WEEDING

WEEDING

Remove unwanted plants as soon as they appear as they compete with maize for nutrients and water.

Weed control in maize could be manual or chemical or a combination of both. At least two weedings within 6 weeks after germination are necessary for effective weed control.

Manual weed control

Carry out the first weeding within 2 weeks after planting and subsequent weeding operations can be done within 6 weeks after planting or when deemed necessary upon looking at the nature and their infestation in the field.

Mulch the soil with dry glass to minimise weed grow, however use glass without seeds to avoid sowing weeds for the next season.

Effective weeding is done under dry, sunny conditions to avoid re-growth. Hand weeding is very effective especially in light weeding and very wet conditions.

Other methods of weed control are: Crop rotation (with crops like sunflower and cotton), tillage system, livestock wintering, and other field-management practices affect/reduces weed populations and competition in Maize. Make sure there are no weeds in your field all the time.

Chemical weed control

Herbicides can also be used for weed control. There are pre and post-emergence herbicides. A pre-emergence herbicide is the one that is applied when the targeted crop has not emerged. A post emergence herbicide is the one that may be applied when the targeted crop has emerged. Post-emergence herbicides are applied after the weeds and the crop come out. For pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides it is important to do the application when the soil is still wet. Consult extension workers for assistance on appropriate herbicides and application.

Follow the instructions written on herbicides bottle or packet.

Buy chemicals from the authorized agro dealers