Agronomic Yield and Post-Harvest Quality of Baby Corn Under Nitrogen Fertilization

Abstract

Baby corn is a growing crop in the agricultural setting, however there is still a lack of research in the area of fertilization, especially nitrogen fertilization. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of nitrogen fertilization on agronomic yield and quality of baby corn. Outlined in randomized blocks with four replications, the treatments consisted of five levels of nitrogen fertilization (50, 75, 100, 125 and 150%), based on the recommended dose for green corn crop (150 kg ha-1 of N). After harvesting, the following agronomic variables were evaluated: Number, productivity, dry matter, length and diameter of commercial and non-commercial spikelets. And the variables of post-harvest quality were: Soluble Solids, Titratable Acidity, Ratio of soluble solids and titratable acidity, Hydrogen-ion potential and firmness. Nitrogen fertilization at 150 kg ha-1 resulted in an increase in the total number of spikelets per hectare, around 405,000. There was an increase in productivity due to the increasing levels of nitrogen fertilization, with maximum yield of 4.4 t ha-1 at a dose of 165 kg ha-1 of N. The soluble solids content presented a maximum of 10.05 ° Brix with the N applied to 222 kg ha-1. Nitrogen fertilization around 150 to 165 kg ha-1 increases the agronomic yield of the crop, without affecting its characteristics of quality.