Effect of phosphate solubilizing bacteria and boron on growth and yield of baby corn (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during the Kharif season of 2023-2024 at the Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.), to evaluate the effect of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and boron on growth, yield, and economics of baby corn (Zea mays L.). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with ten treatments replicated thrice. Results revealed that the combined application of PSB 30 g/kg seed + Boron 7 kg/ha (T9) recorded the highest plant height (171.16 cm), plant dry weight (91.59 g), number of cobs per plant (2.56), cob length (21.63 cm), cob girth (14.81 cm), cob yield with husk (15.56 t/ha), cob yield without husk (4.90 t/ha), and green fodder yield (22.18 t/ha). The same treatment also resulted in the maximum gross return (₹3,13,440/ha), net return (₹2,34,056/ha), and B:C ratio (2.73). It is concluded that the integrated use of PSB and boron significantly enhances the productivity and profitability of baby corn under the agro-climatic conditions of Prayagraj.