Effect of balanced fertilization on production, quality, energy use efficiency of baby corn (Zea mays) and soil health

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted on baby corn (Zea mays L.) in sandy loam soil during the pre-kharif season of 2012 and 2013 at Varanasi to assess the effect of balanced fertilization (NPKS and Zn) on productivity, quality, energetics and soil health of baby corn. Results revealed that application of 125% RDF (187.5, 93.75, 75.0 kg NPK/ha) produced significantly higher yields of total baby cob yield with husk (9.55 tonnes/ha) and total baby corn yield without husk (2.15 tonnes/ha). Similarly, the higher nutrients (NPKS) and protein content in baby corn and green husk were recorded with application of 125% RDF. Among different levels of S and Zn, application of 50 kg S and 10 kg Zn/ha produced significantly higher yields of total baby cob with husk (9.38 and 9.24 tonnes/ha) and total baby corn without husk (2.15 and 2.10 tonnes/ha), respectively. Further, the crop fertilized with 50 kg S and 10 kg Zn/ha increased the nutrients (NPKSZn) and protein contents in babycorn and green husk but it was noted being on a par with application of 25 kg S and 5 kg Zn/ha. In terms of energetics, the higher values of energy inputs (20.71 x 103 MJ/ha), energy returns (226.98 x 103 MJ/ha), net energy returns (205.98 x 103 MJ/ha), energy use efficiency (10.80), energy productivity (0.454/kg/MJ), human profitability (65.20), energy productivity (9.80), energy intensiveness (0.354 MJ/Rupees), energy output efficiency (3.78 x 103 MJ/ha/day) and energy intensity in economic terms (3.82 MJ/Rupees) were recorded with application of 125% RDF and the lowest with 100% RDF. Similarly, application of 50 kg S and 10 kg Zn/ha gave the highest values of energy inputs (18.33 and 17.91 x 103 MJ/ha), energy returns (223.12 and 219.69 x 103 MJ/ha), net energy returns (203.31and 200.09 x 103 MJ/ha), energy use efficiency (11.25 and 11.19), energy productivity (0.473 and 0.471 kg/MJ), energy intensiveness (0.330 and 0.328 MJ/Rupees), energy output efficiency (3.72 and 3.66 x 103 MJ/ha/day), energy intensity in economic terms (3.71 and 3.67 MJ/Rupees), human energy profitability (64.09 and 63.11) and energy profitability (10.25 and 10.19), respectively as compared to its preceding doses. The highest actual loss of S and Zn were recorded with application of 125% RDF, 50 kg S and 10 kg Zn/ha whereas, the maximum positive balance of S and Zn were associated with 50 kg S and 10 kg Zn/ha, respectively.