What is the center of origin for maize (corn)?

✅Explanation: Maize was domesticated in Mexico around 9,000 years ago from wild grasses. Central America, particularly the region now known as Mexico, is considered the center of origin for maize, where early agricultural societies began cultivating it.

🔑Key Points:

• Maize:
-The primary centre of origin of maize is considered by most authorities to be the Central America and Mexico, where many diverse types of maize are found.
-The discovery of fossil maize pollen with other archaeological evidence in Mexico indicates Mexico to be the native of maize.  
-Maize is cultivated throughout the world.
-From 58°N latitude to 40°S latitude, the crop spreads and cultivated over 139 million ha of area and around 600 million tonnes of maize is produced.
-Crop occupies the third position next to rice and wheat in area and production.
-USA, China, Brazil, Mexico, India, Romania, Philippines, Indonesia are some of important countries cultivate maize crop.
-In India, Rajasthan, UP, MP, Bihar, Karnataka, Gujarat, AP, J&K, HP and Maharashtra are important states produce maize. 

• Regional names:
-Bhutta (Bengali),
-Makai (Gujarati),
-Maka (Hindi, Marathi,
-Oriya), Musikinu jola (Kannada),
-Makaay (Kashmiri),
-Cholam (Malayalam),
-Makka Cholam (Tamil),
-Mokka jonnalu (Telugu)
-It is staple human food, feed for livestock, for fermentation and many industrial uses.
-Deep, fertile, rich in organic matter and well drained soils are the most preferred ones for the crop; however, maize can be grown on a variety of soil types.
-The soil should be medium textured with good water holding capacity.