“ Maize has emerged as a forerunner among all the food crops in terms of overall production and annual growth rate in the country during the last season. It is the only cereal which exceeds the agricultural growth target desired by the Prime Minister to provide impetus to overall growth of GDP in the country” says Dr R.B. Singh, a former Member of the National Commission on Farmers, who inaugurated the 51 st Annual Maize Workshop held at Palampur in the scenic Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh . The workshop was attended by eminent and distinguished world renowned scientist Dr. S.K. Vasal, chaired by Dr. P. L. Gautam, Deputy Director General (Crops), ICAR and was inaugurated by Dr. R.B. Singh, Former member, National Commission on Farmers. Dr. S.N. Shukla, Assistant Director General, (FFC), ICAR and Dr. Tej Pratap, Vice-Chancellor, CSK HPKVV also graced the occasion. Dr. Sain Dass, Project Director, Directorate of Maize Research presented the significant achievements of maize research in India for the season ending 2007. More than 300 scientists from public and private sector participated and important decisions were taken during deliberations.

The Deputy Director General (Crop Sciences) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research who chaired the meet stated that “Maize has the potential for still further growth and provides scope for expansion and growth of other allied agricultural segments like feed, poultry, milk & meat production, and for a diverse sector of industrial consumers as textiles, paper, pharmaceutical, confectionery and processed foods. What remains to be properly and eloquently recognized is the outstanding efforts of the maize scientists in developing single cross hybrids not only for the normal maize types but also for the Quality Protein Maize which can be a strong support to the food and nutritional security of the country in the less privileged and the tribal belts”.

The research findings highlighted by Dr Sain Dass, Project Director Maize, were highly appreciable as some new single cross hybrids capable of yielding 14 to 37% higher than existing hybrids have been developed and identified for entire country as well as for regional use, pushing up the yield potentials close to 8 tonnes per hectare during kharif season and about 10 tonnes per hectare during rabi season. The series of single cross hybrids now being identified in this crop are responsible for the emergence of maize as a high growth commodity, its consistency of performance at farmers' fields and to act as a catalyst for growth of consumer segments in agriculture and other industrial sectors dependent on maize derived products like starch, glucose, dextrine, maltodextrine, citric acid, adhesives, pharmaceutical additives and accessories, etc.

The important recommendations on different aspects made during the 51 st Annual maize workshop are-

Identification of new Hybrids and Composites:

Eleven hybrids and composites of normal and quality protein maize (QPM) for kharif and winter seasons were identified for their suitability to different cropping systems under varying agro-ecological conditions of the country. As against the past trend of hybrid development which was heavily weighted in favour of the private sector seed companies, public bred hybrids have made a notable impact in the trials conducted at about 30 locations in the country.

Two single cross hybrids, developed at the Karnal center of HAU, were identified for cultivation on a national basis all across the country. This is the first time that any single cross hybrid of maize has been identified as suitable for the entire country, which augurs well for the adoption of public bred hybrids which is a new phenomenon. Hybrid “HKH 1200” has a medium maturity, and excelled by more than 37% the yield of best National Check at centers viz., Delhi, Punjab Haryana UP, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra AP, TN, Karnataka etc., for rabi (winter) season. Another hybrid “HKH 1188” exhibited more than 30% superiority in yield, over national check all across the country for rabi season.

Hybrid “JH 10704”, developed at PAU Ludhiana, which is late in maturity proved to be 14% superior over the best National Hybrid Check and has been identified for the north western belt viz. Delhi , Punjab Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh.

Hybrid “Pro -368”, developed by Pro Agro Seed Company, showed more than 22% superiority over best national check in relatively dry belt of Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat and was accordingly identified for cultivation in these states.

The northern hill states constitute an important belt for maize production and utilization in the country. Three hybrids of maize were identified for different states in this belt. Hybrid “FH 3352”, developed at the VPKAS, Almora, was found to excel by 18.8%, the yield levels of national check Identified for Uttrakhand, Jammu & Kashmir. Accordingly, it has been identified for these states.

Among the notable specialty corn types, the “High Quality Protein Maize” significant progress has been achieved by identification of hybrids like “HQPM-7” of HAU, Karnal. This had more than 10% yield superiority over national check in AP, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra . Likewise, hybrid “Vivek QPM -9” of Almora was identified for J&K, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra .

Composite Varieties:

While the hybrids will continue to play a vital role in growth and improvement of maize cultivation in different parts of the country, there is always a section of the farmers who would not be in a position to replace their seeds year after year and may have to save seeds from current crop for future use. For this less privileged section of cultivators, composite varieties are not only desirable but a necessity. The 51 st Annual Maize Workshop has thus identified four Composite varieties viz., a) “ D-131” developed by GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, with 23% yield superior over national check, identified for Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh; b) “ Composite R 2005-2” from CSAUAT Kanpur , with a 22% yield superiority over national check, identified for Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu; c) “WC-236” from Banswara, Rajasthan, with a 14% yield superiority over national check identifed for Srinagar and Uttranchal; and d) “L-201” developed in HP by Bajaura station of CSK HPKV, exhibiting a 10% yield superiority over national check, and identified for Uttranchal and Himachal Pradesh.

Crop production:

In order that the hybrids and composites may achieve and exhibit their true potential, it is not enough to plant the improved seeds only, but a whole lot of production and plant protection practices has to be adopted to realize best yields at any given farm. Accordingly, the 51 st Maize Workshop came up with the following recommendations for maize cultivation to obtain best yields at farmers' fields:

Plant population and planting in rows with 60cm x 15 or 20 cm is of vital significance. Application of 180 kg N, 75 kg P 2 O 5 , and 75 kg K 2 O/ha supplemented with FYM (6 t/ha) gave higher grain yield of single cross hybrids. Nitrogen should be applied in five splits doses for improving the productivity and nitrogen use efficiency, viz., 15 % at sowing, 25 % at 15 days, 30 % at 25 days, 20 % at tasseling, and 10 % at early grain filling. With a view to maximize returns for a unit area, intercropping of winter maize with high value crops (potato, coriander, peas, gladiolus, cole crops, leafy vegetables) resulted in higher profitability compared to sole maize.

To control soil borne diseases, either Trichoderma viride formulation mixed @ 1 kg/ 10 kg FYM should be applied in furrows 10 days before pre-sowing irrigation or seed treatment with Captain/Thiram @ 3 g/kg seed. To control Sorghum Downy Mildew (SDM) treat the seed with Metalaxyl @ 2.5 g/kg seed. Lower leaves touching the ground should be removed to reduce the load of inoculum and spread of BLSB. Spray of Sheethmar, Validamycin @ 2.7 ml/l water is recommended to control Bacterial Leaf and Sheath Blight.

Hybrids/Varieties identified on April 5, 2008 during 51 st workshop held under the chairmanship of Dr. S.N. Shukla, ADG (FFC), ICAR, New Delhi at CSKHPKVV, Palampur

(Source : CSK HPKVV, Palampur)