Maturity & Harvesting

Maturity & Harvesting

It is from the attributes of your seed suitable for a given agro-ecological zone that you will be able to determine the maturity period. More often maize seed companies usually provide literature that details the suitability of a seed to its agro-ecological environment to farmers and distributors.

There are hybrids seeds in the market meant for high altitude (over height of 1800 Meters above sea level), medium-altitude (1000 – 1700M) and low altitude (less than 1000M). Indicators of maturity such as the black layer at kernel base or the use of a moisture meter should be used to determine physiologically. Monitor drying to avoid weevil infestation. Grain should be dried to 13-15% moisture content, dusted with insecticides, and stored. Particular hybrids have the stay-green characteristic hence can be used as animal feed. Storage structures and containers/bags must also be treated with insecticides before storing maize grains. Yields of more than 50 bags/ acre or more have been realized with some hybrids. On average farmers get 15 bags/ acre. This depends on the locality and management the crop was accorded.