Integrated Soil Fertility Management - Maize

Maize is one of the world's most important crops. It is the cereal with the highest yield potential, crop which produces grain that can be used as food by human as well as livestock. Like other crops maize requires a good and fertilize soil to get high yield, thus maize should be fertilized adequately especially the hybrids to enable them reach their fullness expression, and this will expose you to the best practice  to improve your soil fertility, if you are using either organic or  inorganic fertilizer.

Soil Management

For Organic Fertilizer (Farm Yard Manure):

• It is important to return crop residues of the previous year into the soil where maize is to be planted 
• It is also important to grow maize in rotation with legume crops to provide natural soil enrichment 
• It is recommended to apply 5-10 tons per hectare of Farm Yard Manure in order to improve soil nutrients, texture and structure
• Manure can be applied side dressing or by broadcasting method 
• Maize do not require waterlogged sites, ensure the site and soil is well drained 

For Inorganic Fertilizer: 

• The recommended dose is 120kg N, 60kg P2O5 and 60kg K2O per hectare split applied at sowing or 2 Weeks After Sown (2WAS) and at 4 weeks after first application 
• Incorporate the fertilizer into the soil and cover 
• Usually at with other cereals, it is only the N that is split applied while whole of P and K are applied basely 

Note: dosage should be based on the requirements by the soil, that's the nutrients that are found wanted or less available 

(N - nitrogen, P - phosphorus, K - potassium, P2O5 - phosphate oxide, and K2O - potassium oxide) 

For enquiries or more information, contact at agroecosolutions@gmail.com