Abstract
The field experiment was conduced at the Agronomy Field Unit, Main Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Hebbal, Bangalore, India during 2002 and 2003 to study the effect of irrigation schedules on growth, yield and quality of baby corn. The soil of the experimental site was red sandy loam in texture with neutral reaction. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. There were seven treatments of irrigation schedules based on IW/CPE ratio of 0.6 and 1.0 during different phenophases of baby corn. The results of the experiment revealed that the baby corn dry matter was significantly higher (75.57 g.plant–1) with higher green fodder yield of 43.47 t.ha–1 due to irrigation scheduled at IW/CPE ratio of 1.0 followed by moisture stress at early stage (I3). Irrigations scheduled at IW/CPE ratio of 1.0 registered significantly higher baby corn yield of 6.60 t.ha–1 followed by the delayed irrigation at early stage of 10 - 25 DAS. Significantly higher crude protein, phosphorus, potassium and lower reducing sugars and ascorbic acid content of baby corn was recorded under IW/CPE ratio of 1.0. Delayed irrigation at 0.6 IW/CPE ratio through-out produced baby corn with higher taste and juiciness. The total crop water use ranged from 294.10 to 469.10 mm, respectively under continuously delayed irrigation at 0.6 IW/CPE ratio and frequent irrigation at IW/CPE ratio of 1.0 which also recorded higher water use efficiency.
Highlights
Baby corn is the unpollinated, immature ear of any corn genotype (Zea mays L.) harvested 2 or 3 days after silk emergence, depending upon developmental conditions of the plant and the size of the shoot
The ratio between a fixed amount of irrigation water (IW) and cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) from an USWB open pan evaporimeter minus effective rainfall since previous irrigation is used as a basis for scheduling irrigation to crops
The higher total dry matter and green fodder yield at 1.0 IW/CPE ratio are favorably influenced by higher plant height at harvest (155.5 cm) and leaf area index (4.43)
Summary
Baby corn is the unpollinated, immature ear of any corn genotype (Zea mays L.) harvested 2 or 3 days after silk emergence, depending upon developmental conditions of the plant and the size of the shoot. The wonder vegetable with low calories, high in fiber and low in cholesterol provides tremendous avenues for crop diversification, crop intensification, value addition and revenue generation. Since it is a short duration crop unlike the other versions of maize, agro-techniques like hydro-nutritional requirements have to be standardized for the highest yield with best quality to realize higher economic returns. Prihar et al [1] suggested a meteorological approach based on the ratio between IW and CPE for scheduling irrigation. The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of irrigation schedules on growth, yield and quality of baby corn
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