1.13 Maize

Natural sciences

Grade 4

Life and way of living

Module 14

Maize

Maize (mealies)

Maize forms a very important part of a balanced diet for many South Africans. It is one of our country’s most important grains and cultivating it provides work for thousands of farmers and workers. It is an important animal food as well, and a raw material for the manufacture of paper, paint, textiles, medicine and food products. It is important as a source of energy.

Assignment

Plant some maize seeds in soil prepared with compost. Plant them 2 cm deep and about 30 cm apart.

Listen attentively to what your educator tells you about maize.

Be a chef: Develop your own recipe for chocolate biscuits. Use melted chocolate, some coconut, green and red cherries, nuts and breakfast cereal made from maize, e.g. Cornflakes. Be sure to have the help of an adult when you melt the chocolate.

Memorandum

Maize grows well when it has:

• Sunny weather
• No frost
• Good rains

Problems experienced by maize farmers:

• Weeds
• Hail storms
• Drought

Uses of the maize plant

• Samp
• Mealie /maize meal
• Sweets
• Breakfast cereals
• Fodder
• Starch
• Paper

Growth of the maize plant

• Spring - planting
• Summer - growing
• Autumn - ripening
• Winter - harvesting