Vol. 8, Issue 6 (2019)

Author(s):
A Anjaneyulu Naik, Dr. M Srinivasa Reddy, Dr. PV Ramesh Babu and Dr. P Kavitha

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted during kharif, 2018 at Agricultural College Farm, Mahanandi to assess “Effect of plant density and nitrogen management on yield and quality of sweet corn (Zea mays var Saccharata)”. The experiment comprised of fifteen treatment combinations consisting three levels of plant density (D_1: 60 cm X 15 cm, D₂: 60 cm X 20 cm and D₃: 60 cm X 25 cm) and five nitrogen management levels (T₁: control, T₂: 100% RDN, T₃: 75% RDN + FYM @ 10 t ha^-1, T₄: 100% RDN + FYM @ 10 t ha^-1 and T₅: 125% RDN + FYM @ 10 t ha^-1). Plant density of 60 cm x 15 cm and 60 cm x 20 cm attained higher plant height compared to 60 cm x 25 cm. Leaf area index and drymatter production (kg ha^-1) also were influenced by different planting density levels. The sweet corn plants exhibited significantly maximum values of yield attributes viz., 100 seed weight (g), Number of cobs per plant and cob length were under spacing of 60 cm x 25 cm. The highest green cob yield was recorded at plant density of 60 cm x 25 cm which was closely followed by 60 cm x 15 cm. Significantly highest stover yield was recorded at 60 cm x 25 cm. The growth of sweet corn in terms of plant height, leaf area index and drymatter were maximum with application of 125% RDN + FYM @ 10 t ha^-1. The sweet corn plants exhibited maximum values of yield attributes viz., number of grains per cob under 100% RDN + FYM @ 10 t ha^-1 and found at par with those recorded under 125% RDN + FYM @ 10 t ha^-1 and 75% RDN + FYM @ 10 t ha^-1. Whereas cob length, number of cobs per plant and 100 grain weight (g) were highest with 125% RDN + FYM @ 10 t ha^-1 and found were at par with those recorded under 100% RDN + FYM @ 10 t ha^-1. Application of 100 - 125% RDN + FYM @ 10 t ha^-1 significantly increased green cob yield and stover yield over control, 100% RDN and 75% RDN + FYM @ 10 t ha^-1.