Crop production in KwaZulu-Natal/Annotated Bibliography/Maize

Maize (Zea mays) in KwaZulu-Natal

In KwaZulu-Natal, maize is produced for grain, silage, green mealies (corn on the cob) and sweet corn. Grain is produced for both human consumption and livestock production, and silage is mainly produced by commercial dairy farmers. Green mealies (for use as corn on the cob) are widely grown, although on a smaller scale. They are harvested well before reaching physiological maturity. The optimum harvesting window is market-dependant, but is generally just after the milk stage (early dough stage). The timing of this stage is variety-dependant, but is usually about 3 weeks after flowering. (www.seedcogroup.com - retrieved 2021-02-04).

Maize is widely grown by many farmers, including gardeners, smallholders and those with large-scale commercial farms. The crop is largely rain-fed (dryland), but where irrigation is available, it is often the preferred crop.

Production guidelines

Du Plessis, J. 2003. Maize production. Department of Agriculture, Pretoria, South Africa PDF

Weed management for maize

Bezuidenhout, S.R. 2016. Weed management principles for maize. KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Research and Technology Bulletin, 2016/04. PDF

Farina, M.P.W., Thomas, P.E.L. and Channon, P., 1985. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium effects on the incidence of Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze in maize. Weed Research, 25(6), pp.443-447. DOI PDF

Soil fertility and plant nutrition for maize

Bennet, R.J., Thibaud, G.R. and Roberts, V.G., 2005. New sources of aluminum tolerance in South African maize. Communications in soil science and plant analysis, 35(15-16), pp.2177-2190.

Farina, M.P.W., 1984. Nitrogen-phosphorus interactions in maize. Technical communication-South Africa, Department of Agriculture. PDF

Farina, M.P.W. and Channon, P., 1987. Season and phosphorus age effects on the relationship between maize yield and phosphorus soil test on a highly weathered soil. South African Journal of Plant and Soil, 4(1), pp.21-25. DOI PDF

Farina, M.P.W. and Channon, P., 1991. A field comparison of lime requirement indices for maize. Plant and Soil, 134(1), pp.127-135.DOIPDF

Farina, M.P.W., Channon, P., Thibaud, G.R. and Phipson, J.D., 1992. Soil and plant potassium optima for maize on a kaolinitic clay soil. South African Journal of Plant and Soil, 9(4), pp.193-200. DOI PDF

Farina, M.P.W., Thomas, P.E.L. and Channon, P., 1985. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium effects on the incidence of Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze in maize. Weed Research, 25(6), pp.443-447. DOI PDF

Maziya, M., Mudhara, M. and Chitja, J., 2017. What factors determine household food security among smallholder farmers? Insights from Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Agrekon, 56(1), pp.40-52. DOIPDF

Melis, M. and Farina, M.P.W., 1984. Potassium effects on stalk strength, premature death and lodging of maize (Zea mays L.). South African Journal of Plant and Soil, 1(4), pp.122-124. DOI PDF

Mendes, A.P., Farina, M.P.W., Channon, P. and Smith, M., 1985. A field evaluation of the differential tolerance to soil acidity of forty-eight South African maize cultivars. South African Journal of Plant and Soil, 2(4), pp.215-220. DOI PDF

Schroeder, B.L., Farina, M.P.W. and Fey, M.V., 1985. A comparison of several nitrogen-availability indices on four Natal maize-producing soils. South African Journal of Plant and Soil, 2(3), pp.164-166. DOI PDF

Thamaga-Chitja, J.M., Hendriks, S.L., Ortmann, G.F. and Green, M., 2004. Impact of maize storage on rural household food security in Northern Kwazulu-Natal. Journal of Consumer Sciences, 32. DOIPDF

Pest and disease management for maize

Bezuidenhout, S. and Nunkumar, A., 2017. Chemical control options for Fall Armyworm in maize. KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. PDF

Lamprecht, S.C., Tewoldemedhin, Y.T., Botha, W.J. and Calitz, F.J., 2011. Fusarium graminearum species complex associated with maize crowns and roots in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Plant disease, 95(9), pp.1153-1158. DOI PDF
Abstract: Thirty-three isolates of the Fusarium graminearum species complex obtained from diseased maize (Zea mays) crowns and roots in the Winterton district, KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa were identified to species level. Their pathogenicity and virulence to maize ‘PHI 32D96B’ seedlings were determined under glasshouse conditions, with seedling survival and growth and crown and root rot as criteria. Phylogenetic analyses using the 3-O-acetyltransferase (Tri101) gene region sequences revealed the presence of F. boothii (2 isolates), F. graminearum sensu stricto (26 isolates), and F. meridionale (5 isolates) in the F. graminearum species complex associated with diseased maize crowns and roots. Pathogenicity results showed that F. boothii was the most and F. meridionale the least virulent of the three species. F. boothii and F. graminearum sensu stricto significantly reduced survival of seedlings and all three species caused significant reduction in growth and significantly more crown and root rot than the control (uninoculated). This is the first report of F. boothii, F. graminearum sensu stricto, and F. meridionale associated with diseased maize crowns and roots and their pathogenicity and virulence as soilborne pathogens on maize seedlings in South Africa.

Overholt, W.A., A.J. Ngi-Song, C.O. Omwega, S.W. Kimani-Njogu, J. Mbapila, M.N. Sallam and V. Ofomata. 2020. An Ecological Approach to Biological Control of Gramineous Stemborers in Africa: The Introduction and Establishment of Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi, Kenya. HTML