Maize yield per acre:
If you are a maize farmer, you’ll want to know the maize yields you get per acre.
Well, “An Acre of maize can produce between 10-60 (90 Kilo bags)”
However, maize yield per acre depends on several factors like:
- The maize variety you plant
- Soil Fertility
- Maize Plant population per acre
- Weed control strategies adopted
- etc.
Therefore, if your goal is to harvest sufficient yields to…
NOT ONLY cover production cost, but also make profit.
Continue reading below to find out how each of the factors listed above determine your maize yields per acre:
Step 1: Choose the Right Maize Variety
In Kenya, (I guess around the world) there are a number of maize varieties.
Each of these varieties grow and yield best at a specific altitude.
They are also bred to overcome a specific problem associated with maize production.
For example, you’ll find maize varieties suitable for:
- Highland areas,
- Mid altitude areas,
- Low altitude areas
- and even the Coastal strip.
You’ll also find varieties resistant to
Maize streak virus,
- Blights,
- Lodging,
- Cob rot,
- Maize smut
- etc.
Each of these varieties also happen to produce different yields of maize per acre.
Therefore the maize you choose to grow will greatly determine the yield per acre you’ll get
You might also like: Green Maize Farming in Kenya Profitable? 10 Amazing Reasons
Here Below Is a Complete List of Maize Varieties In Kenya and Their Yield Per Acre (80 KILO Bags)
Variety | Suitable altitude | Maturity period months | Tolerances | Yield/Acre in 80kg bags | Company |
SC Duma 43 | Mid to low attitude | 3 | Drought and heat stress | 20-30 | African Seed company |
SC Punda Milia | Mid altitude areas of western Kenya, Central rift, South Nyanza, upper Eastern and Central | 4 | Common maize diseases | 30-40 | African Seed company |
SC Simba 61 | High altitude areas of Kakamega, Mumias, Teso, Kisii, Transmara, South rift, Bomet, Mulot, upper eastern and Central provinces | 4-5 | Maize streak virus, Cob rots, GLS | 35-40 | African Seed company |
SC Tembo | High Altitude areas of Eldoret, Kakamega, Bungoma, Kisii, Molo, Njoro, Nyahururu, Aberdare ranges, Eastern and Central | 5 | Maize streak virus, Cob rots, GLS, common leaf rust | 35-58 | African Seed company |
KH 600-20A | High Altitude areas of Eldoret, Kitale, Kakamega, Mt Elgon, Kapsabet, Nandi Hills, Kisii, Narok, Central Province, Bungoma, Lugari | 6 | Blights | 36-53 | African Seed company |
KH 500-43A | Mid altitude areas of Central and upper areas of Eastern and Western Kenya | 5 | Maize streak virus | 28-32 | East Africa Seed company |
H 614 D | Highland Variety 1500-1800 meters Above sea level | 7 months | GLS, Blight | 38 | |
H624D | 1500-1800 Meters above sea level | 6 Months | GLS, Blight | 46 | |
H 629 | 1500-1800 Meters above sea level | 6 Months | Ear Rot | 48 | |
H9401 | 1500-2800 meters above sea level | 5-7 months | Ear rot, GLS, stem & leaf blight | 50 | |
H 6210 | 1500-2800 meters above sea level | 7 months | GLS, Blight | 52 | |
H 6218 | 1500-2800 meters above sea level | 7 months | Blight | 56 | |
H 513 | 800-1700 meters above sea level | 3 months |
| 24 | |
H 516 | 800-1700 meters above sea level | 4 months | Blight, Rust, Lodging | 28 | |
H 517 | 800-1700 meters above sea level | 3-4 months | Cob rot, Maize streak Virus | 30 | |
H 519 | 800-1700 meters above sea level | 3-4 months | Maize streak virus, Gray Leaf spot | 30 | |
H 528 | 800-1700 meters above sea level | 3-4 months | Striga weeds | 30 | |
PH 1 | 1-1200 meters above sea level | 2 ½ months | Drought resistant | 20 | |
PH 2 | 1-1200 meters above sea level | 2 ½ months | Heat tolerant | 24 | |
DH 01 | 800-1500 meters above sea level | 2 ½ months | Blight, Rust | 15 | |
DH 02 | 800-1500 meters above sea level | 2 ½ months | Moisture stress, Maize streak virus | 16 | |
DH 04 | 800-1500 meters above sea level | 3 months | Ear rots | 28 | |
H 532 | 800-1700 meters above sea level | 3 months | Drought tolerant | 30 | |
PAN 691 | High Altitude | 6 months | Common rust, northern leaf blight, leaf spot |
| |
PAN 683 | High altitude | 6 months | Common rust, northern leaf blight, leaf spot |
| |
PAN 7 M 97 | Mid altitude | 5 months | Cob diseases, tolerant to weevils |
| |
PAN 4M 19 | Low altitude | 4 months | Grey leaf spot |
| |
PAN 63 | Mid altitude | 4 months | Maize streak virus |
| |
PAN 67 | Mid altitude | 4 months | Grey leaf spot, northern corn blight, acidic soil |
| |
PAN 86-93 | Mid Altitude | 4 months | Excellent disease resistance |
|
Step 2: To Get High Yields Per Acre, Grow The Right Maize Population
A recent study conducted by crop nuts indicated that maize population per acre GREATLY affects the yield of maize per acre.
It was evident from the study that, “Farmers get low yields because of low maize plant population per acre.”
This is pretty serious because a low plant population leads to:
- Missed targets regarding yields
- Wastage of fertilizer where fertilizer is fed using machinery.
- Overgrowth of weeds because you end up putting fertilizer on weeds instead of maize.
“How do you solve the issue of low plant population?” You may ask.
so that you can have the desired maize yield per acre?
- When using maize planters, you have to calibrate them properly so that you achieve a plant population of 30,000 -45,000 per acre.
By doing this you increase your maize yield per acre automatically.
- Ensure that you grow maize at the right spacing. The best spacing is 25 cm between plants and 75 cm between rows. 25cmX75cm.
Step 3: Timing of Planting is Crucial for High Maize Yields Per Acre
Do the perfect timing, and you’ll Skyrocket your yields per acre!
The question is how do you do it?
- Prepare the land early during the dry season. Do this at least 3 weeks before the commencement of rain.
- Plant your maize one to one and a half week before the commencement of rain.
Step 4: Have an Effective Weed Control Plan
Weeds when left unchecked will significantly reduce your maize yields per acre.
To ensure this does not happen, use the right pre-emergent and post emergent herbicides.
For post emergent herbicide, I recommend Basagram whose active ingredient is Bentazone.
You can also use Roundup during the early land preparation stage to kill perennial weeds.
Please note that Roundup (Glyphosate) is a non-selective herbicide
Step 5: Conduct a Soil Test to Determine Soil PH and Fertility
Many farmers blindly use fertilizers on their maize crop.
They do not know whether the fertilizer that they have applied will increase maize yields per acre or not.
Why?
Most of them never test their soils.
Consequently, they are unaware of the nutrient deficiencies or PH of their soil.
Check out this post: Soil Testing in Kenya, A Crucial Step for High Yields
Prepare for Success
Once you’ve put in everything you’ll learnt above, you need to be ready to profit big.
Have a solid postharvest plan so that you don’t lose the maize yield you’ve struggled to achieve.
Be proactive in your marketing so that you get top profits out of your labor.
That’s it for today!
What are your thoughts on how to increase your maize yield per acre?
Share them below
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Very helpful but need some seeds to plant