Impact of Plant Geometry and Zinc on Growth and Yield Attributes of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

During Zaid 2021, a field experiment was undertaken at the Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P). The experiment was set up using a Randomized Block Design, with nine treatments reproduced three times over the course of a year. The treatments which are T1: 40cm x 20 cm + 15 kg/ha ZnSO4, T2: 40cm x 20 cm + 20 kg/ha ZnSO4, T3: 40cm x 20 cm + 25 kg/ha ZnSO4, T4: 50cm x 20 cm + 15 kg/ha ZnSO4, T5: 50cm x 20 cm + 20 kg/ha ZnSO4, T6: 50cm x 20 cm + 25 kg/ha ZnSO4, T7: 60cm x 20 cm + 15 kg/ha ZnSO4, T8: 60cm x 20 cm + 20 kg/ha ZnSO4, T9: 60cm x 20 cm + 25 kg/ha ZnSO4 used. The results showed that application of 60cm x 20 cm + 25 kg/ha ZnSO4  recorded significantly highest plant height (166.02 cm), Number of leaves/plant (12.25), Dry weight/plant (141.58 g/plant), number of cobs/plant (1.76), length of the cob/plant (16.90 cm), Cob girth  (15.46 cm) whereas maximum crop growth rate (48.65 g/m2/day) was recorded with treatment 40cm x 20 cm + 25 kg/ha ZnSO4 whereas, cob yield (6.45 t/ha) and Green fodder yield (20.55 t/ha) recorded maximum in 40cm x 20 cm + 25 kg/ha ZnSO4..The treatment with 40 x 20 cm spacing and application of 25 kg of zinc is advised for recommendation, as it is recorded maximum cob yield, green fodder yield, and benefit cost ratio in treatment T3.