Abstract:

A field experiment entitled Effect of integrated nutrient management practices on productivity and quality of baby corn was conducted at Research farm of CPGS,CAU, Umiam, Meghalaya during kharif season of 2010 to study the effect of Integrated Nutrient Management Practices on productivity and Quality of baby corn. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot design with three replications with nine treatment combinations, consisting of three nutrient source combination viz., 80, 60, 40 kg NPK through chemical fertilizer, 15 t FYM and 40, 30, 20 kg NPK through chemical fertilizer +7.5 t FYM along with three biofertilizer treatments viz., control (Bo), Azospirillum (B?), PSB (B?), Application of FYM, fertilizer and seed inoculation with biofertilizer was done as per treatments. The soil of experimental site was sandy clay loam in texture, moderately acidic in reaction (pH: 5.3), medium in available nitrogen and organic carbon but low in available phosphorus and potassium. Combined application of nutrient source 40,30,20 kg NPK through chemical fertilizer +7.5 t FYM shows higher growth attributes, yield attributes and yield. Highest baby corn yield (7.63 t ha-1) was obtained with treatment 80,60,40 kg NPK through chemical fertilizer+7.5 t FYM which was at par with 15 t FYM (7.24 t ha-1). The biofertilizer treatments were found to bring about significant differences on yield of baby corn. The highest cob yield of 7.42 t ha-1 was obtained with the application of PSB however was found to be at par with the Azospirillum treatment with the yield of 7.23 t ha-1. The lowest yield was obtained without biofertilizer treatment 6.71 t ha-1. Maximum plant height, leaf area, leaf area index was also obtained with applicationof 80, 60, 40 kg NPK through chemical fertilizer +7.5 t FYM associated with PSBinoculation. Other growth parameters like CGR also increased with 80, 60, 40 kg NPKthrough chemical fertilizer +7.5 t FYM more significantly at 60 to harvest stage. Yieldattributes like baby corn weight, number of cob per plant was also higher with 80,60, 40 kg NPK through chemical fertilizer+7.5 t FYM but was at par with 15 t FYM. Protein content in baby cob vary with treatment and maximum value of 14.04% was obtained with 40, 30, 20 kg NPK through chemical fertilizer +7.5 t FYM along with PSB. However higher ascorbic acid content was obtained with 15 t FYM with PSB combination. Application of 40, 30 and 20 kg NPK through chemical fertilizer + 7.5 t FYM along with PSB in baby corn improves the fertility status of soil. Higher 5MBC, DHA, available NPK also observed with 40, 30 and 20 kg NPK through chemical fertilizer + 7.5 t FYM with PSB treatment. Highest net return and B: C (3.80) ratio was however observed with treatment 80, 60, 40 kg NPK through chemical fertilizer and among biofertilizer treatment maximum B: C ratio of 2.56 was observed with PSB.