Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Quality, Nutrient Content and Uptake of Sweet Corn (Zea mays var. saccharata)

Abstract

A field study was carried out at Experimental Farm of Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, J&K, India during kharif 2013 and 2014 to study the influence of integrated nutrient management on quality, nutrient content and uptake of sweet corn. The experiment comprising of 12 treatments including organic and inorganic fertilizers was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Sweet corn variety Super-75 was used as an experimental material. The results revealed that the quality parameters viz, sugar, starch, protein and vitamin C content were significantly highest in treatment 75% (NPK) + FYM (4.5 t ha-1) + biofertilizer (Azotobacter + PSB), whereas unfertilized control recorded significantly lowest values of these parameters. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content and uptake showed significant and consistent improvement with application of 75% (NPK) + FYM (4.5 t ha-1) + biofertilizer (Azotobacter + PSB), however, significantly lowest nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content and uptake were obtained under unfertilized control during experimentation years. Hence, it is concluded  that application of 75 % (NPK) + FYM (4.5 t ha-1) + Biofertilizer (Azotobacter + PSB) is significantly superior in terms of quality parameters viz., sugar, starch, vitamin C, protein content and NPK content and uptake as against unfertilized control and various other treatments.