Maize can be grown throughout the year at altitude ranging from sea level to about 300 m. Maize grows best in areas with rainfall of 600-900 mm. It requires fertile, well-drained soil with a pH ranging from 5.5-8.0, but pH 6.0-7.0 is optimum.

Season

As a rainfed crop, maize is grown in June-July or August-September. The irrigated crop is raised in January-February.

Varieties

Hybrids: Ganga Hybrid-1, Ganga Hybrid-101, Deccan hybrid, Renjit, Hi-Starch.
Composite varieties: Kissan Composite, Amber, Vijay, Vikram, Sona, Jawahar.

Seed rate: 20 kg/ha

Preparation of land and sowing
Plough the land three times and prepare ridges and furrows. Dibble one seed per hole at a spacing of 60 cm x 23 cm for the rainy season crop. For irrigated crop, beds are prepared. Here, seeds are sown in lines and earthed up later in to small ridges to form furrows when the crop reaches knee height.

Manuring
Apply FYM/ compost at the rate of 25 t/ha at the time of preparation of land. The recommended fertilizer dose is 135 kg N, 65 kg P₂O₅ and 15 kg K₂O/ha. Apply full dose of P₂O₅ and K₂O and 1/3 dose of N as basal. Apply 1/3 N 30-40 days and the rest 60-70 days after sowing.

Aftercultivation
Hand hoeing and weeding on the 21st and 45th day after sowing.

Irrigation
Irrigate the crop on the day of sowing and on third day. Subsequent irrigations may be given at 10-15 days intervals.

Plant protection
Need based application of carbaryl is recommended for control of pests

Ragi is suited for cultivation in areas with annual rainfall of 700-1200 mm. It does not tolerate heavy rainfall and requires a dry spell at the time of grain ripening. It grows well in altitudes of 1000-2000 m with average temperature of 27 ºC. Ragi is cultivated mostly in red lateritic soils. Relatively fertile and well drained soils are the most suitable.

Seasons

Ragi is not a season bound crop and hence can be cultivated throughout the year, if moisture is available. It is usually grown during the following seasons.

Main season: June-September
Late season: July-October
Summer: Dec-Jan to March-April

Varieties

PR-202, K-2, Co-2,Co-7,Co-8,Co-9,Co-10

Seed rate
Direct sown crop: 5 kg/ha
Transplanted crop: 4-5 kg/ha

Spacing: 25 x 15 cm

Preparation of nursery
Prepare the nursery field to a fine tilth. Incorporate FYM/compost at 5 t/ha and form beds and channels. Sow seeds uniformly on the beds and cover by stirring the soil. Apply carbaryl 10% on the edges of the beds against ants. One week before uprooting seedlings, apply ammonium sulphate @ of 1 kg per 100 m². A nursery area of 480 m² is necessary to raise seedlings for one hectare. Transplant the seedlings when they are three weeks old.

Preparation of main field and manuring
Plough the field 3-4 times and incorporate FYM or compost at 5 t/ha. Apply N, P₂O₅ and K₂O @ 22.5 kg/ha each before sowing or planting. Topdress N at 22.5 kg/ha 21days after sowing or planting.

Aftercultivation
Weeding should be done three weeks after sowing and completed before top dressing

Irrigation
Irrigate the field on the day of transplantation. Irrigation at weekly intervals increases growth rate and yield.

Plant protection
For controlling grasshoppers, spray carbaryl 50% WP at 1.2 kg/ha. The pink stem borer, which causes dead heart symptoms, is often serious in the early stages of the crop. Insecticidal control is not needed for mild to moderate levels of infestation. In serious cases, spray 0.1% fenthion, or fenitrothion.
For controlling blast, spray ediphenphos at 250 ml/ha or mancozeb at 750-1000 g/ha

Harvesting
Harvest the crop when the ears are yellowish brown. Heap the harvested ears and cover the heaps with ragi straw for 2-3 days before threshing.

Sorghum is a plant of hot and warm localities. The optimum temperature for growth is 300C and it needs about 250-400 mm rainfall. Excess moisture and prolonged drought are harmful. It is fairly tolerant to alkalinity and salinity.

Seasons
Rainfed crop: May-August
Irrigated crop: January-April

Varieties
Co.1, Co-10, Co-12, Co-17, K-1, K-2
Hybrids - CSH-1 to CSH-4, Co-11, Co-1

Seed rate and sowing
Seeds are sown at the rate of 12-15 kg/ha. Dibble two seeds/hole, at a spacing of 45 x 15 cm

Manuring
For both irrigated and rainfed crops FYM / compost may be applied @ 5 t/ha.

Fertilizers may be applied as follows