Agronomic Fortification With Zinc and Iron Nutrient Management and Planting Geometry on Yield and Quality of Sweet Corn

Abstract

Two field experiments on agronomic fortification of sweet corn with zinc and newlineiron and effect of planting geometry and fertilizer levels on growth and yield of sweet newlinecorn were conducted in split plot design replicated thrice at the Main Agricultural newlineResearch Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during kharif 2015 and newline2016. newlineSoil application of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 (10 kg each ha-1) fortified with newlinevermicompost (250 kg ha-1) along with foliar application of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 newline(1.0 % each) at 20 and 40 DAS recorded significantly higher fresh cob yield with husk newline(324.9 q ha1), fresh fodder yield (632.5 q ha-1), fresh cob weight with husk newline(381.7 g cob-1), without husk (299.7 g cob-1), total dry matter (226.6 g plant-1), zinc and newlineiron concentration in grain and fodder, net return (Rs. 2,67,646 ha -1) and benefit cost newlineratio (4.88), which was on par with soil application of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 (10 kg each newlineha-1) fortified with FYM (500 kg ha-1) along with foliar application of ZnSO4 and newlineFeSO4 (1.0 % each) at 20 and 40 DAS. newlineSignificantly higher fresh cob yield with husk (321.4 q ha-1), fresh fodder yield newline(606.75 q ha -1), net return (Rs. 2,84,507 ha -1), benefit cost ratio (5.13) and quality newlineparameters viz., reducing sugar (3.65 %) non-reducing sugar (5.91 %) and total soluble newlinesolids (14.55 %) were recorded with interaction of planting geometry of 60 cm × 15 cm newlinealong with higher fertilizer level (125:60:25 N:P 2O5:K2O kg ha-1). newlineSoil application of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 (10 kg each ha-1) fortified with newlinevermicompost (250 kg ha-1) along with foliar application of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 newline(1.0 % each) at 20 and 40 DAS and planting geometry of 60 cm × 15 cm along with newlinehigher fertilizer level (125:60:25 N:P 2O5:K2O kg ha-1) recorded higher yield and net newlinereturn with better quality. newline