MAIZE CROP STATUS IN MADURAI DISTRICTA STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The growth performance of Maize crop in Madurai district was studied using the time seriesdata from 1996-97 to 2011-12.The growth pattern was examined by fitting an exponential function(Y=ABt ). The result showed that the growth rates of area were positive and highly significant in thestudy period and with the average area of 2003.47 ha and also shows high variability. Similar results werealso obtained for production and yield as positive and highly significant for the study period. The averageMaize production and yield in Madurai District was found to be 6035.31 tonnes and 2483.58 kg/harespectively and also shows high variability during the study period