Effect of Plant Growth Regulators and Zinc on Growth and Yield of Baby Corn (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

  The field experiment was conducted during Zaid mid of March – April 2022 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P). The treatments consisted of three Plant growth regulators (Mepiquat chloride 180ppm, Naphthalene acetic acid 30ppm, Putrescine 40ppm) and three levels of Zinc sulphate (10, 20, 30 kg/ha ZnSO4) respectively. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with ten treatments and were replicated thrice. The soil of experimental plot was sandy loamy in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.2), low in organic carbon (0.48%) available N (171.48 kg/ha), available P (13.6 kg/ha) and available K (215.4 kg/ha).  Results defined that maximum plant height (181.62 cm), dry weight (92.31 g/plant), Green fodder yield (32.7 t/ha) were significantly influenced with  treatment-6 Naphthalene acetic acid 180ppm along with Zinc sulphate 30 kg/ha  and Maximum No. of cobs/plant (3 cobs/plant), length of cob/plant (21.8 cm), girth of cob (9.3 cm), cob weight with husk (49.84 g), cob weight without husk (12.11 g), Cob yield (11.03 t/ha) were significantly influenced with the treatment-3 Mepiquat chloride 30ppm along with Zinc sulphate 30 kg/ha. Minimum parameters were recorded in treatment-10 control plot which is application of recommended dose of fertilizers 100:60:40 kg/ha NPK.