Fodder Maize - Method and time of sowing

• Maize requires very fertile, well drained loamy soils having pH range of 5.5 to 8.0.

• The crop grows best on alluvial or red soils but can also by grown on well drained black soils.

• It does not thrive well on heavy soils, saline and alkali soils.

• After preparing a fine seed bed the crop must be sown in lines (20-30 cm apart) by using seed drill or maize planter or by kera on para method.

• Sowing time varies from place to place.

• Maize has bold seed size.

• It requires 50-60 kg seeds depending upon size.

• Seed should be sown in lines spaced at 30 cm.

• For summer sowing in irrigated areas, last week of February to last week of March-April is the appropriate time.

• Rainy season crop is sown with the beginning of rains in June-­July.

• Rabi crop is sown in October-November particularly in eastern and southern parts of the country.

• In hills sowing is taken up in May.