Cereals & Grains
Maize
The backbone of Zambian agriculture
Varieties
ZMS 328 is a very early maturing hybrid maize variety developed for farmers who need rapid harvest cycles without sacrificing yield potential. Its long shank structure allows the cob to drop quickly during maturity, making it one of the earliest maize hybrids available while still delivering strong yields.
Key Characteristics
- Grain Type
- Semi-flint grain with strong kernel structure
- Plant Type
- Three-way cross hybrid
- Adaptation
- Not specified
- Drought Tolerance
- Not specified
- Disease Resistance
- Resistant to cob rot, grey leaf spot, maize streak virus and leaf blight
ZMS 451 is an early maturing hybrid maize variety that combines rapid maturity with high yield potential. It is designed to give farmers strong yields even in early maturity categories, making it suitable for both small-scale and commercial maize production.
Key Characteristics
- Grain Type
- Large semi-dent white grain with strong kernel development
- Plant Type
- Three-way cross hybrid
- Adaptation
- Widely adaptable to many maize-growing areas
- Drought Tolerance
- Not specified
- Disease Resistance
- Resistant to cob rot, grey leaf spot, maize streak virus and rust
ZMS 520 is a medium-early maturing hybrid maize variety known for vigorous plant growth and thick, well-covered cobs. The variety combines strong drought tolerance with high yield potential, making it suitable for a wide range of farming environments.
Key Characteristics
- Grain Type
- Dent-like hard grain thick cobs
- Plant Type
- Three-way cross hybrid
- Adaptation
- Widely adaptable to many maize-growing areas
- Drought Tolerance
- Highly tolerant to drought conditions.
- Disease Resistance
- Resistant to cob rot, grey leaf spot, maize streak virus and rust
Medium-maturity white grain hybrid maize variety from the 26 August source catalog.
Key Characteristics
- Hybrid Type
- Three-way cross
- Grain Structure
- Flint-like white grain
- Adaptation
- Regions I, II, III
- Best Use
- High Yield Grain
ZMS 638 is a medium-late maturing hybrid maize variety with excellent yield potential. The variety responds very well to good agronomic practices and rewards farmers with large harvests when grown under proper crop management.
Key Characteristics
- Grain Type
- Semi-flint white maize grain
- Plant Type
- Double cross hybrid
- Adaptation
- Suitable for many maize growing regions
- Drought Tolerance
- Good
- Disease Resistance
- Resistant to cob rot, grey leaf spot, maize streak virus and leaf blight
ZMS 721 is a late-maturing hybrid maize variety with strong disease resistance and a unique stay-green characteristic that supports higher grain production and silage use.
Key Characteristics
- Grain Type
- Semi-flint with hard texture
- Plant Type
- Three-way cross hybrid
- Adaptation
- Regions II and III
- Drought Tolerance
- Good
- Disease Resistance
- Strong resistance to cob rot, GLS, MSV and leaf blight
ZMS 608Y is a yellow hybrid maize variety designed for both food and livestock feed production. The variety produces high yields and performs well across multiple agro-ecological zones while also producing cobs suitable for green maize consumption.
Key Characteristics
- Grain Type
- Yellow maize grain
- Plant Type
- Three-way cross hybrid
- Adaptation
- Regions I, II and III
- Drought Tolerance
- Moderate
- Disease Resistance
- Resistant to cob rot, grey leaf spot, maize streak virus and rust
GV664A is a medium-early maturity orange maize hybrid enriched with pro-vitamin A, making it valuable for nutrition and livestock feed.
Key Characteristics
- Grain Type
- Flint orange grain enriched with vitamin A.
- Plant Type
- Hybrid
- Adaptation
- Regions I, II, III
- Drought Tolerance
- Good
- Disease Resistance
- GLS, MSV, rust
Compare maize varieties
| ZMS 328 | ZMS 451 | ZMS 520 | ZMS 620 | ZMS 638 | ZMS 721 | ZMS 608Y | GV 664A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yield Potential | 7–9 t/ha | 9–11 t/ha | 8–10 t/ha | 8–10 t/ha | 7–9 t/ha | 8–10 t/ha | 7–9 t/ha | Up to 7 tons per hectare. |
| Maturity Period | Very Early maturity (100–105 days) | Early maturity (105–115 days) | Medium-Early maturity (115–120 days) | Medium maturity (125 - 135 days) | Medium-Late maturity (125–135 days) | Late maturity (140–150 days) | Medium maturity (115–120 days) | 115–120 days. |
| Grain Type | Semi-flint grain with strong kernel structure | Large semi-dent white grain with strong kernel development | Dent-like hard grain thick cobs | — | Semi-flint white maize grain | Semi-flint with hard texture | Yellow maize grain | Flint orange grain enriched with vitamin A. |
| Plant Type | Three-way cross hybrid | Three-way cross hybrid | Three-way cross hybrid | — | Double cross hybrid | Three-way cross hybrid | Three-way cross hybrid | Hybrid |
| Adaptation | Not specified | Widely adaptable to many maize-growing areas | Widely adaptable to many maize-growing areas | Regions I, II, III | Suitable for many maize growing regions | Regions II and III | Regions I, II and III | Regions I, II, III |
| Drought Tolerance | Not specified | Not specified | Highly tolerant to drought conditions. | — | Good | Good | Moderate | Good |
| Disease Resistance | Resistant to cob rot, grey leaf spot, maize streak virus and leaf blight | Resistant to cob rot, grey leaf spot, maize streak virus and rust | Resistant to cob rot, grey leaf spot, maize streak virus and rust | — | Resistant to cob rot, grey leaf spot, maize streak virus and leaf blight | Strong resistance to cob rot, GLS, MSV and leaf blight | Resistant to cob rot, grey leaf spot, maize streak virus and rust | GLS, MSV, rust |
| Hybrid Type | — | — | — | Three-way cross | — | — | — | — |
| Grain Structure | — | — | — | Flint-like white grain | — | — | — | — |
| Best Use | — | — | — | High Yield Grain | — | — | — | — |
