Maize
Maize Cultivation Guide: Sowing, Spacing & Crop Care
Step-by-step hybrid maize cultivation — seedbed preparation, sowing time, seed rate, plant spacing, irrigation at critical stages, fertilizer splits and weed control for high yield.
Updated Fri May 22
Hybrid maize gives back exactly what you put into the basics: a clean seedbed, the right plant stand, water at flowering and nitrogen in splits. This guide walks through each step.
Seedbed preparation
Maize needs a deep, well-drained, well-tilled seedbed. Give 2–3 ploughings followed by planking to break clods and level the field. Good drainage is non-negotiable — incorporate well-rotted farmyard manure to improve structure and water-holding in lighter soils. Avoid fields prone to waterlogging.
Sowing time, seed rate and spacing
- Season: kharif (June–July), rabi (Oct–Nov, irrigated) or spring (where water allows)
- Seed rate: ~18–25 kg/ha of hybrid seed
- Spacing: about 60 cm between rows × 20–22 cm between plants for grain
- Target population: ~65,000–75,000 plants/ha (higher for fodder)
- Depth: 4–5 cm into moist soil
Line sowing — by drill or behind a plough — is far better than broadcasting. Even spacing lets every plant capture light and form a full cob.
Irrigation at critical stages
Maize wants steady moisture but never standing water. The critical, never-miss stages are:
| Stage | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Knee-high | Rapid vegetative growth, sets plant frame |
| Tasseling / silking | Flowering — water stress here ruins grain set |
| Grain filling | Determines grain weight and final yield |
In kharif, drainage matters as much as irrigation — remove excess water after heavy rain.
Fertilizer: feed nitrogen in splits
Maize is one of the hungriest cereals for nitrogen. Base the dose on a soil test and split the nitrogen so it is available through the season:
- Basal (sowing): full phosphorus and potash + part of the nitrogen.
- Knee-high stage: the largest nitrogen top-dress.
- Tasseling: the remaining nitrogen.
Phosphorus drives early root growth; potash improves stalk strength and grain filling.
Weed control
The first 30–45 days are the critical weed-free period — weeds compete hardest while the crop is young. Control them with timely inter-cultivation and/or recommended herbicides so the crop, not the weeds, uses your fertiliser and water.
Putting it together
Match the right hybrid to your season, sow at the correct population, keep the first six weeks weed-free, irrigate at knee-high, tasseling and grain filling, and split your nitrogen. Return to the complete maize farming guide for the bigger picture. Strong all-round hybrids like Harmi and Frency respond especially well to this management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What spacing should I use for maize?+
A common grain-maize spacing is about 60 cm between rows and 20–22 cm between plants, giving roughly 65,000–75,000 plants/ha. Use closer spacing for fodder and wider for very fertile, high-vigour conditions.
How much nitrogen does maize need?+
Maize is a heavy nitrogen feeder. Apply nitrogen in splits — a basal dose at sowing, the largest share at knee-high stage, and the remainder at tasseling — based on a soil test.
Which growth stages are most sensitive to water stress in maize?+
Tasseling/silking (flowering) and grain filling are the most moisture-sensitive stages. Water stress at flowering causes poor grain set and is the biggest avoidable yield loss in maize.
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