Plant density and fertilizer management in spring baby corn (Zea mays) under central plain region of Punjab
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59797/ija.v70.i3.5622Keywords:
Baby corn, Nutrient management, Nutrient uptake, Plant densityAbstract
The field study evaluates the relative effects of plant density and fertilizer management on the growth, yield, and nutrient uptake of spring baby corn (Zea mays L.) in the central plain region of Punjab. The experiment was conducted during 2019–20 and 2020–21 at the Agricultural Research Farm of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab at 31°14’30.5" N’ and 75°41’52.1" E’, in a split-plot design comprising four plant spacings (45 cm × 20 cm, 50 cm × 20 cm, 60 cm × 25 cm, and 60 cm × 20 cm) and three fertility levels (200-100-100, 150- 75-75, and 100-50-50 kg N-P-K/ha). The results revealed that plant height was maximum at a spacing of 50 cm × 20 cm (181.8 cm), whereas chlorophyll content was maximized at 60 cm × 25 cm (44.5). Nutrient uptake was also highest at 60 cm × 25 cm spacing with respect to fertility levels, an increase in N-P-K application (200-100-100 kg/ha) led to higher green cob yield (8.29 t/ha) and baby corn yield (1.83 t/ha), whereas reduced fertility levels (100-50-50 kg/ha) resulted in lower productivity. Under the highest fertility regime results highlighting the positive influence of a balanced nutrient supply and optimal plant spacing. The present study emphasizes how relevant agronomic management techniques may improve crop yield and sustainability in cropping systems based on maize.
References
Bahuguna, A. and Pal, M. 2021. Effect of crop establishment methods and nutrient management options on productivity and economics of baby corn (Zea mays L.). Pantnagar Journal of Research 16–20.
Bahuguna, A. and Pal, M.S. 2020. Effect of establishment method and nutrient management on growth and yield of baby corn (Zea mays L.) in Tarai region of Uttarakhand. Pantnagar Journal of Research 18(2): 12–16.
Bohra, J.S., Singh, R.K., Singh, U.N., Singh, K. and Singh, R.P. 2007. Effect of crop diversification in rice–wheat cropping system on productivity, economics, land use and energy-use efficiency under irrigated ecosystem of Varanasi. Oryza 44(4): 320–324.
Araújo, E.D., de Matos Feitosa, F., dos Santos Silva, F.C., Júnior, I.D.O.A., Rodrigues, B.R.A. and da Mota, W.F. 2017. Growth and yield of baby corn as influenced by nitrogen topdressing. African Journal of Agricultural Research 12(12): 963–969.
Dar, E.A., Harika, A.S., Datta, A., Jat, H.S. 2014. Growth, yield and economic return from the dual-purpose baby corn (Zea mays) under different planting geometry and nitrogen level. Indian Journal of Agronomy 59(3): 468–470.
Das, S., Yadav, V.K., Kwatra, A., Jat, M.L., Rakshit, S., Kaul, J., Parkash, O., Singh, I., Singh, K.P. and Sekhar, J.C. 2008. Baby corn in India. Technical Bulletin, Directorate of Maize Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi. 6: 1–45.
Golada, S.L., Sharma, G.L. and Jain, H.K. 2013. Performance of baby corn (Zea mays L.) as influenced by spacing, nitrogen fertilization and plant growth regulators under sub humid condition in Rajasthan, India. African Journal of Agricultural Research 8(12): 1,100–1,107.
Gomez, K.A. and Gomez, A.A. 1984. Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research, edn. 2, pp. 258–259. (In) An International Rice Research Institute Book. A Willey Interscience Publication (John Wiley & Sons), New York,
Hargilas. 2015. Evaluation of Baby Corn Hybrids Productivity and Profitability under Different Fertilizer Doses and Spacings. International Journal of Bio-resource and Stress Management 6(4): 503–508.
Kumar, R., Bohra, J.S., Kumawat, N. and Singh, A.K. 2015. Fodder yield, nutrient uptake and quality of baby corn (Zea mays L.) as influenced by NPKS and Zn fertilization. Research on Crops 16(2): 243–224.
Kumar, R., Bohra, J.S., Kumawat, N., Kumar, A., Kumari, A. and Singh, A.K. 2016. Root growth, productivity and profitability of baby corn (Zea mays L.) as influenced by nutrition levels under irrigated ecosystem. Research on Crops 17(1): 41–46.
Kumar, R., Bohra, J.S., Singh, A.K. and Kumawat, N. 2015. Productivity, profitability and nutrient-use efficiency of baby corn (Zea mays) as influenced of varying fertility levels. Indian Journal of Agronomy 60(2): 285–290.
Kumar, S., Kumar, A., Singh, J. and Kumar, P. 2016. Growth indices and nutrient uptake of fodder maize (Zea mays L.) as influenced by integrated nutrient management. Forage Research 42(2): 119–123.
Marahatta, S. 2021. Effect of plant densities and fertilizer rates on grain yield of spring maize in inner Terai condition. Agronomy Journal of Nepal 5: 63–78.
Neelam, D.R. 2018. Production of baby corn as influenced by spacing and nutrient management. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 7(12): 1,332–1,339.
Pasley, H.R., Cairns, J.E., Camberato, J.J. and Vyn, T.J. 2019. Nitrogen fertilizer rate increases plant uptake and soil availability of essential nutrients in continuous maize production in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 115(3): 373–389.
Rakesh, K., Narendra, K., Sudhir, K., Amitesh, K.S. and Bohra, J.S. 2017. Effect of NPKS and Zn fertilization on growth, yield and quality of Baby Corn-A Review. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 6(3): 1,392–1,428.
Ray, K., Banerjee, H. and Bandopadhyay, P. 2020. Effect of cultivars and levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of maize (Zea mays) hybrids. Indian Journal of Agronomy 65(1): 68–76.
Ray, K., Banerjee, H., Bhattacharyya, K., Dutta, S., Phonglosa, A., Pari, A. and Sarkar, S. 2018. Site-specific nutrient management for maize hybrids in an Inceptisol of West Bengal, India. Experimental Agriculture 54(6): 874–887.
Saha, I., Jat, S.L., Singh, P., Padhan, S.R. and Mandal, A. 2023. Influence of planting density and nitrogen management on growth and productivity of maize in eastern India. Maize Journal 12(1): 45–51.
Singh G., Kumar S., Singh R. and Singh S.S. 2015. Growth and yield of Baby Corn (Zea mays L.) as influenced by varieties, spacings and dates of sowing. Indian Journal of Agricultural Research 49(4): 353–357.
Sobhana, V., Kumar, A., Idnani, L.K. and Singh, I. 2012. Plant population and nutrient requirement for baby corn hybrids (Zea mays). Indian Journal of Agronomy 57(3): 294–296.
Zaidi, P.H. and Singh, N.N. 2015. Maize in tropics phenology and physiology. Directorate of Maize Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi.
Muthukumar, V.B., Velayudham, K. and Thavaprakaash, N. 2005. Growth and yield of baby corn (Zea mays L.) as influenced by plant growth regulators and different time of nitrogen application. Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences 1(4): 303–307.
