A good yield depends on how well you prepare the land for planting. Always select land that has loamy soil, poor ploughing of the land leads to poor yields and losses.
Maize plant has roots that spread out within the soil. Therefore, the soil should be fine enough to allow the movement of the roots.
A well-prepared land makes it easy to get rid of weeds that compete for nutrients with the maize crop. Turning off the soil destroys pests and diseases in the soil by exposing them to direct sunlight.
Ploughing breaks the soil loose which improves the movement of air and water in the soil.
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One should start preparing the land early enough in the dry season to acquire a fine tilth. Avoid preparing the field in wet seasons to avoid big lumps of soil.
Small-scale farmers can use a hand hoe for preparation which is cheaper to purchase.
One can use a moldboard plough or a disc plough for more extensive land. A harrow is used to achieve a fine tilth.
The soil needs proper feeding in terms of nutrients which are necessary for the proper growth of the plant. Make holes at a spacing of 60 -75 cm, good spacing should be done to prevent competition between the plants.
Incorporate decomposed organic manure and mix it evenly in the soil. Organic manure has numerous benefits such as; adding nutrients to the soil, improving the soil structure, improving soil moisture retention, and also improving soil aeration.
A soil test should be carried out once every three years to identify the soil’s nutrient level and also the PH content of the soil.
