ABSTRACT
Maize is a good source of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and some of the important vitamins and minerals. Several million people especially in the developing countries derive their protein and calorie requirements from maize. Maize has a low protein concentration with protein quality limited by deficiencies in lysine and tryptophan and has an excess of leucine which suppresses utilization of isoleucine leading to a poor growth and Kwashiorkor in children and pellagra in adults. In normal maize grain the quality of protein is poor due to the presence of largest concentration of an alcohol soluble protein fraction ‘prolamine’ also known as ‘Zein’ in the endosperm. Mainly the maize is sown directly through seed but during winters where fields are not vacant in time, transplanting can be done successfully by raising the nursery. Maize can be successfully grown without any preparatory tillage under no-till situation with less cost of cultivation, higher profitability and better resource use efficiency.
