For farmers looking to plant rainfed maize in the upcoming 2025-26 season, proper planning and care in the early stages of crop management are critical to achieving high yields. Whether you are a seasoned maize grower or new to the practice, following these key steps can help maximize productivity while preserving soil health and ensuring the sustainability of your farm.
Here are some essential steps to guide you through the process:
1. Early and Proper Land Preparation
Good land preparation is the foundation of a successful maize crop. I highly recommend conservation farming for its multiple benefits, including improved water retention, enhanced soil quality, and maximized yield potential.
In conservation farming, planting spacing is crucial. Set your planting rows at 75 cm between lines and maintain 60 cm between stations within each row. Create basins in the soil where the maize seeds will be planted. These basins should be 20–25 cm deep, with widths and lengths tailored to the space available. This ensures that the maize seeds have access to adequate moisture and nutrients throughout their growth.
2. Liming
Soil health is key to successful maize production. Liming is an important step to maintain optimal soil pH for maize growth. Apply lime at least 3 months before planting to adjust the soil's pH to a range of 5.5–6.5. Depending on your soil test results, apply 10–15g of lime per planting station to ensure that the maize will have the best possible conditions to thrive.
3. Mulching
Mulching is an excellent practice for conserving moisture, controlling weeds, and protecting the soil from erosion. After harvest, do not burn the previous crop’s residuals. Instead, use them as mulch to improve the soil structure and protect against water loss during dry spells.
Additionally, practice crop rotation to break pest and disease cycles, which can help maintain the soil’s fertility and overall health.
4. Early and Timely Planting
For optimal maize germination and growth, it is essential to plant with the first effective rains. Early planting helps ensure a good crop establishment and better yields. When planting, use the recommended practice of placing two seeds per station to achieve the desired plant population.
Your seed rate per hectare should be 20–25 kg depending on the size of the maize grains, which will give you a plant population of 44,400 to 55,500 plants per hectare. The combination of early planting and proper population density increases your chances of a healthy, productive crop.
5. Weeding
Weeds are a major challenge in maize farming, competing with your crop for essential nutrients, space, and light. They also host pests and diseases. Therefore, it is vital to keep your crop weed-free. By mulching your maize plants, weeds will be naturally suppressed, and you will only need to manually remove the few that germinate.
Regular weeding is key to maintaining crop health and ensuring that the maize receives the nutrients it needs for optimal growth.
6. Correct and Timely Fertilizer Application
Fertilizer application plays a crucial role in the growth and development of maize. Here’s how to manage fertilizer use for the best results:
Basal Dressing: Apply Compound D at planting or just before planting. The recommended rate is 10–20g per plant station, depending on your soil test results. This will provide the initial nutrients needed for strong maize growth.
Top Dressing: For continued growth, apply urea or ammonium nitrate at two critical points during the maize’s life cycle. The first application should be at week 4 after planting, and the second at week 7. Use 5–10g per plant station to ensure your maize receives sufficient nitrogen during its growing stages.
Foliar Supplements: To boost maize development and ensure it receives all the necessary micronutrients, apply poly-booster at two weeks after planting, and repeat at 7–14-day intervals. Another useful supplement is Max-more, which should be applied at week 8 after planting, also at 7–14-day intervals.
A Holistic Approach to Maize Farming
By following these critical steps—early land preparation, proper liming, mulching, timely planting, effective weeding, and proper fertilization—farmers can significantly enhance their maize production in the 2025-26 season. These practices not only improve yields but also promote soil health, making them a sustainable choice for long-term farming success.
With careful attention to these fundamental aspects of maize production, you can expect a robust and high-yielding crop that will contribute to food security and increased income.
Let’s plant smarter, grow better, and yield higher!
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