• For optimum crop establishment plant stand is a valuable tool to realize higher maize yield.
• The plant stand in many maize fields is low because of certain factors like improper planting methods, water logged or prolonged dry period during seeding stage and pest damage.
• Experimental evidence obtained so far indicates that 66,000 plants per hectare or 26,000 plants / acre is found to be optimum for realizing maximum yield.
• The above population can be maintained by using a seed rate of 20 kg/ha, at a spacing of 75 cm or 60 cm between the rows and 20-25 cm between the plants.
• It is always beneficial to grow maize on ridge and furrows compared to flat bed on account of following reasons.
• Fertilizers and plant residues are concentrated in the root zone increasing production potential of the soil.
• Germination of weeds has been found to be less in ridge and furrow method.

Stand establishment

• Even though sowing good seed is an easy way to maintain required plant stand yet it is not insurance on account of complex factors existing under field conditions.
• One way to establish optimum stand is to sow more than one seed and thin at proper time with out effecting the growth and yield of the crop.
• Thinning at 10 days after emergence retaining one plant per hill is a good technique to maintain optimum plant stand and subsequent grain yield.
• Sowing to thick population and leaving the crop as it is without thinning to required stand results in stalk barrenness (Plants fail to produce cobs).

• With the availability of photononsensitive maize varieties, it is possible to grow maize throughout the year. Maize can be cultivated in three seasons.

Kharif crop

• It is better to sow the Kharif crop at least fortnight before the rain starts to avoid problems during sowing so that the seedlings are well established before they get heavy rains.
• Early sowing also reduces weed problems, the crop matures earlier and field becomes free for next rabi crop.

Kharif sowing is done at different times in different regions

Crop region	Sowing time
North- Eastern hills	1st week of March
North- Western hills	April end to early May
Peninsular India	May-June
Indo-Gangetic plains & AP	Mid June- July

Rabi crop

• The optimum date of sowing is end of October to mid December and crop is raised under assured irrigation.

Spring crop

• The crop is grown in Bihar, Maharastra and Tarai belt of UP and most optimum time of sowing is late January to end of February.