zimondi, who is the farm manager, Comm-Gen Zimondi has proved that if farming is taken seriously, rewards are guaranteed.
Recently a field day was held at his farm where he showed off his three-hectare maize field under a seed variety ZAP 61 which is produced by Agriseeds.
The crop which is under irrigation is nearing maturity.
Agriseeds’ three different maturity seed products
ZAP61 is an early medium white hybrid with excellent disease tolerance, very good drought tolerance and is adaptable to any maize growing area.
ZAP61 is suitable for irrigation since it has maize streak virus and grey leaf spot tolerance that counters these diseases that are prevalent in high moisture conditions like irrigation.
A new early maturity white hybrid, ZAP55 is commercially available this season.
Widely adapted to both high and marginal rainfall areas, ZAP55 is suited to all maize growing areas.
Having good disease tolerance, ZAP55 is also drought tolerant and able to withstand low fertility soils, even low nitrogen conditions still producing a harvest.
ZAP43 is another new, very early maturity white hybrid that can be planted early for an early harvest.
ZAP43 planted late, when the other maturity groups will be too late to reach maturity before season-end, will reach full maturity in time, providing a farmer with a harvest.
Farm manager Tafadzwa Zimondi urged growers to follow through production processes to ensure a good harvest.
“We decided to try out the seed variety and we have not been disappointed,” he said.
“We ensured the crop got the relevant fertilisers and water.
“This is what farmers should do if they intend to reap maximum yields.”
Maize is grown in most parts of the country, except the very marginal places that are unlikely to receive any significant rainfall in line with their natural region grading.
Natural regions are defined through grouping areas with common factors of altitude, soil types, rainfall patterns and similar temperatures.
Farmers should know their environment and characteristics of natural region in which they operate.
These factors determine limitations and open options to plan and prepare in the most efficient way.
Land preparation is key
Winter ploughing from May or adopting conservation agriculture practices of pot holing and securing mulch help to conserve moisture from the previous season.
Planting on time is critical to final crop performance.
Research trials have shown that every 10 days of ideal planting lost reduce productivity by one tonne per hectare.
Securing inputs in time is important
Seed selection is a critical part of crop success.
Planting the best suited hybrid or variety will enhance the potential results.
Maturity, adaptability to different ecological locations and tolerance to disease are some of the factors to consider carefully when buying maize seed.
Basal fertiliser needs to be in the ground before or at planting time since the roots need to grow into the food store below.
Applying basal fertiliser on top of the plant is counter-productive. When planting, seed needs to be kept away from direct contact with the fertiliser to avoid chemical burning.
Seed should be covered by soil, but ideally leaving an indent above the seed, to capture any rain that may fall, concentrating the moisture towards the seed for best emergence.
Plant populations can have a serious impact on crop performance. Some maize seed is bred for low populations, whilst others are better suited to higher planting regimes.
Factors to consider will be the characteristics of the hybrid as to whether it is single or double-cobbing, the susceptibility to disease in an intensely populated field fertility available which will enable the maize plant to maximise output.
It is better to plan a planting pattern that suits the particular hybrid which is usually around 37 000 to 44 000 plants per hectare.
Planting more than one maturity hybrid is a form of insurance.
A smaller crop area of intense plants is much easier to manage, especially when weeding.
If emergence (sprouting) is poor, gap-filling needs to be done within eight days, after which the original plants will overshadow new ones that are unlikely to yield anything worthwhile.
After 10 days of bad germination it is better to replant the field.
At four to six-leaf stage, top dressing (AN) is needed to provide the nitrogen input for vigorous plant development.
Weeding is essential at this time as well, so that the maize plant benefits from moisture and nutrients on hand.
A second top dressing can be applied prior to flowering or pollination to improve grain filling and maximising yield.
When maize plants reach knee height, scouting for stalk borer is critical, as infections can deplete potential yields.
Crop maturity is reached when removing a few kernels from the cob core show the ‘black layer’.
When moisture levels reach 13 to 15 percent, harvesting can commence before pests or diseases appear, reducing grain quality. Grain storage requires careful management, whereby protection is needed against vermin (rats) and pests (weevils).