Yield and economic response of baby corn (Zea mays) genotypes to crop geometry and fertility levels

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 2018 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to study the effect of crop geometry and fertility levels on baby corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with main plot comprising of 4 treatment combinations of crop geometry (65 cm 16 cm, 65 cm 12 cm) and fertility levels [recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 150% RDF] and subplot comprising of 2 baby corn genotypes BC 18K-ZIII 1, BC 18K-ZIII 2. The growth attributes, viz. plant height (cm), leaves/plant, leaf-area index (LAI) and dry-matter/plant, were found significantly higher for BC 18K-ZIII 2 in comparison to BC 18K-ZIII 1 at harvesting stage. The combination of wider spacing, 150% RDF and BC 18K-ZIII 2 recorded the maximum baby cob and corn yield in the first picking. The net returns and benefit: cost ratio were significantly higher with 150% RDF and BC 18K-ZIII 2 than RDF and BC 18K-ZIII 1, respectively. The maximum net returns was recorded with the combination of closer spacing and 150% RDF as compared to all the other treatment combinations.