Dry-matter accumulation of sweet corn (Zea mays) under variable seedling age and integrated nutrient supply

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during the rainy (Kharif) season of 2020 at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Wadura Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir to evaluate the effect of age of seedling and sources of nutrients on dry-matter production of sweet corn (Zea mays L.). It was laid out in randomized complete-block design with factorial arrangement, replicated thrice. The age of seedling comprised of 12, 22 and 32 days old seedlings and sources of nutrients consisted of control, 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 50% RDF + FYM @ 12 t/ha, 50% RDF + vermicompost @ 4 t/ha and 50% RDF + poultry manure @ 2 t/ha. The findings of this study indicated that, age of seedling and sources of nutrients had a significant influence on dry-matter accumulation. Transplanting of 32 days old seedlings recorded significantly higher values for dry-matter accumulation up to 30 days after transplanting, but thereafter transplanting 22 days old seedlings was found superior up to the harvesting. With respect to sources of nutrients application of 50% RDF + poultry manure @ 2 t/ha registering significantly higher dry-matter accumulation.