MAIZE / CORN

DOMESTICATED OF THE MAIZE

Maize was domesticated from its wild grass

ancestor more than 8,700 years ago in

Central America.

The wild grass called teosinte.

DOMESTICATION

- process which plant genetically modified over

time by humans for traits that are more

advantageous or disirable for human

- Teosinte is the ancestor of maize

- Had bigger kernels and more rows of kernels

- Over the time they select other useful traits and

lastly a new type was form known as maize

- The effect of this situation plant cannot survive

in wild without human

-Teosinte is a short and a bushy plants

-This difference because of the difference of

the two genes

The corn most planted in several region in

Malaysia :

-Johor

-Selangor

-Pahang

-Also used as the vegetable known as baby

corn

HISTORY

In western civilization, the story of corn

began in 1492 when Columbus's men

discovered this new grain in Cuba

Exported to Europe

Corn in the United States is also called

maize or Indian corn

Corn in England means wheat; in Scotland

and Ireland, it refers to oats

WORLD PRODUCTION

http://www.nue.okstate.edu/Crop_Information/World_Wheat_Production.htm

Country Maize area, ha Maize production, Mt Yield, Mt/ha

WORLD 159,531,007 817,110,509 5.12

USA 32,209,277 333,010,910 10.34

China 30,478,998 163,118,097 5.35

Brazil 13,791,219 51,232,447 3.71

India 8,400,000 17,300,000 2.06

Mexico 7,200,000 20,202,600 2.81

Argentina 2,337,175 13,121,380 5.61

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2415/2

USES

Human food

Alternative medicine

Chemicals

Bio-fuel

Ornamental and other uses

Fodder

Commodity

PRODUCT BASED ON MAIZE

GROWTH FACTOR

AND LAND

PREPARATION

OUTLINE

•Climate requirements •Soil requirements•Planting depth and plant technique

Growth Factor

• Weeds removing

• Soil tillage

• Fertilisation of land Land

Preparation

GROWTH FACTOR

CLIMATE REQUIRE

Maize crops is strongly affected by climate such

as :

Temperature

Water / Moisture

TEMPERATURE

Maize is a warm weather crops of 19˚C to 23˚C.

The critical temperature affecting yield is

approximately 32˚C.

Low temperature will cause frost at all stages of

maize.

Frost free period is require to prevent damage

between 120-140 days.

FROST INJURY

WATER / MOISTURE

Approximately 10-16kg of grain are produce per

millimetre of water use.

At maturity, each plant will used 250l of water in

absence of moisture stress.

The yield loss due to water stress will depend

on the growth stage of corn during the drought

stress as well as the length and severity of the

drought.

Corn is most sensitive to water stress during

pollination, followed by grain-filling, and

vegetative growth stages.

Water stress during vegetative growth stages

results in reduced plant height and leaf area,

and lower yield potential.

Moisture stress during pollination is the most

critical for reducing yield potential of corn.

WATER STRESS DROUGHT STRESS

SOIL REQUIREMENT

Most suitable soil for maize is Good

effective depth

Optimal moisture regime

Good internal drainage

Sufficient and balance plant

nutrient

Favourable chemical properties

Favourable morphological

properties

Maize production take place on soils with a clay

content of less than 10% sandy soils or in

excess 30% clay and clay-loam, texture classes

between 10 and 30% have air and moisture

regimes

Land preparation. Deep ploughing up to 45

cm is favourable for maize that have deep

growth. Ridges can be made at 60cm apart

for maize planting.

LAND PREPARATION

The most critical period of weed competition is

during the first four to six weeks after emergence

of the crop.

Weeds compete with the maize plant for water,

nutrients, space and light

Some weeds become alternative hosts of pests

and diseases.

Some weeds are parasitic and poisonous to

maize

WEEDS REMOVING

EFFECTS OF WEEDS ON MAIZE

FERTILISATION OF LAND

Base fertilizer expected yields and crop needs

adjusted for residual available nutrients in the

soil

Manure is a common source of nutrients and is

beneficial when applied to recently levelled land

Yields can be expected increase 5% without

influence by other factors such as frost, weeds

and others

TYPES OF MANURE

SOIL TILLAGE

Soil tillage in a farming system refers to the

physical soil cultivation practices, changing the

soil’s structure, hydraulic properties and stability.

Most important processes affected by soil tillage

include infiltration and evaporation of water.

Germination and root growth

Erosion

aims of soil tillage are weed control,

incorporation of residue, reducing wind and

water erosion, improving soil structure and

prepare seedbed

PEST OF MAIZE

PEST

1. FLEA BEETLE (PHYLLOTRETA VITTULA)

small, shiny beetles with black legs

enlarged for jumping

Symptom:

-leaving tiny pits or small holes at their

feeding sites

-It can cover leaves with bleached, pitted

areas or ragged holes

Controls:

- Seedlings can be protected with protective

covering until they are in the sixth leaf stage.

- Remove debris in the fall to remove any

overwintering beetles.

- applied reflective mulches

- insecticides should not normally be necessary

and are not very effective when populations are

high.

2. SEEDCORN MAGGOT

(DELIA PLATURA MEIGEN)

yellowish-white maggot found burrowing into corn

seeds.

Full grown maggots are legless, about 1/4 inch (6

mm) long

It is cylindrical, narrow and tapered and it also has

heads and legs, but have small black mouth hooks

in front.

It burrow into the seed, often destroying the germ

Symptoms:

- It will damaged the seed because there are not enough food reserves left in the seed for the plant to survive.

- attack the underground stems of sprouted corn and soybeans resulting in weakened seedlings that seldom survive.

Control:

- seed treatment

- Insecticides

- Replanting

- to remain healthy plant population, the date, yield expectation.

3. STALK BORER (PAPAIPEMA NEBRIS

)

Attack :

•Base of plant and centre of the stalk

Symptoms :

•Round to irregular shaped rows of holes

• Wilting or dying of the upper leaves

•Plants are often stunted or misshapen and

may die.

CONTROL :

-ANY WEED CONTROL METHOD THAT HELPS ELIMINATE

GRASSES WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL

STALK BORER EGG-LAYING SITES, REDUCING THE

PROBABILITY OF STALK BORER DAMAGE THE NEXT YEAR

-BURNING THE DAMAGED AREAS BEFORE EGGS HATCH

CAN REDUCE COMMON STALK BORER POPULATIONS

4. WIREWORMS (AGROITES MANCUS)

Larvae can damage corn seeds shortly after planting

Attack :

Fibrous root plant

Symptoms :

Shredding and discolouration plant but still

attached to the root

Small dark wounds on the stems

Control :

Apply granular insecticide

Bait balls

Soil insecticides approved for use to control corn rootworms include: Aztec 2.1G, Force 1.5G and 3G, Fortress 2.5G and 5G, and Lorsban15G.

Usually, prevention of wireworm damage requires treatment before or at planting time.

5. OSTRINIA NUBILALIS (CORN

BORER)Also known as the European high-flyer

Attack: Damage the ears of corn, as

well as the stalks, by chewing tunnels, which can

cause the plants to fall over.

Symptom: In corn, European corn borers feed

first on the leaves, then move to the tassels and pollen. Older

larvae bore into the stalks and ears.

Ways to control:

- Clear the garden of all weed debris and plant stalks.

- Destroy all corn stalks after harvest.

- Attract beneficial insects, especially lacewings, lady beetles,

and predatory or parasitic wasps.

6.

BILLBUG Attack: Adults gouge small holes in the stem to feed

on the tender inner plant tissue.

Symptoms: - Adult billbugs chew holes in grass

stems, usually just above the crown to

create an egg-laying site.

- Larvae begin to tunnel within the stem

upon hatching, then burrow into the

crown.

- Older larvae will feed on the crown, and can kill plants.

Ways to control: 1) Cultural Control - Use Resistant Turf Varieties

2) Biological Control - Predation by birds and hunting wasp.

- Insect parasite nematodes (Steinernema sp)

3) Chemical Control - Insecticides

Zea mays subsp. mays

DISEASE OF MAIZE / CORN

SEED AND SEEDLING DISEASE

DISEASE NAME: SEED ROT

Pathogen: Fungi and bacteria. Pythium, Fusarium, Diplodia, Rhizoctonia, Penicillium spp., various soilborne bacteria

Symptoms: The seed rots (embryo is killed) before germination.

Inoculum survival: Soil, infected plant residue (leaves, stems, roots), occasionally infected seed.

Control : Fungicide seed treatment. Plant when soil conditions are warmer and drier, use the proper planting depth.

.

LEAF DISEASE

DISEASE NAME: GRAY

LEAF SPOT Pathogen: Fungus. Cercospora

zeae-maydis

Symptoms: Initial lesions appear as

greenish black water soaked

circular areas with chlorotic halos,

expanding into oval and then the

diagnostic parallel sided rectangular

brownish gray lesions.

Inoculum Survival: Infected crop

residue (leaves and leaf sheaths).

Control : Select hybrids with

resistance (tolerance based on risk),

two year crop rotation, cleanly plow

under infected residue.

.

.

DISEASE NAME: SOUTHERN CORN RUST

Pathogen: Fungus. Pucciniapolysora

Symptoms: Similar to common rust except pustules occur almost exclusively on the upper leaf surface, rarely on lower. Pustules are more orange than brick-red and slower to break through epidermis of leaf than common rust pustules.

Inoculum Survival: Spores blown into the Midwest from the South. Does not survive winter in Indiana, except possibly in rare years along the Ohio River.

Control : Resistant hybrids. Foliar fungicides may be useful in seed production fields.

.

STALK ROTS

DISEASE NAME: ANTHRACNOSE STALK ROT

Pathogen: Fungus. Colletotrichumgraminicola

Symptoms: Water-soaked areas on the surface of the lower internodes, developing brownish linear streaks, turning black later in the season, larger oval black areas may develop, disintegrated gray to dark brown pith, severely infected stalks likely to lodge.

Inoculum Survival: Infected crop residue (leaves, leaf sheaths and stalks), infected seed (rare).

Control Resistant hybrids (full season hybrids tend to have more resistance than short season), two year crop rotation with non grass crops, cleanly plow under infected residue, balanced soil fertility.

.

.

DISEASE NAME: DIPLODIA

STALK ROT

Pathogen: Fungus. Diplodia maydis

Symptoms: Leaves turn grayish-

green and eventually brown. Dark

brown lesions extend in either

direction from the node. Pith is

disintegrated and discolored, stalks

break easily. Tiny black bumps

(pycnidia) may form just beneath the

epidermis on lower internodes.

Inoculum Survival: Infected crop

residue (seed, cobs, ear shanks,

stalks),seed, soil.

Control : Resistant hybrids (full

season hybrids tend to have more

resistance than short season hybrids),

balanced soil fertility, recommended

plant population.

.

.

DISEASE

NAME: GIBBERELLA STALK

ROT

Pathogen: Fungus. Gibberella

zeae

Symptoms: Stalks that are split

open have a disintegrated pith

with pink discoloration.

Inoculum Survival: Infected

crop residue (seed,stalks), seed,

soil.

Control : Resistant hybrids. Full

season hybrids tend to have more

resistance than short season.

Balanced soil fertility. Do not

exceed recommended plant

populations.

.

EAR ROTS

DISEASE NAME: DIPLODIA EAR

ROT

Pathogen: Fungus. Diplodia maydis

Symptoms: Infection usually starts at the

base of the ear or from the stalk into the

shank. White mycelial growth covers the

kernels and pycnidia may be found on

rotted kernels, husks adhere tightly,

infected ears remain erect when infection

occurs early in ear development.

Inoculum Survival: Infected crop residue

(seed, cobs, ear shanks, stalks), soil.

Control : Resistant hybrids, crop rotation,

clean plowing, harvest early to prevent

weathering. Dry corn to 15% moisture

content and below to prevent further mold

growth in storage.

.

.

DISEASE NAME: GIBBERELLA EAR

ROT

Pathogen: Fungus. Gibberella zeae

Symptoms: Reddish mold that usually

starts at the tip of the ear. Husks may

adhere tightly to the ear (hybrid

dependent).

Inoculum Survival: Infected crop

residue (stalks, seed), infected seed,

soil.

Control : Resistant hybrids, crop

rotation, harvest early to prevent

continued mold growth in the field,

clean plowing. Dry corn to 15%

moisture content and below to prevent

further mold growth in storage.

.

.

DISEASE NAME: ASPERGILLUS EAR

ROT

Pathogen: Fungi. Aspergillus flavus,

A. glaucus, A. niger

Symptoms: Aspergillus niger appears

as a black mold on infected

kernels. A. flavus is a greenish-yellow

mold growing on damaged kernels. A.

glaucus is a greenish mold.

Inoculum Survival: Infected plant

residue, infected seed, soil.

Control : In storage, controlled by

drying corn to a moisture content

below 15% as soon after harvest as

possible. In the field, avoid insect or

mechanical damage to ears.

.

OTHER DISEASE

DISEASE NAME: MAIZE DWARF

MOSAIC

Pathogen: Virus. Maize dwarf

mosaic virus (MDMV) strain A or B

Symptoms: Stippled mottle or

mosaic of light and dark green on the

youngest leaves (may develop into

narrow streaks). Upper internodes

may be shortened. Older leaves may

become blotched with red streaks

Inoculum Survival: Weeds

(rhizomes of perennial Johnsongrass).

Control : Resistant hybrids, control

rhizome Johnsongrass or other

overwintering weed hosts.

.

.

DISEASE NAME: MAIZE CHLOROTIC

DWARF

Pathogen: Virus. Maize chloroticdwarf virus (MCDV)

Symptoms: Fine chlorotic striping is first evident on smallest visible leaf veins. Older leaves may exhibit reddening, yellowing and marginal necrosis

Inoculum Survival: Weeds (rhizomes of perennial Johnsongrass).

Control: Resistant varieties. Sow early in the growing season to avoid large leaf hopper populations. Control perennial Johnsongrass.

.

TITLE :

HARVEST & POST-HARVEST

MAIZE HARVESTING PROCESS

Harvest timeHarvesting

process requirement

Before Harvesting

After Harvesting

Losses due to poor storage

Conditions that favour aflatoxincontamination in maize grains

Losses due to mould

HARVEST TIME :

The optimum time of harvestingmaize is when the stalks havedried and moisture of grain asabout 20-17%.

HARVESTING PROCESS REQUIREMENT :* Harvest maize as soon as it is dry but not

overstay in field it will be attacked by weevilsif does and lodge.

* In addition to reducing post harvest losses, this will also release the field for early land preparation.

* Keep the grain as clean as possible.

*Dry maize on cement floor or use tarpaulin to reduce chance of contamination.

* Dry on concrete or canvas not on bare soil.

PRE-HARVESTING :

• Make sure the drying place or equipment is clean and disinfected, ready to receive the cobs.

• Remove old grain and dirt from anything that will come in contact with the good or new grain. This includes harvesting tools, carts, wheel barrows, bags and baskets.

• Where possible, fumigate them or at least treat them with boiling water to kill insects or their eggs. This is done in order to avoid infection of new grain by insects and their eggs.

• Organize enough labour to reap and carry the cobs to the drying place.

Drying - the systematic reduction of crop moisture down to safe levels for storage, usually 12%-15.5% moisture content. It is one of the key post harvest operations since all down-stream operations depend on it.

Shelling – It is commonly done by beating maize cobs with stick in a sack or a confined floor space where farmers can afford it.

Storage - to maintain the stored grains in good condition so as to avoid deterioration both in quantity and quality.

POST-HARVESTING :

LOSSES DUE TO POOR STORAGE :

* Mould

• Microbial infection in storage occurs due to inadequate drying of produce. The situation is made worse when there are large numbers of insects present or when the stored crop is exposed to high humidity or actual wetting due to poor storage management. Fungal infection results into rots and development of aflatoxins, which are poisonous compounds to live stock and cause cancer in human.

CONDITIONS THAT FAVOURAFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION IN MAIZE GRAINS : Aflatoxin contamination is encouraged by:

• Physical damage due to poor shelling/threshing methods

• Poor storage methods (exposure to moist condition)

• Insect infestations.

• Inadequate drying

• Aflatoxin cannot be seen with a naked eye. However, suspect materials tend to:

• Be rotten

• Be mouldy

• Be discoloured

• Have unpleasant smell

• Have bitter taste

• Have poor milling quality

• Be warmer than room temperature

LOSSES DUE TO MOULD :

• Loss of weight

• Loss of quality (smell, taste, colour, nutritional value, germination)

• Further increase in temperature and moisture, causing more grain deterioration.

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