Fodder Maize - Organic Farming in Tamil Nadu

• Maize is an important kharif fodder crop which gives highly succulent and nutritionally rich fodder.

• Maize grain is also an important feed component of dairy cattle and poultry feed.

• Maize is a rich source of starch, protein and edible oil.

• Maize produces good quality herbaceous fodder with high palatability.

• Hence by providing sufficient quantities of fodder instead of costly concentrates and feeds to the milch animals, the cost of milk production can considerably be reduced.

• Optimal growth conditions are 18-21°C average day-temperatures, annual rainfalls of more than 750 mm, and deep, well-drained rich soils.

• However, maize withstands annual rainfalls ranging from 230 to 4100 mm, a pH between 4.3 and 8.7, and a great variety of soils.

• Frost kills the plants.

• Drought is detrimental at flowering as it affects pollination and impairs yields.

• Maize has no tolerance to flooding.