Maize is a high-yielding C4 cereal grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons for grain, fodder and industrial use. Its rapid growth cycle moves through seedling, vegetative, tasseling/silking and grain-filling stages, each facing distinct weed, insect and disease pressure – most notably fall armyworm.
Maize
GRASS & BROADLEAF WEED INFESTATION
- Symptoms: Dense weed cover between rows soon after germination.
- Effect on Crop: Poor early vigour and reduced plant stand due to competition.
Solution
- Product: Atra Shield (Atrazine 50% WP) – MaxxGro Herbicide
- Application: Pre-emergence to early post-emergence spray, as per label dose.
- Benefit: Selective, systemic control of grasses and broadleaf weeds specifically labelled for maize.
TERMITE & CUTWORM DAMAGE AT ROOT ZONE
- Symptoms: Wilting seedlings, cut stems at ground level, hollowed roots.
- Effect on Crop: Gaps in plant stand and reduced final population.
Solution
- Product: Tyneur (Thiamethoxam 30% FS) – MaxxGro Insecticide (Seed Treatment)
- Application: Seed treatment before sowing, as per label dose.
- Benefit: Early-stage systemic protection of seedling roots against soil pests.
DOWNY MILDEW
- Symptoms: Chlorotic streaking on leaves, stunted, bushy-looking plants.
- Effect on Crop: Severely reduced or barren cobs in affected plants.
Solution
- Product: Melori (Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64% WP) – MaxxGro Fungicide
- Application: Seed treatment or early foliar spray at first symptoms, as per label dose.
- Benefit: Systemic plus contact action gives protective and curative disease control.
FALL ARMYWORM
- Symptoms: Ragged holes and window-pane feeding on whorl leaves, frass visible in whorl.
- Effect on Crop: Damaged growing point, poor whorl development and yield loss.
Solution
- Product: Novectin (Emamectin Benzoate 5% + Lufenuron 5% EC) – MaxxGro Insecticide
- Application: Foliar spray directed into the whorl at first sign of damage, as per label dose.
- Benefit: Dual-action control of all larval stages of this major maize pest.
STEM BORER
- Symptoms: Shot-holes on young leaves, dead heart in the whorl.
- Effect on Crop: Weakened stalks prone to lodging and yield reduction.
Solution
- Product: Maxxban (Chlorpyrifos 50% EC) – MaxxGro Insecticide
- Application: Whorl application/foliar spray at early infestation, as per label dose.
- Benefit: Contact, stomach and fumigant action controls borer larvae inside the stem.
BROADLEAF WEED ESCAPE
- Symptoms: Persistent broadleaf weeds after crop canopy has partly closed.
- Effect on Crop: Continued competition for nutrients and moisture.
Solution
- Product: Messy (2,4-D Ethyl Ester 38% EC) – MaxxGro Herbicide
- Application: Post-emergence directed spray, as per label dose.
- Benefit: Selective broadleaf weed control safe for cereal crops like maize.
TURCICUM LEAF BLIGHT
- Symptoms: Long, elliptical, greyish-green to tan lesions on leaves.
- Effect on Crop: Loss of leaf area reduces photosynthesis needed for grain filling.
Solution
- Product: Maxxline (Pyraclostrobin 20% WG) – MaxxGro Fungicide
- Application: Foliar spray at disease onset around tasseling, as per label dose.
- Benefit: Strobilurin chemistry gives broad-spectrum control plus physiological greening benefit.
PINK STEM BORER / EAR WORM
- Symptoms: Boreholes in stem near ear, damaged kernels at cob tip.
- Effect on Crop: Reduced cob weight and grain quality.
Solution
- Product: Shield Pro (Chlorantraniliprole 9.3% + Lambda-cyhalothrin 4.6% ZC) – MaxxGro Insecticide
- Application: Foliar spray at silking stage, as per label dose.
- Benefit: Advanced dual-mode control of borers and sucking pests together.
APHID COLONISATION ON TASSEL
- Symptoms: Clusters of aphids with honeydew and sooty mould on tassels/upper leaves.
- Effect on Crop: Poor pollen shed and reduced kernel set.
Solution
- Product: Tolmaxx (Sulfoxaflor 50% WG) – MaxxGro Insecticide
- Application: Foliar spray on tassel emergence, as per label dose.
- Benefit: Rapid systemic control of resistant sucking pests including aphids.
COMMON RUST
- Symptoms: Small, reddish-brown, powdery pustules on both leaf surfaces.
- Effect on Crop: Premature leaf drying reduces grain-filling duration.
Solution
- Product: Hexxon (Hexaconazole 5% SC) – MaxxGro Fungicide
- Application: Foliar spray at first pustule appearance, as per label dose.
- Benefit: Systemic curative and protective action against rust fungus.
EAR ROT
- Symptoms: Fungal growth and grain discolouration on the cob, especially in wet weather.
- Effect on Crop: Reduced grain quality and possible mycotoxin contamination.
Solution
- Product: Zebomaxx (Mancozeb 75% WP) – MaxxGro Fungicide
- Application: Preventive spray at silking and again before husk closure, as per label dose.
- Benefit: Broad-spectrum preventive, contact protection of developing cobs.
Crop-Wise Care & Protection Guide
From seed to harvest, explore targeted management strategies and remedy recommendations for every major challenge your crops face. Easily identify pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies to protect yield and maximize growth.
