Climate Maize crop is warm weather loving crop and it is grown in wide range of climatic conditions. About 85% of the total acreage under maize is grown during mansoon because of the fact that the crop stops growing if the night temperature falls below 15.60 C or 600 F. Maize cannot with stand frost at any stage. Maize can successfully grown in areas receiving an annual rainfall of 60 cm, which should be well distributed throughout its growing stage. Crop needs more than 50% of its total water requirements in about 30 to 35 days after tasseling and inadequate soil moisture at grain filling stage results in a poor yield of shriveled grains. Maize needs bright sunny days for its accelerated photosynthetic activity and rapid growth of plants. Prolonged cloudy period is harmful for the crop but an intermittent sunlight and cloud of rain is the most ideal for its growth.

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Soil Deep fertile soils rich in organic matter and well-drained soils are the most preferred ones however maize can be grown on variety of soils. Soil should be medium textured with good water holding capacity. Loam or silt loam surface soil and brown silt clay loam having fairly permeable sub soil are the ideal soil types. Crop is very sensitive to water logging. As the crop is mainly grown in kharif season well drained soils are required. The pH should be between 6.5 to 7.5 along with CEC of 20 meq/100g and base saturation of 70 to 90 per cent, bulk density of 1.3 g/cc water holding capacity of about 16 cm per meter depth.

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