Maize programme Maize breeding section Factors affecting maize production Climatic factors Rainfall- if there is heavy rainfall

leads to leaching If there is low rainfall leads to water stress to maize plant-nutrients absorption by roots in the soil is affected Temperature-high temperature or low temperatures leads to drying and wilting of plants Optimum temperature is recommended Soil fertility-level of fertility. High yield is obtained from fertile soil but low yield is btained from poor soils (not fertile). Economic factors-determines the end results of your maize production. Cost production is considered to avoid loss. Production practices-awareness by the community on the importance of the maize Breeding mechanism Normally start with the selected hybred lines. You lok characteristics of hybred lines both for male and female where male should be: Having good foreign producer Have a long pollen shedding period so as to synchronize with the female flowering Good pest and disease resistant. While female should : Have high yielding and good seed quality Good pest and disease resistant Should flower uniformly Should be male sterile if possible. After selecting hybrid A as a male and B as a female, have your seeling maching and seed polythene then get enough pollen from hybrid A (male) then take and place in the female part of hybrid B (female). By next year you have come up with breed (male and female)

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Tt Tt Tt Tt-----------hybrid. Maize seed sorting at cold room and at lab. Countercheckinmg of data sheets from different areas where trials were carried out. Data sheets corrected or countercheck include: the one for AYT, PYT. GENETICS Genetics is the study of hereditary genes from parents to offsprings or the passing of traits from an organism to its offsprings Pollination Refers to the transfer of foreign grains to the stigma. Types of pollination Self pollination-transfer of pollen garins to the stigma of the same flower Cross pollination- transfer of pollen grains to the stigma of the different flower of the different species. Sibling pollination- take pollens from a plant of the same pedigree to its sib. NB. Most researchers use cross pollination Traits Traits are observable features of an organism which are passed from one generation to another. Examples of traits include: heigh, shape, weight , color. Dominant gene-the one which overmask the other one. Recessive genes- the one overmasked by the dominant gene. Pure breed/hybred line-refers to the genetically homozygons genotypes of a species which are developed as a result of self pollination or hybreeding. Hybrid-is the first generation progeny of crosses between plants that are different genetically. Examples of KARI hybrid maize: KH600-HD, KH626, KH600-15A, KH600-16A. Principles of genetics Traits are handed down from one generation of an organism to another Traits of an organism are controlled by genes as stated by law of Gregory mandel

Some genes are dominant and others are recessive. Some genes are neither dominant nor recessive; genes atre blended together Dorminant genes masks recessive genes when both inherited Visiting maize breeding nursery and observing what is being done at there. Also seeing the experimental design used, breeding by selfing, crossing and sibbing. Laying field layout Looking on the gradient of land Using phytogrous theorem rule

i.e. to give right angle and the straight lines

Sorting the maize seeds to be planted in the nursery (at cold room lab) Planting maize Establishment of planting lines Application of fertilizer to provide phosphorous for root development Planting of the seed (maize germplasm) Cutting and sealing of the polythene tubes (polythene tubing is cut at 9 inches long and one end is sealed) Counter checking data sheets on the errors entered wrongly B. agronomy section It involves activites in field from land preparation to harvesting Aim: to maximize production per unit area Factors influencing maize production 1. Land preparation: should be prepared well and early as soon as after harvesting i.e. when the soil is still moist to help soil get get separate but not get clods. Benefits of land preparation

Conservessoil moisture Ensures land is free from weeds Methods of land preparation By hand hoe Oxen Tractor Chemical herbicides 2. Planting factor High rainfall areas should bee planted on the onset of the rainfall Low rainfall areas recommended for dry planting 3. Choice of the seed Depends on the AEZ Early maturity which requires less than 700mm e.g. katumani and makueni composite Medium varieties-receives 750mm-1000mm per year e.g. 500 series-H511,H512, H513 Late maturing varieties- receives rainfall more than 1000mm per year e.g. H625, H626, KH500-15A, KH500-15B, H6210 and H6213. 4. Fertilizers At planting use phosphatic fertilizers eg. DAP, TSP, SSP, compound fertilizers and mavuno fertilizers to provide P Use 60kgs. Of phosphate per acre Farm yard manure-10 tons per acre Nitrogenous fertilizers for top dressing eg. CAN, ASN, SA and urea and mavuno topdressing. It is recommended that nitrogenous fertilizers should be applied five times at the rate of 60kgs. Per hectare or you can use combination of 30kgs p2o5 + 30kgs. Of nitrogen + 5 tonnes of farm yard manure. 5. Weed control Should be done on time and correct time

Methods of weed control: depending on the nature of the weed, cost, value of the seed, weather condition coverage of the field Types of weeds Broad leaves Grasses Methods used in controlling weeds Do it manually by the use of handhoe twice a season i.e. first at 3 weeks after germination and second at 5-6 weeks after germination Mechanical weeding- use machines, oxen and tractors Herbicides-pre-emergence herbicides e.g. premergram which is applied before germination when soil is moist Post-emergence herbicide-contact eg. 2.4.D, round up e.t.c. Combination of the above depending on the type of the crops e.g. wheat use herbicides. 6. Pests and diseases Pests: aphids, maize stalk borer Diseases: viral diseases e.g. maize streak viruses (control is by roguing) Fungal diseases: control by use of chemicals e.g.rindomil or if the crop is damped it doesnt affect. Both common and head smut- difficult to control but use certified seeds 7. spacing population density is achieved between and within plants. For early maturing plants spacing is allitle bit wider-90cm X 30cm i.e. planting per hill medium and late varieties: 75cmX30 cm plant per hill herbicides used in maize production 1. guardian-selective pre-emergence -control both annual grasses and broad leaf weeds. 2. gramoxone-non-selective and fast acting herbicide -control grasses and any other green vegetation -use in interows of maize, and any other crop

3. lizamine-selective pre-emergence and early post-emergence herbicides Controls weeds in maize fields and sugarcane 4. sencor-selective and systemic Controls both annual and broad leafed grasses in maize and sugarcane 5. tatapanida- a broad spectrum and selective pre-emergence herbicides -controls mainly weeds and grasses and any other broad leafed weeds 6. primagram-for broad spectrum annual weed control in maize field 7. twiga 2,4.D- selective herbicides -control brad leaf weeds in both maize and wheat field 8. aquawets-is an agriwetter, spreader and sticker that improves retention of spray on plants surface and enhance distribution of spray over plant foliage. It reduces surface tension of spray mixture thus improving wetting properties. Also improves spreading properties of fertilizers thus improving efficacy. 9. bulldock GRO.OS-also a sticker -a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide with contact and stomach actions for the control of maize stalkborer FIELD VISIT MANAGING N USE MAIZE VARIETIES FOR SUITABILITY IN AFRICA CROPPING SYSTEM