Effect of Boron and Iron on Growth and Yield of Baby Corn (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field trail was conducted during zaid 2022 at Crop Research Farm 2, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology And Sciences, Prayagraj, on the topic “Effect of Boron and Iron on Growth and Yield of Baby corn (Zea mays L.)” to study treatments consisting of 10 with 3 different levels of boron 5 kg/ha, 6 kg/ha, 7 kg/ha (soil application) and different levels of iron 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5% (foliar application) The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture, slightly alkaline in soil reaction (pH 8), low level of organic carbon (0.62%), available N (225 kg/ha), P (38.2 kg/ha) and K (240.7 kg/ha). There were 10 treatments each being replicated thrice and laid out in randomized block design. The results showed that treatment 9 with the application of Boron (7 kg/ha) + Iron (0.5%) recorded significantly higher plant height (138.42 cm), higher plant dry weight (86.17 g), maximum crop growth rate (82.42 g/m2/day), maximum number of cobs/plant (2.13), higher cob yield with husk (8.31 t/ha), higher cob yield without husk (2.65 t/ha), higher green fodder yield (19.14 t/ha) compared to other treatments. The maximum gross returns (81,700.00 INR/ha), maximum net returns (55,297.00 INR/ha) and benefit ratio (2.01) was recorded in treatment 9 [Boron (7 kg/ha) + Iron (0.5%)] as compared to other treatments. Minimum observations were recorded in treatment 10 control plot with RDF 100:60:40 kg/ha NPK.