Yield, yield attributes and protein quality of sweet corn (Zea maize L. saccharata sturt.) as influenced by integrated nutrient management

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2019 at the Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Latur to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on yield, yield attributes and protein quality in sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata sturt). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with seven treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments were T1- 100% RDF, T2 - 100% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1, T3 - 75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1, T4 - 100% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1, T5 - 75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1, T6 - 100% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Vermicompost @ 1.25 t ha-1+ Azospirillum and T7 -75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Vermicompost @ 1.25 t ha-1 + Azospirillum. The results revealed that among yield and yield attributes, green cob yield (10621 Kg ha-1), green fodder yield (21369 Kg ha-1), harvest index (33.20%), mean number of cobs plant-1 (1.17), number of kernel row cob-1 (16.83), number of kernel cob-1 (783.33) and total weight of cob plant-1 (387.40 g) of sweet corn were significantly highest with the application of 100% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Vermicompost @ 1.25 t ha-1 + Azospirillum. The protein content did not differ significantly among the treatments whereas the highest content (11.9) was observed with application of 100% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Vermicompost @ 1.25 t ha-1 + Azospirillum.