Question: The most critical stage of maize from irrigation point of view is
Options:
Silking stage
Tasseling stage
Boot stage
Dough stage
The most critical stage of maize from an irrigation point of view is the tasseling stage. This stage takes place when the plant reaches its full height and begins to shed its pollen.While early vegetative and skilling stages are also critical stages of irrigation in maize cultivation.
📌 Other Options Explanations:
-Option B: During this stage, the female flowers (silks) emerge from the ear and are receptive to pollen. Adequate moisture is crucial for successful pollination and fertilization, which directly impacts kernel development and yield.
-Option C: Boot stage: This stage occurs before tasseling and silking, when the developing tassel and ear are enclosed within the leaf sheaths. While adequate moisture is needed for proper development, it's not as crucial as during silking for yield determination
-Option D: Dough stage: This is the later stage of grain filling when the kernels are soft and doughy. While irrigation is still beneficial at this stage for maximizing kernel weight, it's not as critical as the silking stage for overall yield potential.
Key point-
 Maize – Tasseling and Silking
 Rice – Flowering
 Wheat – Heading and Flowering
 Soybean – R1 (Beginning Bloom) to R5 (Beginning Seed)
 Cotton – Flowering and Boll Development
 Tomato – Flowering and Fruit Set
 Potato – Tuber Formation and Tuber Bulking
 Cabbage – Head Formation
 Peas – Flowering and Pod Filling
 Sunflower – Flowering and Seed Filling
 Barley – Flowering and Grain Filling
 Sugarcane – Tiller Formation and Maturation
 Citrus – Flowering and Fruit Development
 Grapes – Flowering and Berry Development
 Legumes (Chickpeas, Lentils) – Flowering and Pod Formation
 Alfalfa (Lucerne) – Early Flowering and Regrowth After Cutting
 Sweetcorn – Silking and Ear Development
 Carrot – Root Formation and Bulking
 Onion – Bulbing and Tissue Maturation
 Spinach – Flowering