Effect of crop establishment methods and weed management practices on weeds and yield of kharif maize Zea mays L

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the world s leading crop and it is one of the most versatile emerging crops having wider adaptability. Maize is known as queen of cereals because of its highest genetic yield potential among food grain. Maize is the only food cereal crop that can be grown in diverse seasons and ecologies. Apart from this, maize is an important industrial raw material and provides large opportunity for value addition. It occupies an area of 9.25 m ha with 25.2 mt production (IIMR Annual report 2016-17). Maize is a key source of food and livelihood for millions of people in many countries of the world. It is an important source of many industrial products such as corn sugar, corn oil, corn flour, starch, syrup, brewer s grit and alcohol. The sudden in increase demand in industrial use of maize as bio-fuel production is likely to create an additional demand for maize in the coming decades. With the increase in industrial requirements and value-added foods for a growing economy and population, maize would continue to hold its share as a significant crop (Anonymous 2013). newline