Mixed Culture of Maize (Zea Mays L.) for Enhancing Productivity

Maize is one of the most important staple crops in the world. To feed ever burgeoning population, there is a need to increase production and productivity of the crop. Adoption of hybrid maize technology led to the substantial increase in total maize production. However, small farmers, who are constrained with the relatively high inputs requirement of hybrids. This book describes about the method how reduction of cost and enhancing of maize production could be done by mixing hybrids and open pollinated varieties (OPVs) in a sustainable manner thereby providing options to the resource poor farmers. Likewise, it describes about the agronomic manipulation of increased maize production techniques through mixed culture of different combination of maize seed between hybrids and OPVs. Also, it explains how substitution of hybrid seeds with OPVs up to 50% proves economically sound alternative practice of maize production system for resource poor growers in general and developing country in particular. Likewise, it provides information on economic benefit of mixed cultivar culture of maize for increasing production as well.