Performance of Baby Corn (Zea Mays L.) in Integration of Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen

Mrityunjoy Biswas,Bonani Bhattacharjee Tithi,Ap Chowdhury ,Palash Mandal,Mohammad Alam Miah

doi:10.13189/ujps.2019.070102

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) fertilization mostly determines the productivity of a crop. The supply of N can be ensured in both inorganic and organic means. Slowly released organic N can be combined with inorganic N to minimize the detrimental effect of chemical fertilizers to environment as well as to ensure the sustainable production. To observe the response of baby corn in integration of organic and inorganic N field experiments were conducted in N deficit soil in consecutive winter and summer. There were five nutrient levels as treatment in the experiment. The treatments used in the winter season were T1=N 0 kg + CD 15 t ha-1, T2=N 60 kg + CD 15 t ha-1, T3= N 90 kg + CD 10 t ha-1, T4= N 120 kg + CD 5 t ha-1 and T5= N 150 kg + CD 0 t ha-1 while in the summer season T1=N 30 kg + CD 15 t ha-1 varied and others remained same as in the winter season. The lowest cob yield without husk was found where minimum inorganic N was combined with organic N in both seasons. Plant received only N from inorganic source represented highest cob yield. Statistically similar yield was also obtained from one combination of inorganic and organic N (120 kg N + 5 ton CD ha-1), where the rate of inorganic N was 20% lower than that of sole inorganic N source. Between seasons, significantly positive yield response was recorded in winter irrespective of nutrient levels. Therefore, one fifth of inorganic N application can be minimized in terms of integrated N management from organic and inorganic sources without affecting potential yield of baby corn.

Highlights

Maize (Zea mays L) is the third most important cereal crop next to rice and wheat (Mahmoodi & Rahimi [23]) and has the highest production potential among the cereals
The results revealed that the highest Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) values of 25.27, 38.43, 36.33 and 26.20 were recorded from the treatment T5 at 15, 30 and 45 DAS and at harvest respectively in summer season
The results presented that Leaf Area Index (LAI) at 30, 45, 60 and 75 DAS and at harvest differed significantly at different levels of nutrients in both seasons (Figure 3)

Summary

Introduction

Maize (Zea mays L) is the third most important cereal crop next to rice and wheat (Mahmoodi & Rahimi [23]) and has the highest production potential among the cereals. Maize, being a C4 plant, able to adapt in an adverse climatic condition such as high temperature, drought, elevated CO2 and can efficiently convert absorbed nutrients into food (Lara & Andreo [20]; Archana & Bai [3]). The high-nutritive value, eco-friendly and crispy nature of baby corn have made it a special choice for various traditional and continental dishes apart from canning in the elite society. It has higher nutritive value, reported that 100 g of baby corn contained 89.1% moisture, 0.2 g fat, 1.9 g protein, 8.2 mg carbohydrate, 0.06 g ash, 28.0 mg calcium, 86.0 mg phosphorus and 11.0 mg of ascorbic acid (Thavaprakaash et al [28]; Das et al [8])

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion