Vol. 10, Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
N Pradhan and SC Sahoo

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar during rabi season of 2019-20 to study the effect of fertility level on growth and yield of sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata).The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three levels of fertility (120:60:60, 80:40:40 and 40:20:20 kg N, P₂O₅ and K₂O ha^-1) and five dates of harvest (16, 20, 24, 28, and 32 days after silking) with three replications. The results revealed that application of 120:60:60 kg N, P₂O₅ and K₂O ha^-1 resulted in the tallest plants (183.7 cm at harvest) with maximum dry matter accumulation (853.0 g m^-2).The fertility level of 120:60:60 kg N, P₂O₅ and K₂O ha^-1 produced maximum yield of green cob (15.63 t ha^-1), fresh kernel (7.86 t ha^-1) and green fodder (36.42 t ha^-1). The yield of green cob (15.22 t ha^-1) and fresh kernel (7.82 t ha^-1) increased significantly up to 24 days after silking. Hence, application of 120:60:60 kg N:P₂O₅:K₂O ha^-1 with harvesting at 24 days after silking was found suitable to obtain optimum yield of green cob and fodder.