ANU, SHWETA*, KARMAL SINGH, DINESH, ARUN, SUMAN, NEELAM AND SATPAL
Department of Agronomy, Department of Soil Sciences, Department of G & PB (Forage Section)
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: malik.shweta54@gmail.com)
(Received : 15 October 2023; Accepted : 24 December 2023)
SUMMARY
A field experiment was conducted in Spring season of 2019 at Hisar, Haryana to investigate the effect of different spacing and irrigation regimes on baby corn (Zea mays L.). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with four irrigation treatments viz. one irrigation – 6 leaf stage, two irrigation – 6 leaf and knee high stage, two irrigation – knee high and pre-tasselling stage and three irrigation – 6 leaf, knee high and pre-tasselling stage in main plots and four spacing treatments viz. 60 cm × 20 cm, 60 cm × 15 cm, 45 cm × 20 cm and 45 cm × 15 cm in sub-plots. The experiment results showed that three irrigation treatment – (first irrigation at 6 leaf, second at knee high and third at pre-tasselling stage) observed significantly higher plant population, plant height and dry matter accumulation. Maximum fodder yield (254.55 q/ha), nutrient content in fodder (1.83% N, 0.39 %P, 2.28 %K) and nutrient uptake in fodder (34.36 N, 5.94 P, 42.50 K kg/ha, respectively) was found in three irrigation at 6 leaf, knee high and pre-tasselling stage over other treatments. Water use efficiency by fodder yield (387.02 kg/ha-mm) was found maximum in one irrigation at 6 leaf stage. In spacing treatments, maximum fodder yield (262.67 q/ha), nutrient content in fodder (1.79% N, 0.38% P, 2.23% K) and nutrient uptake in fodder (41.07 N, 5.56 P, 50.48 K kg/ha, respectively) was found in 45 cm × 15 cm spacing over other treatments. Water use efficiency by fodder yield (234.65 kg/ha-mm) was found maximum in 45 cm × 15 cm spacing. Maximum green fodder yield was recorded in the treatment where three irrigations were applied (at 6 leaf, knee high and pre-tasselling stage) with the crop geometry of 45 cm × 15 cm.
Key words: Baby corn, spacing, irrigation regimes, green fodder yield, nutrient content and uptake