1M.Sc. Scholar, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh221 005
2Professor, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh221 005
3Professor, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh221 005
4Research Scholar, Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh221 005
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh221 005
*Corresponding author's Email: mksingh194.m@gmail.com
Online published on 27 August, 2021.
An experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 2018 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to study the effect of crop geometry and fertility levels on baby corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with main plot comprising of 4 treatment combinations of crop geometry (65 cm x 16 cm, 65 cm x 12 cm) and fertility levels [recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 150% RDF] and subplot comprising of 2 baby corn genotypes ‘BC 18K-ZIII 1’, ‘BC 18K-ZIII 2’. The growth attributes, viz. plant height (cm), leaves/plant, leaf-area index (LAI) and dry-matter/plant, were found significantly higher for ‘BC 18K-ZIII 2’ in comparison to ‘BC 18K-ZIII 1’ at harvesting stage. The combination of wider spacing, 150% RDF and ‘BC 18K-ZIII 2’ recorded the maximum baby cob and corn yield in the first picking. The net returns and benefit: cost ratio were significantly higher with 150% RDF and ‘BC 18K-ZIII 2’ than RDF and ‘BC 18K-ZIII 1’, respectively. The maximum net returns was recorded with the combination of closer spacing and 150% RDF as compared to all the other treatment combinations. Thus, the sowing of baby corn hybrid at 65 cm x 12 cm spacing with 180, 90 and 60 kg of N, P and K/ha may be used under Varanasi conditions of India.
Baby corn, Crop geometry, Fertility levels, Genotype, LAI
