Growth and Production of Maize: Mechanized Cultivation

Maize originated under warm, seasonally dry conditions of Mesoamerica, and was by human selection converted from a low-yielding progenitor species into its modern form, with a large rachis (cob) of the female inflorescence bearing up to 1,000 seeds. Maize is a C4 plant and is very efficient in water use. If subjected to water stress, however, especially during the mid-season pollination process, yields can be much decreased. Crop management needs to be attuned to this moisture sensitivity, and planting date, cultivar and husbandry should be designed to minimize the chance of water shortage in the midseason period.