Enhancing Crop Growth, Yield and Economics of Spring Baby Corn through Different Spacing and Irrigation Regimes

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during spring season of 2019 at Agronomy Research Farm, CCS Haryana Agricultural Univeristy, Hisar, Haryana to investigate the effect of different spacing and irrigation regimes on growth and yield of spring’s 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 × 20 cm, 60 × 15 cm, 45 × 20 cm and 45 × 15 cm in sub-plots. The results showed significantly higher growth parameters and cob yield in three irrigation – 6 leaf, knee high and pre-tasselling stage. One irrigation – 6 leaf stage recorded early 50% days to tasselling and silking. In case of spacing treatments, 45 × 15 cm recorded higher growth parameters i.e. plant height, dry matter accumulation and LAI. Yield attributes i.e. cob girth, length and weight was observed higher in 60 × 20 cm spacing treatment and yield was recorded maximum in 45 × 15 cm. The highest gross returns, net returns and benefit cost ratio was recorded higher in 45 × 15 cm spacing.