SEED RATE AND PLANT POPULATION IN MAIZE PRODUCTION 🌽

The seed rate for maize varies depending on seed size and desired plant population. Typically, a seed rate of *20-25 kg per hectare* is recommended to achieve an ideal population of *50,000 to 60,000 plants per hectare*.

Why Is Plant Population Important?

- Low plant population: This can lead to uneven plant stands, increased weed competition, and reduced yields due to excessive branching.
- High plant population: While higher populations can increase cob clearance, they may cause competition for water and nutrients, leading to stunted growth and poor yield quality.

The ideal maize population is around 55,000 plants per hectare. However, maize is quite adaptable and can perform well across a range of populations. A minimum of 45,000 and a maximum of 75,000 plants per hectare is recommended, with the higher end increasing the risk of competition and lodging, but also potentially offering greater yields.

- Row spacing: Maize is typically planted with row spacings between 60 and 90 cm. Narrower rows often yield a slight advantage (5-10%), but wider rows allow for easier management.

*How to Determine Seed Rate (SR)*

Farmers can calculate the required seeding rate using this formula:

Seed Rate (SR) = Desired plant density (DPD) * [100/germination percent (GP)] * [100 / (100 - average percent stand loss (APSL)]

Example:

Let’s assume a farmer is targeting a plant density of 55,000 plants per hectare with a germination rate of 90% and an average stand loss of 5%.

The SR calculation would be as follows:

SR = 55,000 * [100 / 90] * [100 / (100 - 5)]

SR = 55,000 * 1.11 * 1.052

SR = 64,308 seeds per hectare

Assuming the 1,000 grain weight for maize is approximately 0.28 kg, the actual amount of seed required would be:

= (64,308 * 0.28) / 1,000

= 18.00624 kg per hectare

This means that the farmer would need approximately 18 kg of maize seed per hectare to achieve the desired plant population.

Accurate seed rate calculations help maximize yield potential while minimizing seed wastage and resource competition!

Almond911:

I'm more worried for the people of Kogi State who have Yahyah Bello as ex-governor and Ododo as an incumbent governor.

I tell u..

U need to come to villages in Kogi state.

You will see poverty in another dimension.

And ododo still have 3.5 years more.

Make God help us cha

Focusmind:
Billionaires, yet, they have no productive venture they are into other than politics.

I tell u... What a country

betabread:
One of the reasons d op farm looks healthy is dat at this point in time there is no actively growing maize farm around

Especially maize planted by poor folks that dont treat their farms

smiles... It's true cha, all this poor farmers can't take good care of their farm so pest and disease can easily stroll to your farm.

Even during pollination.

ActiveFarms:



When this is the case, what can be done. ? If the maize are sweating in the bags ?

Maize can only sweat when it is not properly dried.

ActiveFarms:




Should a farmer be worried if after threshing and bagging, and then covered with tarpaulin outdoors overnight into the next day, sweating is observed in the bags. Is there any major cause for worry. What should be done

be careful of aflatoxin.
Make sure u have moisture content of below 15 percent for proper storage.

betabread:


Rain is doing me shege , i plan to invest in a dryer of at least 4tonne capacity in the future

Pls update us on thrashing and drying as we r about to enter peak rains again

I will update definitely

ActiveFarms:



I should combine GuardForce and Atrazine you mean ?

yes .. it also works.

They are some post emergence of maize that comes with the combo.

Atrazin is also a post emergence of maize.

But it should be applied when the weed is at 3 to 4 leave stage

Can't really say another company producing herbicide with halosulfuron as the active ingredient except Jubaili.

But I can still advise you to go for post emergence herbicide with a combo of nicosulphuron and atrazin

ActiveFarms:


Thanks. I will squarely follow your directives.

I read your comment on Cornforce. Truth is I like to combine with Gu[img][/img]ardForce. I like to enquire please, can you be kind to intimate me with a product that is a dorwct alternative to cornforve that I can combine woth GuardForce/Striker ?

Day 83

I am a kogite and also a farmer..

I never see anything o

Na political farmers go cha enjoy this one.

It is strictly for their party members.

ActiveFarms:




I will apply same way as you. Thanks for the tip

What qty of water do you add to the 250grams if I may ask ?

half a litre

ActiveFarms:



Thanks a lot. I am very grateful. You're a very resourceful person. Just that Nigeria never taps into her human potentials


Final question, what quantity of either of the chemicals do I need to coat like 40 kg seeds ? I like to make the right call about the quantity I am meant to purchase

the quantity to use is clearly written on the product.

But I use 250g for 10kg of maize grain.

ActiveFarms:



Are these the names I should tell the Agro chemical sellers ? Are these produces recognized by these names ?


Do I have to use both or either of both ?

the names are very popular, just tell any vendor.

Use anyone available

ActiveFarms:



Thanks for the insight. Can I make use of just one instead of the two products ?

Can you be kind to list two or three product names I can look for on the market that contain these active ingredients?

go for either thiram or carbendazine..

It will help to give a nice start to your seed.

because what u get from your hervest is called grains.

After u prepare it with carb or Thiram, thats when u get a seed.

ActiveFarms:



I would like to ask is it possible to replant the seeds of your harvest after they have dried well ?

it is possible, but u will have to prepare it very well with seedcoating materials like carbendazin, thiram etc

post=131770894:
You Will Not Die In Road Accident, Say AMEN

amen

Very important.

In the animal kingdom, only the strongest lead...

A dull person can't make a good leader

mcquin:
Asuen or Akpata, we are good.

Okpebolor should first subject himself to interviews, debates and media scrutiny before asking Edomite’s to vote him. We can’t repeat same mistake of not having politicians engage us before voting.

Being smart, intelligent and healthy makes part of leadership. You can’t be dull and necessarily make a good leader.

casualobserver:


This is my problem with agriculture in Nigeria. We keep using toxic pesticides on our food chain that have been banned in other countries.

Atrazine, Paraguay and glysophhates are banned in many countries but they are in widespread use in Nigeria no wonder cancer
in on the increase and our exports are banned from entering some countries.

There's it's PHI( post hervest interval) clearly written on it

Ameboperoo2:

Those things are very wicked o. There was a time they almost finished my farm of about 1 acre. I had to put a scarecrow before they stopped.
At another farm, a hunter I set trap and killed 3 of them but I barely got anything from the farm. They finished it before maturity

Monkeys can destroy thousands of hectares if not prevented.

Make there go farm their own na

ActiveFarms:



My farm terminates in a river. I noticed a monkey on a high tree on it. It ended up ruining about 300 Maize cobs when I took count. I was mad seeing damaged crops. I later settled with the notion that we invaded their homes and they are part of Nature.

The Money ended up not going too far, it didn't exceed 300 cobs. I took as a sacrifice to nature and better to leave them as part of Nature than kill it.

I think we should settle for some loss to nature in-between o. Na we invaded their homes

I started noticing monkeys around the farm...

Our dog killed 1... So we need to start preparing bfor they invade



Monkeys are pest in maize farming, so to get rid of monkeys, below is a very good trick.

Go to the market and get Ori( Shea butter) and unadulterated powdered pepper.

Place the Shea butter on fire so that it will melt, then pour the powdered pepper and stir.

Rub all the maize cob around the farm.

Monkeys are known to be body scratchers, they will touch the maize laced with sticky pepper abd scratch their eye, prick and body ..

U go see the way they go swear for u come live your farm in peace....

betabread:
Off all things i fear in farming, its stolen harvest i fear the most......
Farmers are among the most monitored people in rural communities, if you dont have presence on the farm, you just fed the nation for free.....

prof rate the cob size at day 75.

Ameboperoo2:

The 4 corners of my farm was plundered by thieves despite using thorny shrubs to fence it. It's just one of the challenges of farming.

we call them unknown corn men

I saw this on Facebook.. laff nearly kill mee

betabread:
Maize thiefs on d rise, i wonder how january february will be

I saw this on Facebook

betabread:
Maize thiefs on d rise, i wonder how january february will be

Smiles,thanks boss

Emmybak:
Wonderful

Nigeria need you ser

Nawa

(1) Hybrid seed comes with many advantages,
(A) it is mostly F1, meaning first feliar..
(B) it has high germination percentage.
(C) it has many defensive agronomic packages like( drought tolerance, striga resistant etc)
(D) it has high yield potential.

(2) grains from market are not seed, they are grains, u don't know whether it is F12 or F16. So it is dependant on luck

(3) Integrated weed management system.

(4) yes

(5) yes, a facilitator teaching ND2 and HND2 of a polytechnic poultry farming.

(6) yes . Go for early maturing variety , and follow my thread from the start.

Success boss.

Emmybak:

Wow this post is educating.

Op des are my questions.

(1) What is the importance of planting hybrid seed?

(2) why did seed from market fail sometimes?

(3) How did you control the weed?

(4) Are you a graduate of agric?

(5) are you a teacher?

(6) God bless you for making this post, I am planting my second maize now. Any advice for me?

Thenk you

RichieMichie:


What is GAP

good Agronomic practices

90 percent tasselling...

God bless us with rain..

Zwooks:



Hi Bro,

Please quick question based on the SC 719. While it appears to be ready around 115-140 days ( DRY MODE ), off my assumption, I would like to know if this Maize variety can be harvested fresh at around say 80-90 days after planting if one chooses to harvest fresh

Yes it can be hervested fresh at that date.

But what's the need of hervesting 719 fresh?

betabread:


That means the time u planted was the best time to plant on dat soil, ur definitely a maize expert

I've been doing it for 8 years now o