EFFECT OF FOLIAR NUTRITION ON GROWTH, GREEN AND FODDER YIELD OF SWEET CORN

Abstract

Two field experiments were performed at the Jenaan Farm, El-Oweinat East, New Valley Governorate, during the two summer seasons of 2008 and 2009. The main objectives of this study were to determine the effect of three chemical substances (Di-ammonium phosphate, Di-potassium phosphate and Borax ) as a sources of NPK and B nutrients on growth and yield of sweet corn variety Songer. The experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates, under sprinkler irrigation system. The obvious result of this investigation can be summarized as follows: 1- Spraying with Di-ammonium phosphate (as a source of N and P) favorably influenced the growth parameters, yield attributes and green cob and fodder yields of sweet corn as compared with other treatments. 2- Application of Di-ammonium phosphate at the rate of 7.5% concentration at 20 and 40 days after sowing significantly increased growth parameters with thicker cobs and corns, and increased the individual cob weight, which in turn increased the green cob yield of sweet corn. Generally, increasing in growth parameters resulted in increasing green fodder yield. 3- Application of NPK and B with different concentrations (0.25 and 0.50%) failed to influence the growth and yield of sweet corn.