Response of rabi sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata Sturt) to plant geometry and fertilizer

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2010 on clayey soil of Junagadh (Gujarat) to study the response of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata Sturt) to plant geometry (60cm x 15cm, 45cm x 20cm and 30cm x 30cm) and fertilizer (control, 90–45, 120-60 and 150-75 kg N-P₂O₅ ha⁻¹). Plant geometry of 45 cm x 20 cm enhanced growth and yield attributes and thereby green cob and fodder yield along with higher net returns and benefit: cost (B:C) ratio of sweet cornover 60cm x 15cm spacing. Application of 120-60kg N-P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ improved growth, yield attributes, green cob yield and fodder yield with higher net return and B:C ratio over the control and 90–45 kg N-P₂O₅ ha⁻¹. Therefore, spacing of 45 cm x 20 cm with fertilizer dose of 120-60 kg N-P₂O₅ha⁻¹ could be adopted for higher yield and economical realization from rabi sweet corn under south Saurashtra agro-climatic conditions of Gujarat.