The first step towards obtaining good maize harvest is ensuring that the farm is well-ploughed and ready for planting. Ploughing should go a depth of at least 20cm and should be conducted two to three weeks before the onset of the rains.
After preparing the land, the farmer should then plan for the planting process by budgeting for and acquiring inputs such as fertiliser and seeds.
There are four important decisions that farmers should make when it comes to choosing fertiliser.
First, fertiliser is chosen depending on the soil type. For sandy soils, NPK fertiliser works better than DAP. Farmers should also buy the right amount of fertiliser. The amount will depend on the recommended nutrient application rates, the target yield, the size of the farm, and the nutrient concentration of fertiliser selected, with Chemical fertilizers alone the highest yields per acre is 35 to 50 bags if you apply accordingly
SIMBI MBEYA FERTILIZERS
This is the best organic fertilizers on the market currently and it has proven to work better than chemical fertilizers and any other organics including other types of MBEYA Fertilizers. Here is how best you can use SIMBI MBEYA FERTILIZERS we blend 2 50kg bags of SIMBI organic fertilizers with 20 kgs of Urea N46 and 30 kgs of NPK if you would like to apply for the first application and you apply side by side with a table spoon, if you have planted 2 seeds per station but if it’s one per station then application is one table spoon per station not in the medal of two stations. Same with top dressing you will need 2 SIMBI MBEYA FERTILIZERS bags and 50 kgs of Urea N46 application is the same as the first one, with this type of application is good for commercial as it will maximize your yields more than chemical fertilizers can do, an estimate of 70 or more bags per acre, unless the rains disturbs,
PROPER SEEDS
Second, farmers should also ensure they obtain the right seed variety. The climatic zone in which a farm is located influences the maize variety that should be planted as seed varieties do well in different areas.
Before purchasing seeds, farmers should examine the packaging to determine the expiry date and to ensure that it has not been interfered with.
The amount of seeds to be purchased depends on the recommended seed rate, and the size of the farm. On average, an hectare requires 25kg of certified seed.
Third, at the onset of rains, the farmer should harrow the farm. Harrowing involves breaking up large soil blocks. This makes planting easier and ensures maize germinates. Planting should start a few days after the onset of the rains when the soil is moist.
Fourth, for good growth and development, maize should be planted at the right spacing. The recommended spacing is 75cm between rows and 25cm for plants. The planting holes should be about 5cm deep. The right spacing ensures good crop growth, makes it easier to weed and reduces the spread of pests and diseases.
