Effect of establishment method and nutrient management on productivity, profitability and quality of baby corn (Zea mays L.)
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Date
2019-06
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Field experiment was conducted during Kharif season-2018 at Instructional Dairy Farm (IDF), Nagla, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) to study the effect of establishment method and nutrient management on productivity, profitability and quality of baby corn (Zea mays L.). The soil of the experimental site was slightly silty clay loam in texture with neutral pH (7.16), rich in organic carbon (0.74%), medium in available nitrogen (282.51 kg/ha), medium in available phosphorus (28.16 kg/ha) and available potassium (235 kg/ha). The experiment consisted of 3 establishment methods i.e. flat, flat followed by earthing (flat + earthing) and ridge planting in main plot and 5 nutrient management options i.e. control (without fertilizer), 100% VC (N equivalent), 100% RDF (180: 60: 40 :: N: P2O5: K2O kg/ha), 50% RDF (90: 30: 20 :: N: P2O5: K2O kg/ha + 50% VC and 75% RDF (45: 15: 10 :: N: P2O5: K2O kg/ha) + 25% VC in sub plot was laid out in Split Plot Design (SPD) with three replications. The baby corn var. “V.L. Baby corn-1” was sown on 7th June, 2018 and harvested on 8th August, 2018. The growth attributes, baby corn, cob and green fodder yield, total soluble solids (TSS), protein content and N, P and K uptake were significantly influenced by establishment methods and nutrient management strategies. Among different establishment methods, ridge planting produced significantly higher baby corn yield with 7 and 14% higher than flat + earthing and flat planting, respectively. Ridge planted baby corn also recorded higher N, P and K content, TSS and protein content. Similarly, significantly highest gross return, net return, B:C ratio and net profit per day was recorded at ridge planting with 10 and 20% higher net return than flat + earthing and flat method, respectively. Among nutrient management options, 75% RDF + 25% VC gave significantly highest baby corn yield and it had 3, 13, 25 and 60% higher values than 100% RDF, 50% RDF + 50% VC, 100%VC and control, respectively. Similar trend was also observed in baby cob and green fodder yield. The quality parameters i.e. TSS and protein content were also recorded significantly higher under 75% RDF + 25% VC that was statically at par with 00% RDF. However, application of 100% VC recorded significantly highest available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content and microbial count i.e. bacteria, fungi and actinomycets in soil after crop harvest. The gross return was also found highest under 75% RDF + 25% VC but non-significant with 100% RDF, however, net return and B:C ratio were significantly highest under 100% RDF. The experimental results indicated that the higher productivity, profitability and quality of baby corn as well as sustainability of the production system may be achieved by planting baby corn on ridges with application of 75% RDF + 25% VC in Indo-Gangetic plains of India and saves 25% NPK compared to 100% RDF. However, it requires more field experimentation for conformity of the results.
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