Fodder yield, nutrient uptake and quality of baby corn (Zea maysL.) as influenced by NPKS and Zn fertilization

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the two consecutive pre-kharif seasons of 2012 and 2013 at Varanasi to study the effect of NPKS and Zn application on fodder yield, nutrient uptake and quality of baby corn (Zea mays L.). Results revealed that cob, corn and green and dry fodder yield, net profit, nutrient content (NPKSZn) and their uptake were recorded significantly higher with application of 125% RDF. Further, application of 50 kg S/ha resulted in significant increase in cob, corn, green fodder yield, net profit and nutrient content and uptake of baby corn over control but it remained at par with 25 kg S/ha. Similar trend was also observed with application of Zn levels. Increasing levels of sulphur and zinc progressively improved the fodder quality of baby corn viz., crude protein, ash, calcium content except crude fibre content which followed reverse trend. Hence, application of 125% RDF along with 50 kg S/ha and 10 kg Zn/ha was found optimum to obtain the higher green and dry fodder yield, net profit and quality of baby corn under irrigated condition of Varanasi.