Indian Journal of Agronomy

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 2002 and 2003 at Bhubaneshwar, Orissa to study the effect of nitrogen levels (40, 80 and 120 kg N/ha) and timing of nitrogen application [½ basal + ½ at 25 days after sowing (DAS), ⅓ basal + ⅔ at 25 DAS ½ basal + ¼ at 25 days + ¼ at pre-tasselling (40 DAS) and ⅓ basal + ⅓ at 25 DAS + ⅓ at pre-tasselling] along with no-nitrogen (control) on productivity and nitrogen-use efficiency of baby corn (Zea mays L.). Growth, yield attributes, baby corn yield, nitrogen content and uptake, protein content and yield, net return and benefit: cost ratio increased significantly up to 120 kg N/ha. The differences between 80 and 40 kg N/ha were also significant. Nitrogen application in 3 equal splits as ⅓ basal + 1/at 25 DAS + ⅓ at pretasselling (40 DAS) resulted in significantly higher growth, yield attributes, marketable baby corn yield, green fodder yield with lowest discarded baby corn, maximizing net return, benefit: cost ratio, nitrogen content, uptake, protein content and yield than other schedules of N application. The apparent N recovery was the highest at 120 kg N/ha, whereas physiological and agronomic use efficiency progressively decreased with increasing nitrogen levels. Nitrogen applied in 3 equal splits resulted in the highest N recovery and agronomic use efficiency, while physiological efficiency of N was maximum when N was applied in 2 splits.