10 things I learnt about maize farming by spending time with agronomists

1. The choice of land preparation matters. Ploughing does more harm than good (ok this one I learnt from Sebastian Scott a few years back).

2. There are other basal fertilisers other than compound D which perform much better than compound D in maize production.

3. Plant spacing matters when it comes to attaining high yields.

4. Organic matter in the soil plays a big part in providing nutrients to your plants and protecting your soil. Manure, compost etc. use it (the Agronomists re-iterated the knowledge passed down to me from my ancestors).

5. Soil testing and liming your yields is an often ignored activity which is basically the difference between high yield and poor yield.

6. There is an element called Boron which is essential for the growth or should I say fruiting/cobbing of your plants.

7. You can achieve better yields on small fields with good management practices than on large fields with limited knowledge and trying to stretch resources. The question you should be asking is, “What is good management?”

8. Not all maize varieties are equal. When you buy seed, ask for details about what you are getting. Trust me, there is a reason each variety exists e.g. SC 647 does very well in acidic soils among other things.

9. Maize does get affected by diseases and nutrient deficiencies; it is best to learn about the common ones and ensure to find out what your seed is resistant to or has a high tolerance for. I was given a quick picture guide which I keep on my phone for reference. Your seed company should do the same for you.

10. To reduce the risk of leaching and its effects on the crop, you can consider applying top dressing to your crop at two different stages instead of the one application which we are accustomed to.

The Agronomist should be your friend if you really want to learn about maize production to improve yields.