Page 109 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 7

FARMING GOD'S WAY

bottom rows of ovules emerge time and then weed lightly. The several times during the growing
first and are the first to be pol- light weeding will allow for good season of the maize plant, but at
linated and the maize cob will cover crop seed to soil contact the end of the season the pupae
gradually fill going upwards un- and germination. is formed at the crown of the
til the top seeds of the cob are plant, on the coolest shady side
filled. However, the silks need Harvest Time at the soil surface. If we knock
to be moist in order for pollina- Harvest when your maize is down the maize stalks, we ex-
tion to take place;otherwise, physiologically mature, usually 2 pose the pupae to UV radiation
the pollen cannot grow through months after tassling. The stalks and heat. This dries them out
the silks tube. If the silks dry off will look very dry and the cobs and along with the opportunistic
through insufficient available will most probably be hanging feeding of other species such
moisture during this stage of the down. The seeds will be well as ants, birds and decompos-
crop, then significant crop loss- dented, glassy and too hard to ing bacteria, can significantly
es can occur. scratch with your nail. At this reduce stalk borer infestation.
stage, the maize is at about 30% Interestingly enough, grazing
Pre-harvest Late Weeding moisture content. Harvest your alone has proven to be inad-
The maize plant is usually physi- cobs and store them in a safe, equate in the reduction of stalk
ologically mature between 90- dry, sunny place around your borer incidence, as the crown is
120 days and begins to dry off house, on the roof top or on a still intact. This stresses the im-
and die back. The leaves fold drying rack, until they are prop- portance of not cutting or graz-
up and for the first time since erly dried out. The seeds will ing down the stalks but rather
canopy closure, light penetrates have no transparent sections knocking them down complete-
through the canopy. This stimu- in them when ready to store - ly. Knock the stalks down back-
lates weed growth under the that is at about 13% moisture wards, by kicking them off at the
canopy, as there is still some content. Only then, should the crown, laying them neatly in the
residual moisture. Most farmers maize be shelled, dusted with inter rows. These stalks are our
leave this last weeding and they chemicals and stored in bags. new blanket or mulch, so do not
end up harvesting in a jungle of burn them and do your best to
weeds like black jacks and burrs Post-Harvest Stalk Lodging protect them from animals. Next
that stick in their clothes and buf- Stalk borer is a terrible pest in season we will plant into these
falo beans that burn their skin. maize, but we can control it if maize stalks, which would have
The harvest, which is supposed we understand its life cycle. It decomposed quite significantly.
to be a joyful experience, is now starts as a pupa at the start of The next session called “20 rea-
a misery. A fourth light weeding the season; it then becomes a sons why we do the how” will
at this time will be very useful moth, which lays eggs on the take you on a discovery of why
as the harvest can be done with stems. The eggs hatch into God’s Blanket has proven to be
joy and carry us through the off- worms, which bore through the our soil’s greatest asset.
season with a weed free stand. stems, leaving their trademark
Alternatively if there is sufficient breathing holes on the sides of Source material: Farming God’s
soil moisture, plant a relay crop the stalks. They then pupate af- Way Trainer’s Reference Guide.
or broadcast a cover crop such ter 27 days and the whole cycle Dryden, G.W., 2009.
as cow peas or lablab at this starts again. This cycle happens

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