Corn (Zea mays L.) - morphological characteristics, cultivation and importance

Kukuruz (Zea mays L.) pripada porodici Poaceae. Značaj kukuruza je veliki, upotrebljava se kao stočna hrana, ali ima veliku važnost i u ljudskoj prehrani. Koristi se za dobivanje raznih proizvoda kao što su pogonsko gorivo, eksplozivi, plastika, lijekovi i kozmetika. Areal uzgoja je širok s obzirom na različitu duljinu vegetacije i adaptiranost na lošija tla i lošije klimatske uvjete. Većina proizvodnje kukuruza u Republici Hrvatskoj (oko 90 %) ostvaruje se na području između rijeka Drave, Save i Dunava, poglavito u Slavoniji, Baranji i zapadnom Srijemu gdje se ostvaruju i najviši prinosi.Corn (Zea mays L.) belongs to the Poaceae family. Corn is an important crop, which is used as animal feed, but it is also of great importance in human nutrition. It is used to obtain various products such as fuel, explosives, plastics, medicines and cosmetics. The cultivation area is wide due to the different length of vegetation and adaptation to poorer soil and poorer climatic conditions. The majority of corn production in the Republic of Croatia (about 90 %) is realized in the area between the rivers Drava, Sava and the Danube, especially in the following counties: Slavonia, Baranja and western Srijem, where the highest yields are achieved