Zea Mays
- PlantID
- PDB0001
- Scientific Name
- Zea Mays
- Common Names
- Maize, Corn, Chibage (Shona) or Umroba (Ndebele)
- Abstract
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Maize, also known as corn, is a staple crop in Zimbabwe, playing a vital role in the country’s food security and economy. With its adaptability to various climatic conditions, maize can be grown in different regions of Zimbabwe, making it a crucial crop for farmers. Beyond food, maize serves as livestock feed, biofuel source, and industrial raw material. Its global economic importance stems from its high yield potential, nutritional value, and versatility in both traditional and modern agricultural systems. Corn production in Zimbabwe is dominated by smallholder farmers who have limited access to irrigation technologies.
Value Annotations
- Classification
- Kingdom: Plantae > Order: Poales > Family: Poaceae > Genus: Zea > Species: Zea mays
- Morphology
- Physical characteristics description covering all growth stages, with emphasis on features relevant to regional cultivation and variety identification.
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Morphological features and Developmental stages
- Geographic Distribution
- Current cultivation zones and production areas within the farming regions, including agro-ecological zones and adaptation patterns to local environmental conditions.
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Farming regions
- Growth Requirements
- Environmental parameters essential for cultivation under regional conditions, including specific requirements for soil types, rainfall patterns, and temperature ranges common to sub-Saharan conditions.
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Growth Requirements
- Nutritional Requirements
- Essential nutrient requirements throughout the growth cycle, with specific recommendations for fertilization practices adapted to regional soil conditions and farming systems.
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Nutritional Requirements
- Agronomy Practices
- Cultivation guidelines adapted to regional farming systems, including specific recommendations for both small-scale and commercial production methods.
- Varieties and cultivars
- Cultivars and crop varieties adapted to regional growing conditions, including both traditional and improved cultivars by vendors available to local farmers.
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SeedCo White Maize hybrids
- Weeds and Management
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Weeds, Control and Management: Identification and management strategies for problematic weeds in regional farming systems, including cultural, mechanical, and chemical control methods suitable for local conditions.
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Weeds, control & management
- Pests and Management
- Documentation of major crop pests and their management, incorporating integrated pest management strategies appropriate for regional farming conditions and available resources.
- Diseases and Management
- Description of prevalent plant diseases and their management, including preventive measures and control strategies suitable for regional environmental conditions.
- Harvest
- Technical specifications for determining harvest maturity, timing, and methods appropriate for regional conditions, including yield expectations and quality assessment parameters for both manual and mechanized operations.
- Post-Harvest
- Management protocols for handling, processing, and storage under regional conditions, addressing specific challenges of tropical and subtropical climates while maintaining product quality throughout the value chain.
- Uses and products
- Documentation of current commercial, industrial, and traditional applications, focusing on regional processing methods and market demands relevant to the sub-Saharan agricultural context.
- Economic Value
- Analysis of the plant's economic importance within regional market systems, including production costs, market trends, and value chain considerations relevant to local and export markets.
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Maize sector
- Regulatory and Certification
- Information on applicable agricultural standards, certification requirements, and regulatory frameworks relevant to regional cultivation, processing, and trade practices.
- Created On
- 27 December 2024
Annotations
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