Growth and Yield Performance of Baby Corn (Zea mays L.) as Influenced by Nutrient Management under Climate Changing Era

Abstract

Climate change driven variability in temperature and rainfall is altering nutrient availability and crop productivity in maize-based systems. Baby corn (Zea mays L.), being a short-duration and nutrient-responsive crop, requires efficient nutrient management to sustain growth and yield under emerging climatic stresses. Under this scenario, the study aimed to evaluate the effect of nano urea, biofertilizers, and varying levels of phosphorus and sulphur on the growth parameters, yield attributes and baby cob yield of baby corn (Zea mays L.). The experiment was conducted factorial experiment in a split-plot design. The field experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (U.P.), India, during the Rabi seasons of 2021–22 and 2022–23. The main plot treatments included three fertility levels as F₁: 45 kg P₂O₅ + 24 kg S ha⁻¹, F₂: 60 kg P₂O₅ + 32 kg S ha⁻¹, and F₃: 75 kg P₂O₅ + 40 kg S ha⁻¹; two biofertilizer levels—B₀: control and B₁: PSB + SDB; and the sub plot treatments included three nitrogen management practices as N₁: 150 kg N ha⁻¹, N₂: 112.5 kg N ha⁻¹ + 2% urea foliar spray, and N₃: 112.5 kg N ha⁻¹ + nano urea @ 4 ml L⁻¹. Observations were recorded on growth parameters, fodder yield, and treatment wise economic parameters, and the data were statistically analyzed using pooled analysis over two years. Fertility level F₃ (75 kg P₂O₅ + 40 kg S ha⁻¹) consistently recorded the highest values for growth and yield parameters across both years and in pooled analysis. F₃ was significantly superior to F₁ and statistically at par with F₂ for number of leaves, dry matter accumulation, and yield attributes and yield. Biofertilizer inoculation with PSB + SDB (B₁) significantly enhanced leaf number, dry matter accumulation, and baby cob weight and yield over the uninoculated control (B₀), reflecting improved nutrient solubilization and uptake efficiency. Among nitrogen management practices, the application of 150 kg N ha⁻¹ through urea (N₁) produced the highest baby cob weight and yield, which was statistically at par with N₂ but significantly superior to N₃. In pooled analysis, N₁ exhibited a significant advantage over both N₂ and N₃, while N₂ also showed superiority over N₃. The integrated application of 75 kg P₂O₅ + 40 kg S ha⁻¹ along with PSB + SDB biofertilizers and either 150 kg N ha⁻¹ or 112.5 kg N ha⁻¹ supplemented with 2% urea foliar spray proved most effective in enhancing growth parameters, yield attributes and baby cob yield of baby corn under the agro-climatic conditions of Varanasi.