Maize farming for profit
Maize is the staple food that provides elemental diets to millions of Kenyans. Kenya has over 1.5 million hectares of land under maize production, with an estimated production of over 3.1 million metric tonnes. Unfortunately, this is only half of the land potential. Lack of basic knowledge of crop management and drought are significant constraints in maize farming.
In this article, we look at
- Land preparation
- Soil fertility management
- Planting time and spacing
- Weeding
- Crop rotation
Land Preparation
Maize farms can be prepared using conventional or Conservation Agriculture (CA) methods. Conservation Agriculture includes spraying with recommended herbicides and crop residue management.
Conventional methods include hand cultivation, using an ox-plough or a tractor, and preparing the land early enough for weeds to dry and decompose before planting, which is essential.
Soil Fertility Management
Soil fertility can be managed through several strategies, including organic fertilizers/manures and inorganic or chemical fertilizers.
Organic fertilizers/manures: Farmyard manure (FYM) can be applied alone at 4 tonnes per acre. When FYM is combined with inorganic fertilizers, half the recommended rates should be applied.
Inorganic/chemical fertilizers Fertilizer recommendations are based on different agroecological zones and soil types. The main fertilizers used are Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) at 50kg/acre (50kg bag/acre) (applied at planting) and calcium ammonium phosphate (CAN) at 92kg/acre (2 bags of 50kg each) topdressed when the plants are knee-high. However, farmers should follow the soil test recommendations. Request a professional soil test here.
Management of acid soils Liming is recommended for acidic soils.
Planting Time
It’s always good to identify the right maize variety for your region, as this also influences harvest. Planting should be done within the first two weeks of the onset of rains. Before sowing, at least 30 cm of wet soil should be present throughout the soil profile. While the hole is still moist, place two to three seeds in an evenly spaced line in each hole, with one pip on each side and one on the other side.
Cover the seeds using the soil heaped next to the hole to leave a level surface. Make sure no stones or heavy soil clods cover the seeds. Leave the mulch cover between the holes intact. Try to complete planting in a day to ensure even germination and, later, an even crop canopy, which will shade out any weed growth.
Read Also: the best kale varieties in Kenya
Spacing and plant population per hectare
Region | Spacing | Density (Plants Per Ha) |
Highland | 75x25cm 1 Plant/Hill (Pure Stand) 75 X 50cm 2 Plants/Hill (Intercrop) | 53,333 53,333 |
Medium | 75 X 30cm 1 Plant/Hill (Pure Stand) 75 X 60cm 2 Plants/Hill (Intercrop) | 44,444 44,444 |
Dry Land And Coastal | 90 X 30cm 1 Plant/Hill (Pure Stand) 90x 60cm 2 Plants/Hill (Intercrop) | 37,850 37,850 |
The appropriate planting depth varies from 2 to 10 cm, depending on the weather conditions and soil moisture status. In the highland and medium areas where the soils are well-drained sandy-loam soils, planting depth of 2 to 3 cm is optimal, as deep seed placement retards germination and emergence of maize seedlings.
In dry and coastal lowland areas where the soil is dry and sandy, maize seed should be planted more deeply (5 to 10 cm). This enables developing a deep root system to obtain the needed water and nutrients. Deep roots penetrate far into the soil and use moisture and nutrients from the deeper depths.
Weeding
Weeds reduce maize yields by competing for moisture, nutrients, space, and light. They are also an alternative host to pests and diseases. The most critical stage of weed competition in a maize plant’s life is during the first four to six weeks after the crop’s emergence. The most common practices in weed management are hand weeding and the use of herbicides.
Some of the recommended practices include hand weeding, which should be done at least three weeks after the plants’ emergence, followed by a second weeding at knee-high. Other recommended approaches include the use of a dense legume cover crop to suppress weeds. Farmers should regularly scout their fields and uproot diseased plants. Uproot Striga weeds early enough before they produce seeds.
Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is highly recommended to reduce the build-up of maize diseases and insect pests. Depending on the area, rotation can be done with beans, cowpeas, peas, or potatoes. Rotation of maize with other cereal crops like sorghum and millet should be avoided, especially for maize lethal necrosis (MLN) disease.
Reference: KARLO
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