"SEC | S20W2: How to Cultivate Maize Crops"

Whenever a planting season evolves, the first grain crops that comes to the minds of my region's people are maize. According to botanical nomenclature, maize is also known as Zea mays. Coming to its type, we have different types of maize/corn. They includes white corn, yellow corn, pop corn, etc. Coming to its nutritional value, it's an excellent source of carbohydrates as it's starchy content is high. Without further ado, let's get into it's cultivation.

Maize is propagated only sowing seeds to the ground in its due season. To prepare a suitable place for planting, here are a few steps to follow:

• Ploughing: This essential step ensures that the land is not tight with soil compact rather it’s loose. This step can be achieved by shovel, pickaxe or plough if done commercially.
• Leveling: Whenever a ploughing process is done, the land mass is usually irregular. So, this process will ensure that the land is plain and not sloppy.
• Manuring: In a situation where the land is farmed continuously, then manuring is a process to consider. This process revives the soil restoring the nutrients that the plant needs.

The fact about planting is that it comes with its rules culled from nature’s book. There are several reasons why planting maize seeds at its tie is important and I’ll expatiate it.

• Prevention of possible pests: It is believed that planting maize seeds at the right time prevents the outbreak of pests. In a situation where some farmlands around a certain plot of lands are infested with pests attacking crops.

Then the chosen plot of land is now worked on, there’s a possibility that pests can easily gain access.

• Higher Yield: Planting at the right time guarantees a higher yield on the maize plant. The simple logarithm behind this is the right time for a healthy environment where the plants can thrive.

To answer this question, permit me to use my region as a case study. In Southern Nigeria where I reside, we have a record of high rainfall during the planting season. Artificial irrigation might be meaningless since natural irrigation is available. Since maize is an annual crop, its lifespan ranges from 3-4 months. The rainy season covers its existence. In case of dry temperature, surface irrigation is considered. Fertilizers are also important in its cultivation because it enhances yield.

It’s no news that each crop on the field has its sworn enemies ready to degrade or destroy. Below are the major pests and diseases of maize crop.

PEST

• Grasshopper: This is a major pest whose area of concentration is the leaves of the crops. By eating the blades of the leaves, photosynthesis is reduced making the quality of the crops drop.
  Control: It can be controlled by hand picking or killing with insecticides.
• Weevils: This pest attacks the maize cobs burrowing its way inside to create havoc.
  Control: Handpicking and spraying fungicides can do the magic.

DISEASE

• Bacterial Stalk Rot: controlled by using disease resistance varieties.
• Common rot: controlled by using fungicides.

A farmer's joy is displayed when the time of harvesting arrives. To ensure a smooth harvest of maize, here are a few steps to follow:

• Cut the stem and take out the maize cobs from the stems
• In terms of long preservation, smoke drying is one of the ways we use it. In this method, the matured cobs are hung above the fireplace to permit smoke. This process hinders the activities of field pests.
• Finally, we stored them in cement air-tight bags to prevent any infestation of pests.

In general, maize crops is one of the simplest crops to cultivate on. What's your opinion?

Inviting @bossj23, @goodybest and @nsijoro to this challenge.