Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
Effect of integrated use of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients and different plant spacing on yield and quality of baby corn (Zea mays L.)
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Jena Parameswar, Hemanth Magham Sathya, Kumar Vinai, Bisarya Dipti
Research Articles | Published: 21 February, 2025
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Keywords: Baby corn, FYM, Vermicompost, Integrated nutrient management, Spacing, Bio-fertilizer
Abstract
Baby corn (Zea mays L.) is a significant crop in global agriculture, valued for its high yield, rich nutritional profile, short growth duration, and adaptability to diverse climatic conditions. Its dual-purpose utility as both a nutritious vegetable and a source of green fodder further enhances its agricultural importance. In recent years, baby corn has gained popularity due to its unique taste, versatility in culinary applications, and increasing demand in the food industry. This research was conducted to evaluate the impact of spacing and Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on the growth, yield, and quality of baby corn. A field experiment was carried out during the spring season of 2021, following a split-plot design with three replications. The main-plot treatments comprised three spacing levels: S1 (60 cm × 20 cm), S2 (50 cm × 20 cm), and S3 (45 cm × 15 cm), while the sub-plot treatments included four nutrient management levels: T1 (Control), T2 (100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF)), T3 (75% RDF + 5 ton/ha Farm Yard Manure (FYM) + Bio-fertilizer), and T4 (75% RDF + 2.5 ton/ha Vermicompost + Bio-fertilizer), using the variety VL BABY CORN-2. The experimental findings revealed that spacing and nutrient management had a significant influence on the crop’s growth, yield, and quality parameters. Among the main-plot treatments, the highest plant height was recorded in S3 (185.75 cm), while in the sub-plot treatments, T4 exhibited the greatest plant height (190.70 cm). The significantly higher yield was recorded with spacing S3 (45 cm × 15 cm) which was 7,154 kg/ha, while T4 (75% RDF + 2.5 ton/ha Vermicompost + Bio-fertilizer) achieved a superior yield of 7,763 kg/ha. Moreover, Among the nutritional quality parameters T4 exhibited the maximum protein content (16.23%), phosphorus content (23.35 mg/100 g), fiber content (5.82%), total soluble solids (13.06° Brix), total soluble sugars (84.06 mg/100 g), and moisture content (89.65%). Hence, our findings indicate that adopting a spacing of 45 cm × 15 cm along with the application of 75% RDF + 2.5 ton/ha Vermicompost + Bio-fertilizer significantly enhances the growth, yield of baby corn, however using a wider spacing of 60 cm X 20 cm, could improve the quality in better way, therefore making it a sustainable and efficient agronomic practice.
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Author Information
School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India