Varietal suitability and crop geometry of baby corn (Zea mays L.) in coconut garden

Abstract

The experiment entitled “Varietal suitability and crop geometry of baby corn (Zea mays L.) in coconut garden” was undertaken at the Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, during the summer season (March to May) and the Kharif season (August to October) of 2015. The main objectives of the study were to understand the feasibility of introducing baby corn as intercrop in coconut garden, to assess the effect of varieties and spacings on its growth and productivity and to work out the economics of cultivation. The field experiment was laid out in Randomised Block Design with 9 treatments replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of combinations of three varieties and three spacings. The three varieties were Rasi 4212 (V1), G 5414 (V2) and CO-6 (V3) and the three spacings were 30 cm x 20 cm (S1), 45 cm x 20 cm (S2) and 60 cm x 20 cm (S3). The variety G 5414 recorded significantly higher baby cob weight with husk of 47.01 g cob-1 and 35.74 g cob-1, cob yield with husk of 10.97 t ha-1 and 9.98 t ha-1 and marketable baby cob yield of 3.67 t ha-1 and 3.36 t ha-1 in summer and Kharif respectively. This variety took less number of days from tasseling to harvest (2.11) and recorded the highest net income of RS. 133698 ha-1 and RS. 116629 ha-1 and B:C ratio of 2.70 and 2.49 in summer and Kharif seasons respectively. The variety G 5414 was followed by CO-6 in producing higher baby cob yield with husk and marketable baby cob yield. The growth attributes viz., plant height, number of leaves and leaf area index (LAI) at 15, 30 and 45 days after emergence (DAE), dry matter content and light interception were significantly higher for the variety CO-6. Green Stover yield was significantly higher for CO-6 (19.39 t ha-1 and 17.86 t ha-1 in summer and Kharif respectively) followed by G 5414 (16.08 t ha-1 and 14.35 t ha-1 in summer and Kharif respectively). The study revealed that spacing significantly influenced the growth attributes viz., plant height, number of leaves and LAI. The row spacing of 45 cm x 20 cm recorded the highest baby cob yield with husk of 10.90 t ha-1 and 9.63 t ha-1, marketable baby cob yield of 3.49 t ha-1 and 3.24 t ha-1 along with the highest net income of RS. 125839 ha-1 and RS. 114287 ha-1 and B:C ratio of 2.69 and 2.55 in summer and Kharif respectively. Baby cob weight with husk was significantly higher at 45 cm x 20 cm and baby cob-baby com ratio was the most desirable at 30 cm x 20 cm in summer. In summer, the interaction of CO-6 at 45 cm x 20 cm recorded the highest baby cob weight with husk (56.25 g cob-1), marketable baby cob yield (4.21 t ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.16). Net income was the highest with G 5414 at 45 cm x 20 cm and was on a par with CO-6 at 45 cm x 20 cm. In Kharif, CO-6 at 45 cm x 20 cm resulted in the highest baby cob yield with husk (11.16 t ha-1), marketable baby cob yield (3.68 t ha-1), net income (RS.145237 ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.03). The variety G 5414 at 45 cm x 20 cm was on a par with the variety CO-6 at 45 cm x 20 cm with respect to baby cob yield with husk (9.91 t ha-1) and marketable baby cob yield (3.49 t ha-1). The study revealed that, among the varieties tested, the variety G 5414 was superior and among the spacings, 45 cm x 20 cm was significantly superior in both summer and Kharif seasons. The interaction effects revealed that the variety G 5414 at 45 cm x 20 cm and the variety CO-6 at 45 cm x 20 cm were equally superior in terms of yield and economics. In baby com cultivation, detasseling is an important operation which is labour intensive. The variety G 5414 exhibited 50 per cent silking prior to tasseling and hence the detasseling before first harvesting could be avoided. This variety had a better appearance and uniformity compared to CO-6. In general, the baby com yield was higher in summer season compared to Kharif season. To conclude, the result of the study indicated that baby corn can be profitably intercropped in coconut gardens in summer and Kharif seasons. The baby corn hybrid G 5414 at 45 cm x 20 cm spacing resulted in higher baby cob yield with husk, marketable baby cob yield, net income and B:C ratio during both seasons in southern Kerala. The maize variety CO-6 also performed well in coconut garden during both summer and Kharif seasons.