Influence of Nutrient Sources and Zinc on Growth and Yield of Babycorn (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Back Ground: The experiment was done on Baby corn crop it is a cereal grain taken from corn harvested early while the stalks are still small and immature, it contains 4.7 grams of carbs, 2.5 grams protein, 25 calories. Nitrogen deficiency is the major problem in these days it leads to stunted root and shoot growth and shoot water stress so nitrogen taken in highest quantity, by using chemical nitrogen crop growth will be faster but later on it leads to soil acidification. but by using organic manures we can provide nutrients required by plants and also it maintains CN ratio, maintain soil health and it doesn’t reduces yield. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of nutrient sources and zinc on growth and yield of  babycorn. Methods: with goal of studying effect of nutrient sources and zinc on growth and yield of babycorn under Randomised Block Design with 9 treatments (T1-T9). The experiment details revealed that T9 [Vermicompost 3.3t/ha + Zinc 1.00 ppm foliar spray] produced maximum Plant height, dry weight, maximum crop growth rate at 45 DAS to 60 DAS interval, highest Number of cobs/ plant, highest length of cob, highest girth of cob, maximum cob weight with husk, highest cob weight without husk, highest cob yield, green fodder yield. Conclusion: The combination of Vermicompost 3.3t/ha + Zinc 1.00 ppm foliar spray produced maximum Plant height (176.75 cm) and highest dry weight (88.42 g/plant) maximum crop growth rate at 45 DAS to 60 DAS interval (47.73 g/m2/day), highest Number of cobs/ plant (2.64), highest length of cob (17.89 cm), highest girth of cob (12.72 cm), maximum cob weight with husk (47.57 g/cob), highest cob weight without husk (11.71 g/cob) highest cob yield (6.07 tons/ha), green fodder yield (37.42 tons/ha).