Crop Production and Sowing Methods

Crop Production

• Synthetic cultivars are created by crossing lines that complement each other and remain isolated after initial hybridization.

Sowing Methods

• Raised bed method is ideal for rainy and monsoon seasons, maximizing water use efficiency and yield, while also minimizing lodging. The bed size is 60 cm x 30 cm. This method is suitable for various crops like rice, winter maize, maize, and wheat.
• Zero till sowing is best for light-to-medium textured soils for crops like rice winter maize, maize wheat crop.
• Reduced till sowing is suitable for rice winter maize and maize wheat, targeting light to medium textured soils.

Maize Production

• Zinc deficiency in maize is indicated by "white bud," a light yellow band with reddish veins appearing on the plant's leaves, commencing at the base of the 2nd or 3rd leaf from the top, two weeks after seedling emergence. These symptoms extend in strips towards the tip, parallel to the mid-rib, while keeping the midrib and leaf margins green.
• Gene Opaque 2 is crucial for QPM (Quality Protein Maize).
• QPM has a biological value of 80%, while normal maize has a value of 45%.

Baby Corn Production

• Baby corn is harvested 1-3 days after silk emergence from unfertilized cobs, 1-3 cm long.
• Optimum baby corn size ranges from 6-11 cm in length and 1.0-1.5 cm in diameter.
• Creamy light yellow is the preferred baby corn color.
• Baby corn is a high-phosphorus source.
• Sowing time: April-August
• Maturation period: less than 60 days

Baby Corn Characteristics

• High plant population (60x15-20 cm²)
• High nitrogen requirement (150-180 kg N/ha)
• Detasseling is required to prevent self-pollination
• Early maturing single cross hybrids are preferred.

Sweet Corn Production

• Sweet corn is a good source of Vitamin A and C.
• Early maturity is favored
• Typical crop duration is 70-75 days.
• Sweet corn contains 70% moisture in grains and 11-20% sugar at harvest.
• Dull yellow color is the preferred color for sweet corn cobs.