Maize

Zea mays

Family: Poaceae

Quick stats

Family	Poaceae
Typical harvest	5.3 t/ha
Varieties	3
Pests & diseases	5
Seasons	3

Crop profile

Growth habit	annual
Days to harvest	110
Main uses	Food grain, animal feed, green maize, flour and porridge
Pollination	wind
Origin / where it grows	Widely grown in East Africa in both high and medium rainfall areas

Weather, soil & spacing

Best temperature	18–30 °C
Rainfall	600–1000 mm/yr
Altitude	0–2500 m
Best pH	5.8–7
Soil type	Wide range; best in well-drained soils
Row spacing	75 cm
Plant spacing	25 cm
Planting depth	5 cm
Seed rate	20 kg/ha
Nursery days	—

Simple notes for farmers

About the crop: This crop is annual. You plant, grow and harvest it in one main season, then plant again. You can normally start harvesting about 110 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for food grain, animal feed, green maize, flour and porridge.

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by wind. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Widely grown in East Africa in both high and medium rainfall areas

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 18 and 30 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 600 to 1000 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 2500 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 5.8 to 7. Choose a fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid places where water stands for long periods.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 75 centimetres apart, and leave about 25 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 5 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 20 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.

Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)

Planting: Plant at the start of the rains. Put 1–2 seeds per hole, about one finger joint deep, and cover well.

Transplanting: Maize is usually planted directly in the field, not transplanted.

Irrigation: Keep soil moist during germination, tasseling and grain filling. Avoid long dry spells at flowering.

Fertigation: With drip, give small amounts of fertilizer many times instead of one big dose.

Pest scouting: Check the field every week. Look inside the whorl and on young leaves for worms and fresh damage.

Pruning: Remove only very weak extra shoots if they are too many. Keep the field clean and weed-free.

Harvest: For dry grain, harvest when husks are dry and kernels are hard. For green maize, harvest when kernels are milky.

Postharvest: Dry cobs on raised, clean platforms. Shell when dry and dry again. Store grain in dry, airtight bags or silos.

Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)

#	Stage	DAP	Product	Rate	Targets (kg/ha)	Notes
1	Basal at planting	0	DAP 18-46-0 or similar P fertilizer	100 kg/ha	N: 18, P₂O₅: 46, K₂O: 0	Put fertilizer a short distance from the seed and cover with soil.
2	Early topdress	21	CAN 26% N or urea	80 kg/ha	N: 21, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Apply when plants have 4–6 leaves; keep fertilizer away from the stem.
3	Late topdress	35	Urea 46% N	70 kg/ha	N: 32, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Apply before tassels appear and when soil is moist.

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient	Stage	Amount	Unit
N	Basal	60	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Basal	40	kg/ha
K₂O	Basal	40	kg/ha
N	Topdress_early	40	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_early	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_early	20	kg/ha
N	Topdress_late	30	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_late	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_late	20	kg/ha
N	Topdress	60	kg/ha

Name	Country	Maturity	Traits
H614D	KE	150	High-yield hybrid for high rainfall areas.
Katumani composite	KE	90	Early maturing; good for low rainfall areas.
Local white maize	KE	120	Traditional taste, lower yield than hybrids.

Stage	Product	Rate (kg/ha)	Notes
Basal	DAP 18-46-0	100	Supplies phosphorus and some nitrogen at planting.
Topdress (early)	CAN 26% N	80	Safer than urea in dry or acidic conditions.
Topdress (late)	Urea 46% N	70	Apply when rain is expected so it can dissolve and move into the soil.

Name	Type	Symptoms	Management
Fall armyworm	pest	Leaves eaten from the centre (whorl), holes on leaves and brown droppings inside the leaf funnel.	Plant early, scout often, handpick where possible, and use safe biopesticides or recommended sprays when damage is fresh...
Maize stem borers	pest	Small holes on leaves, dead heart in young plants, weak stems that break easily.	Destroy stalks after harvest, plant on time and use tolerant varieties or push–pull where available.
Cutworms	pest	Seedlings cut near ground level, gaps in the row.	Keep field weed-free before planting and replant missing hills quickly.
Maize streak virus	disease	Fine yellow streaks on leaves, stunted plants and small cobs.	Use tolerant varieties and avoid very late planting.
Leaf blights	disease	Brown or grey spots on leaves; leaves dry early.	Use clean seed, rotate crops, and plant resistant varieties where possible.

System	Typical	Min	Max	Notes
Smallholder rainfed (low input)	2.5	1	4	Local seed, little fertilizer, one or two weedings.
Smallholder rainfed (good management)	5	3	7	Hybrid seed, recommended fertilizer and timely weed control.
Irrigated or high-input farms	9	7	12	Good hybrid, irrigation and well-planned fertilizer and pest control.
rainfed improved	4.5	3	6

Country	Region	Planting	Harvest
KE	High potential zone (long rains)	Mar–Apr	Aug–Sep
KE	Medium altitude (short rains)	Oct–Nov	Feb–Mar
TZ	Southern highlands	Nov–Dec	May–Jun

Country	Region	Suitability
KE	High potential maize zone (Rift Valley)	High
KE	Medium altitude transitional areas	High
KE	Semi-arid lowlands	Medium
TZ	Southern highlands maize belt	High
UG	Lake Victoria crescent	High