ABSTRACT
Maize in the temperate regions is what sorghum is in tropical areas. This is an interesting situation since maize is believed to have originated in the tropical semi-arid region. Maize is rarely grown in areas where the mean summer temperature is less than that of 19°C and where the mean night summer temperature is less than 13°C. The lowest seasonal precipitation in the maize area is 200 mm. A corn crop typically uses 50 – 55 cm of water during the growth season. Water requirements of corn vary according to the stage of development. For crop moisture to be adequate, available soil moisture must be more than sufficient to meet the atmospheric evaporative demand. The minimum temperature of germination is 10°C. The optimum temperature varies with moisture content and ranges from 30° to 35°C under adequate moisture.
