Growth and yield of Baby Corn (Zea Mays L.) as influenced by varieties, spacings and dates of sowing

Farm, Allahabad Agricultural Institute-Deemed University, Allahabad (U.P.) to study the effect of two varieties (VL Baby Corn-1 and HM 4), two spacings (45×25 cm and 60×25 cm) and three sowing dates (1^st October, 30^th October and 29^th November) on performance of baby corn (Zea mays L.). The results indicated that variety HM 4 recorded significantly higher growth, yield contributes and yields viz., plant dry weight (19.07%), crop growth rate (31.85%), days to tasselling (38.64%), days to silking (34.79%) number of cobs/plant (8.40%), weight of corn with husk (8.49), weight of corn without husk (1.30%), corn yield (8.68%) and fodder yield (21.60%) was found to be higher over VL Baby Corn-1, according pooled data. The maximum length of corn (3.90%), corn yield (32.55%) and fodder yield (26.21%) was found to be higher over 60×25 cm spacing. The baby corn planted on 30^th October recorded significantly higher number of cobs/plant (47.33%), corn yield (35.79%) and fodder yield (20.59%) was found to be higher over sowing on 1^st October. Variety HM 4 sown on 30^th October at 45×25 cm spacing resulted in maximum gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio.