A critical review on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in sweet corn

Abstract

The continuous use of inorganic fertilizers increases the cost of production, deteriorates soil health and pollutes the environment. Optimum use of organic manures like FYM, vermicompost and bio fertilizer provides all essential nutrients to plant and improves physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. The approach on integrated nutrient management (INM) with judicious use of organic and inorganic nutrient is indispensable for intensification of research. INM helps in the balanced fertilization of crops, where the right amount of plant nutrient from an appropriate source is applied at proper growth stage of a specific crop plant. It is a step towards sustainable agriculture as it reduces the stress of pollution on the nature and the judicious use of resources optimises the productivity. The recent years research work carried out on the integrated nutrient management in India and abroad with respect to growth, yield, nutrient uptake, quality parameters and economics of sweet corn has been critically reviewed in this chapter.