Effect of irrigation scheduling on growth and yield of Rabi sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2021-22 to 2023-24 at main maize research station, Anand agricultural university, Godhra (Gujarat). The soil of experimental field was clayey in texture having medium in organic carbon content (0.73%), high in available phosphorus (86.21 kg ha-1) and high in available potash (306 kg ha-1). The trial was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with four replications assigning with 6 treatments T1 (0.4 IW/CPE), T2 (0.6 IW/CPE), T3 (0.8 IW/CPE), T4 (1.0 IW/CPE), T5: (critical 3 stage) and T6: (critical 4 stage). Results showed that application of irrigation at 1.0 IW/CPE resulted in the maximum observed sweet corn yield with and without husk (17852 kg ha-1 and 11686 kg ha-1) which is statistically at par with the treatment no T5- critical 3 growth stage (17178 kg ha-1 and 11265 kg ha-1), respectively. The higher green fodder yield (28426 kg ha-1) was observed with the application of irrigation at 1.0 IW/CPE. The highest TSS (15.67 Brix) and girth of (14.31 cm) sweet corn cob was observed with the application of irrigation at 1.0 IW/CPE. The highest gross returns (2,92,092 INR/ha), maximum net returns (2,36,358 INR/ha), and B:C ratio (5.24) were obtained with treatment T4 (1.0 IW/CPE) while treatments T5 (3 irrigations at critical stages) and T6 (4 irrigations at critical stages) gave net realizations of Rs. 2,17,454 and Rs. 2,18,158 with B:C ratios of 5.08 and 5.00, respectively.