Nutrient scheduling for baby corn (Zea mays L.) intercropped in coconut garden

Abstract

The experiment entitled “Nutrient scheduling for baby corn (Zea mays L.) intercropped in coconut garden” was undertaken at the Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, during the summer season (March to May), 2015. The main objectives of the study were to standardize the nutrient schedule for baby corn intercropped in coconut garden and to work out the economics. The field experiment was laid out in randomised block design with 10 treatments replicated thrice, using the baby corn hybrid, G 5414 as the test variety. The treatments comprised combinations of 3 nutrient doses, 3 split application schedules and a control. The treatments were T1 : 100:40:60 kg NPK ha-1 (Basal + ½ N and ½ K at 25 DAS); T2 : 100:40:60 kg NPK ha-1 (Basal + ½ N and ½ K at 45 DAS); T3 : 100:40:60 kg NPK ha-1 (Basal; ¼ N and ¼ K at 25 DAS; ¼ N and ¼ K at 45 DAS); T4 : 150:60:40 kg NPK ha-1 (Basal; ½ N and ½ K at 25 DAS); T5 : 150:60:40 kg NPK ha-1 (Basal + ½ N and ½ K at 45 DAS); T6 : 150:60:40 kg NPK ha-1 (Basal + ¼ N and ¼ K at 25 DAS; ¼ N and ¼ K at 45 DAS); T7 : 135:65:45 kg NPK ha-1 (Basal + ½ N and ½ K at 25 DAS); T8 : 135:65:45 kg NPK ha-1 (Basal + ½ N and ½ K at 45 DAS); T9 : 135:65:45 kg NPK ha-1 (Basal + ¼ N and ¼ K at 25 DAS; ¼ N and ¼ K at 45 DAS) and T10 : control. Farm yard manure @ 12.5 t ha-1 was applied uniformly to all the treatments, including control. The ½ N + ½ K were given as basal and entire dose of phosphorus was applied basally to the treatments T1 to T9. The results indicated that nutrient doses and spilt application (nutrient schedule) had significant effect on growth, growth attributes, yield attributes and yield of baby corn. The treatment T7 (135:65:45 kg NPK ha-1 ; ½ N + ½ K basal; ½ N + ½ K at 25 DAS) recorded significantly higher Plant height (125.16 cm) at 30 days after emergence (DAE), number of leaves per plant at 45 DAE (11.89), leaf area index at 15 (0.36), 30 (2.25) and 45 DAE (4.28) and dry matter production (24203.70 kg ha-1). Significant difference was not observed in the number of days taken by the crop to reach 50 per cent tasseling, 50 per cent silking, maturity and in the number of harvests. The yield attributes viz., cob length (11.60 cm), cob girth (5.30 cm) and cob weight with husk (84.22 g plant-1) recorded significantly higher values at T7. Similar results were recorded in cob yield with husk (17162 kg ha-1), marketable cob yield (6721 kg ha-1) and green stover yield (26204 kg ha-1). All the above yield attributes (except cob weight with husk) were on a par with T4 (150:60:40 kg NPK ha-1 ; ½ N + ½ K basal; ½ N + ½ K at 25 DAS). The number of cobs per plant and the cob – corn ratio remained unaffected by the treatments. Agronomic efficiency (AE) which is a reflection of all the other agronomic indices, showed significant variation with nutrient schedule. AE of nitrogen (30.95 kg kg-1), phosphorus (64.28 kg kg-1) and potassium (92.86 kg kg-1) were significantly higher at T7. AE of phosphorus and potassium remained at par with T4. The chlorophyll content in leaf tissue at 25 DAS (0.61 mg g-1) and 45 DAS (2.20 mg g-1) and the total soluble sugar (TSS) in cob (9.67oB) were also significantly higher in T7. The treatment, T6 recorded significantly higher crude protein content in cob (13.11 per cent) and was on a par with T4. The crude fibre content of cob was significantly superior (8.82 per cent) in T4 and T7. Nutrient uptake (N, P, K) was significantly superior in T7. The superior treatments, T7 and T4 recorded positive balance for N (5.34 kg ha-1; 17.30 kg ha-1) and P (12.34 kg ha-1; 12.54 kg ha-1) and a negative balance for K (-13.15 kg ha-1; -8.68 kg ha-1). Gross income ( 2,68,827 ha-1), net income ( 1,90,367 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (3.43) were significantly higher in T7. The study revealed that application of FYM @ 12.5 t ha-1 + 135:65:45 kg NPK ha-1 (½ N + full P + ½ K as basal ; ½ N + ½ K at 25 DAS) resulted in significantly higher marketable cob yield, nutrient use efficiency and profitability in baby corn variety G 5414, intercropped in coconut garden.