Maize of your Country
Maize
Introduction:
Maize is an important food crop of Pakistan. The maize plant
is about six to eight feet high. It stalk is twelve inches to two feet long.
Hot and humid climate is suitable for its cultivation. As far as the nutrients
of maize are concerned, it contains 9.4
per cent proteins, 70 per cent starch, 4.2 per cent fats, urea and calcium. Besides this, maize
is also used as fodder for animals. Several products such as corn oil, custard
powder, jelly and glucose are made from it. After wheat and rice, maize is the
third most important food crop.
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In Pakistan maize is
cultivated on about 1042 thousand hectares and according to the statistics of 2005-06, the country’ maize
production is 3109 thousand metric tons. The average per hectare production
of maize in Pakistan is three thousand metric tons which is much less than that
of other countries. In spite of it, Pakistan is eighth largest producer of
maize in the world. In the United States, the
per hectare yield of maize is 8924 kilogram.
History
The American continent is the real home of maize. When the
Europeans went to America they found that the natives if this region were well
aware of the maize cultivation. In the Sub-Continent, the cultivation of maize
began in the sixteenth century, even today; America is the largest producing
country in the world. In terms of the per hectare production of maize, Italy
enjoys a prominent place in the world.
Its per hectare production is 9332 kilograms which is more than that of any
other country in the world.
Favorable Physical Factors for the cultivation of Maize
- Climate
The maize plant grow in the tropical climate and fort this
reason, hot and humid climate is most suitable for it. But even in some cold
countries, its production is very high.
- Temperature
For the better production of maize, the temperature of 21 to 27 degrees centigrade is considered
appropriate. But by means of better irrigation, production can be increased in
that region where the temperature is not to ideal.
- Rainfall
Twenty or
more than twenty inches if annual rainfall is required for the maize crop,
artificial means of irrigation have been adopted in that region where the
rainfall is less than the required amount.
- Soil
For its proper growth and production, the maize crop requires
fertile soil having a large proportion of vegetation elements. Thus, the
fertile loamy soil of river valleys is regarded as suitable for it. High yield
is obtained through artificial fertilizers in the regions where these types of
soil are not available.
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