Maize is one of the widely cultivated crops in the world. Maize is very important as it is of many values; its byproducts are copious and of great nutritional importance. Maize plays a prominent role in livestock nutrition as it is the best energy source for livestock. The need to cultivate maize is very relevant as it is known to be a staple crop. However, some factors impede its cultivation.
After successful pre-planting operations; which involve proper land preparation method, procurement of high yielding seeds and planting, a farmer expects optimum yield from his farm. From a hectare of land, if all agronomic practices are done judiciously, a farmer should get at least 6tons of maize after harvesting. This is quite laudable; but maize farmers face lots of problems, chiefly pest.
Weed is one of the pests that reduce the yield of a maize farm. Weeds are unwanted crops that grow sporadically with the sown crop. They are always hardy and difficult to control; most times, farmers often use pre-emergence herbicide after planting to keep the weeds at bay for about 3months. Then, the maize can outwit the weeds. When weeds invade a maize farm, the maize crops become less vigorous and several disturbing signs are seen on the crops.
Although weeds cannot be totally eliminated from the farm, weeds can be maintained below the economic threshold level. Uncontrolled weed on a maize farm can out-compete maize crops for water, nutrients, and sunlight, causing farmers economic losses.
Therefore, effective weed management practice must be adopted to sure the maize farm yield optimally. Manual weeding is undoubtedly the best form of weed control; however, the high cost of manual weeding has discouraged its usage on large maize farms, thus, chemical control is the best substitute and has become more economical as it is equally effective and at low cost.
Chemical compounds used to control weeds are called herbicides. There are two types of herbicides, namely:
- Pre-emergence
- Post-emergence
Pre-emergence herbicides are applied before the emergence of the weed, that is, immediately after planting; they are targeted at the weed seeds. They prevent weed seeds from emerging. Pre-emergence herbicides used on maize farm are:
| Brand name | Active ingredient |
| Banvel | dicamba |
| Atrazine | Atrazine |
| Bladex | cyanazine |
| Cycle | metolachlor + cyanazine |
| Dual | metolachlor |
| Frontier | dimenthenamid |
| Lasso | Alachlor |
| Modown | Bifenox |
| Roundup | glyphosate |
Quick note: Buy Any Of These 10 Pre-Emergence Herbicides For Weeds Control
These herbicides must be applied immediately after planting. They help prevent the weed seeds from germinating, thus, eliminating the cost of weeding and keeping the farm free from weed for a reasonable period before harvesting. They are used to prevent the growth of weeds.
Post-emergence herbicides are herbicides applied on the farm after the emergence of weeds. They are applied to control weeds; they may be selective or nonselective.
Selective herbicides control a specific type of weed, while nonselective herbicides control all kind of weeds. In the case of maize, the selective broadleaf herbicide is used because maize crop belongs to the grass family so any herbicide to be applied must be friendly to grasses but injurious to broadleaf weeds. Post-emergence herbicide for maize crops are:
| Brand name | Active ingredient |
| Accent | nicosulfuron |
| 2,4-D | 2,4-D |
| Banvel | dicamba |
| Basagran | bentazone |
| Beacon | primisulfuron |
| Bladex | cyanazine |
| Buctril | bromoxynil |
| Laddok | Laddok |
| Atrazine | Atrazine |
These herbicides are broadleaf post-emergence herbicides; they are applied only when weeds emerge.
Important precautions on herbicide application
- Apply the right type of herbicide, either pre-emergence or post-emergence
- Do not spray in the afternoon, spray early in the morning or late in the evening.
- Mix herbicide in appropriate and prescribed concentration as directed by the manufacturer
- Do not spray to the direction of the wind
- Do not eat while spraying.
- Ensure you do not have direct contact with the herbicide, however, in case if this happens, apply fresh water to the affected part and see the physician for appropriate medication.
Weeds are pests to maize crops; they reduce the growth potential of the maize crop and conversely reduce the profit of the farmer. Endeavor to share this as wide as possible so as to get other farmers liberated.
very nice article sir! can you do something similar ie a similar write up on cassava please
can these pre emergence herbicides be used for both corn and cassava? cuz we are thinking of planting corn and cassava and u know the corn comes first before planting the cassava, so what do we do?
Yes, you can. Thanks
Yes, very soon. Subscribe so that get it when its uploaded.
thanks
Need ur assistant can I spray herbicides on my farm after my maize is one month today and have planted cassava last week on same farm with maize but weeds do disturbing me in my farm
yes but the right selective herbicide should be used.
someone suggested i use Striker on may maize farm (Post emergence), is this a good idea.
Yes
Please advise me on types of post emergence herbicides for maize, soya beans and Beniseed.
Pleas which herbicide post emergence can we use in lettuce farm intercrop with maize?
Atrazine
Thanks for the article I too helping .my question is at what stage should i apply post emergency 2.4.d to my maize.at how many weeks?
Apply between 2-4 weeks
This is a good method for best maize yields. Very interesting. Send me more details. I plant maize subsistantly in communal land in Cofimvaba area,to the east of Queenstown in South Africa.
We are group of subsistence farmers
What kind of herbicide should I use in my maize farm. It just 2weeks old and how do I apply it? Best regard. Ojo siyaka
Sir,
Thank you for the article. Full of insight
My question;
1. Can I plant maize and sweet potato together.
2. What herbicide can I use for pre and post.
3. Should I plant first before applying pre emergence. If true when should I apply after planting
4. Where can I get original herbicide,.
Thank you
Thanks for reading. Here are the answers to your questions
1. Yes, you can.
2. In case of maize and sweet potato, you will not need a post-emergence herbicide. A pre-emergence herbicide like Atrazine is best for use.
3. Apply immediately you plant. Before the plants start to sprout.
4.You can get original honey from reliable agro-allied store.
Where are you located?
Please let me have the list of herbicides to control yam production,together with the right fertilizer to use.
Please Sir! What types of pre-emergency herbicide can i use in my maize with cassava farm, i’ve used striker but it doesn’t seems to work effectively on the spear grass in my farm?
Pls which is thw best chemical for me to apply on my maize and cassava farm land immmediately after planting them to avoid weed growth
Use Atrazine
Pls sir any post emergency for cassava? How long does it take to see the effectiveness
I am really enlightened by this article thank you
This is very educative.thank you so much for that piece of infor
Nice article sir. What type of herbiside can I use in sunflower
What type of herbiside is recommended in sunflower
Pls which post emergence can I use on corn and millet farm. Thank u
Use Atraforce
I HAVE HARVEST THREE MONTHS OF RICE AND IT GET TO MONTHS NOW HOW CAN I CONTROL WEEDS ON THIS STAGE. PLEASE HELP
Thanks
How do I get rid of millet and leave Maize on the same farm – which herbicide should I use?
Millet and maize are grass family. It will be very difficult to use Herbicide, hence, use manual or mechanical method
Many thanks – you have been of great help!