Yield and quality of sweet corn under varying irrigation regimes, sowing methods and moisture conservation practices

Abstract

cStudies were conducted during spring season of 2017 and 2018 at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar to determine the effect of irrigation scheduling (IW/CPE 1.4,1.2 and 1.0), method of establishment (flat and furrow sowing) and moisture conservation practices (control, mulch and biochar) on yield components, sugar and protein content of fresh sweet corn. Experiments were carried out in split plot design with two main factor and one sub plot factor and replicated thrice. Results revealed that IW/CPE 1.4 gave significantly higher dehusked cob weight and biological yield (213 g, 39.47 t ha-1) and was followed by 1.2 (203 g, 38.09 t ha-1). However, the highest TSS (15.58) was obtained in IW/CPE 1.0 which was followed by 1.2 (14.99). Furrow method was superior to flat sowing with respect to yield attributing characters and biological yield (7.4% increase over flat sowing). Mulch and biochar resulted in significantly higher biological yield as compared to control. Furrow sowing method and moisture conservation practices resulted in numerically higher values of TSS and sugar content as compared to flat sowing and control. The protein content was non significantly affected due to various management practices. As an interaction effect, the dehusked cob weight under IW/CPE 1.2 furrow sowing was at par with IW/CPE 1.4 flat sowing during both the years. Conclusively, for obtaining better quality and productivity spring season sweet corn should be sown under furrow method, irrigated at IW/CPE 1.2 and applied with mulch or biochar under sandy loam soils.