Effect of row orientation and spacing on growth and yield of sweet corn

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2023 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh to analyse the effect of Row orientation and Plant spacing. In terms of soil reactivity (pH 6.7), the experimental soil had a sandy loam texture, organic carbon (0.59%), Nitrogen (163.48 kg/ha), Phosphorus (32.3 kg/ha) and potassium (243.6 kg/ha). The treatments consisted of 2 directions of Row Orientation (East- West & North- South) and 4 plant spacing (45 x 30 cm2, 55 x 20 cm2, 60 x 25 cm2, 65 x 30 cm2) along with recommended doses of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash and a control (120:60:40 kg N:P:K/ ha). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 9 treatments and replication thrice. Application of East-West direction of sowing along with 60 x 25 cm2 spacing (Treatment 3) recorded highest plant height (166.62 cm), maximum plant dry weight (130.22 g), highest no. of cobs per plant (2.03), highest no. of rows per cob (18.03), highest no. of grains per row (24.67), highest cob length (16.56 cm), cob yield (6.95 t/ha) and green fodder yield (17.33 t/ha).