- Maize is an important kharif fodder crop which gives highly succulent and nutritionally rich fodder.
- Maize grain is also an important feed component of dairy cattle and poultry feed.
- Maize is a rich source of starch, protein and edible oil.
- Maize produces good quality herbaceous fodder with high palatability.
- Hence by providing sufficient quantities of fodder instead of costly concentrates and feeds to the milch animals, the cost of milk production can considerably be reduced.
- Optimal growth conditions are 18-21°C average day-temperatures, annual rainfalls of more than 750 mm, and deep, well-drained rich soils.
- However, maize withstands annual rainfalls ranging from 230 to 4100 mm, a pH between 4.3 and 8.7, and a great variety of soils.
- Frost kills the plants.
- Drought is detrimental at flowering as it affects pollination and impairs yields.
- Maize has no tolerance to flooding.
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